Scientific Name for Madagascar Ground Geckos: Paroedura pictus
Sometime call big headed gecko and pictus gecko
Life Span: Up to 10 years
Size: 4-6 inches
Habits: Nocturnal. Do not house males together.
Tanks for Madagascar Ground Geckos: 10 gallon aquarium is the minimum size for a single Madagascar ground gecko. Rock, branches, live or artificial plants, and cork bark can be used to decorate the tank. Make sure a couple of hides (caves, boxes, flower pots etc) are provided, one at either end of the temperature gradient. A small dish of water should be provided.
Substrate: A substrate that retains humidity is preferred: coconut fiber, orchid bark, sphagnum moss, peat moss, or a mixture work well for Madagascar ground geckos.
Temperature and Humidity: A day time gradient of 85-90 F (29-30 C) should be maintained; this can drop to 74-76 F (23-24 C) at night . Heat can be provided with undertank heat tape, and this can be suppllmented with a lamp using a bulb designed for nocturnal reptiles. Humidity should be mainitained at 50-75% by regular misting of the tank. A small humidity retreat (container with damp sphagnum moss inside) should also be provided for Madagascar ground geckos.
Feeding Madagascar Ground Geckos: Feed crickets, freshly molted mealworms and occasional waxworms. All prey should be gut loaded and dusted with a multivitamin containing calcium (but not phosphorus). Adult Madagascar ground geckos can be fed every 2-3 days and juveniles every 1-2 days.
Care Sheets:
- Madagascar Ground Geckos - Reptilia.org
- Paroedura Pictus (Madagascar Ground Gecko) Care Sheet - A1 Reptiles
- Pictus Gecko Care - Pro Geckos