Carrot-tail Viper Gecko (Hemidactylus imbricatus)

Carrot-tail Viper Gecko Hemidactylus imbricatus
Name	Carrot-tail Viper Gecko
Name Lat.	Hemidactylus imbricatus
Synonym	Teratolepis fasciata
Family	Geckos
Family lat.	Gekkonidae
Order	Scaled Reptiles
Order lat.	Squamata
Origin	South Asia
Habitat	Dry savanna
Diet	Insects
Humidity	40-60 %
Behavior	Nocturnal, ♂ territorial
Keeping	Individual, pair
Care Level	Easy
Reproduction	Oviparous
Housing	Dry terrarium
Life Span	8-10 years
Protection	No
Metric Units
Size	10 cm
Temperature	26-30 °C
Temperature Local	35 °C
Housing Size	40 x 30 x 30 cm
US Units
Size	4"
Temperature	79-86 °F
Temperature Local	95 °F
Housing Size	15" x 10" x 10"

Distribution and habitat

The crepuscular to nocturnal, ground-dwelling turnip-tailed viper geckos are distributed from Iran through Pakistan to India. They live mainly in dry savannas and semi-deserts on sandy soils with sparse vegetation.

Maintenance

Minimum dimensions for the terrarium, according to the size and number of animals

1-2 animals

4KRL x 3KRL x 2KRL (L x W x H)

Head-torso length (KRL) is measured on the largest animal. For each additional animal, increase the footprint by 15%. A terrarium of e.g. 40 x 30 x 30 cm is recommended, which should be placed in a quiet and vibration-free place.

You will need a terrarium with roots, climbing branches and stone structures (hiding places), structured back and side walls (e.g. cork covering), a burrowable substrate of sand-clay mixture and rubble, a shallow water dish and hardy, drought-resistant potted plants (e.g. succulents, aloe). A small portion of the substrate, especially the lower sand layers, should always be kept slightly moist. Once a day, preferably in the evening, the furnishings of the terrarium should be finely sprayed with water, but not directly the animals. A rain or mist system is ideal.

Temp. day: 26-30 °C

Temp. night: 20-23 °C

Temp. local: up to 35 °C

Humidity: 40-60

Thermostatically controlled floor heating is recommended. Lighting duration must be 10-12 hrs. Daylight fluorescent tubes are ideal. A special UV light is not necessary.

Diet

The food supply consists of live insects, such as crickets, house crickets, grasshoppers, millipedes, zophobas and mealybug larvae. Alternatively, special ready-made food for insectivorous reptiles can be offered, possibly with tweezers for habituation. Wax moths should only be fed in small amounts to adults, but not to juveniles, because of their large fat content. Regular addition of minerals and vitamins (dusting of food) is important. Young animals should be offered food daily, adult animals 4-5 times a week. Drinking water must always be available

A regular and varied diet promotes health and prevents deficiency symptoms.

Reproduction and breeding

Adult males are usually larger and more powerfully built than females and can be recognized by their preanal pores (pore-like openings in front of the anal fissure). The female buries her hard-shelled eggs (usually 2 eggs) in slightly moist sand several times a year. At a temperature of 26 °C the incubation period is 60-70 days. Small insects such as fruit flies and micro crickets are suitable as initial food for the young

Their life expectancy can be 8-10 years.

Important

Their thickened tail, which is a fat store for times when food is scarce, is a good indicator of their nutritional status. Their toes have claws and a double row of adhesive lamellae.

Sunny places with radiant heat are readily accepted.

Adult males behave very territorial and are incompatible with each other. Keeping a group, one male with 2-4 females is unproblematic.

For the resting phase, the lighting duration is shortened by 2-3 hours and the temperature is lowered by 5-8 °C for approx. two months

With fruit and honey water as food for the feeders, their quality can be upgraded.

The terrarium must have good ventilation without drafts and meet the species specific needs. Measuring devices such as thermometers, hygrometers, etc. are necessary. The lighting has to correspond to the species-specific day-night rhythm and has to be placed in such a way that the animals cannot injure themselves. The terrarium should be locked in such a way that neither unauthorized persons can open it nor the animals can escape. Contamination must be removed regularly.

Further literature can be found in your pet store.

References

Text: Werner Winter; Image: Franz Lowak

Source: BMELV (1997): Tierschutzgutachten - Mindestanforderungen an die Haltung von Reptilien; ENGELMANN (2006): Zootierhaltung - Tiere in menschlicher Obhut: Reptilien und Amphibien, Harri Deutsch Verlag

• Gemäß § 21 Abs. 5 Tierschutzgesetz idgF