Common Wonder Gecko (Teratoscincus scincus)

Common Wonder Gecko Teratoscincus scincus
Name	Common Wonder Gecko
Name Lat.	Teratoscincus scincus
Family	Geckos
Family lat.	Gekkonidae
Order	Scaled Reptiles
Order lat.	Squamata
Origin	Asia
Habitat	Semi-desert
Diet	Insects
Humidity	40-60 %
Behavior	♂ territorial
Keeping	Individual, pair, harem
Care Level	Moderate
Reproduction	Oviparous
Housing	Dry terrarium
Life Span	8-10 years
Protection	EU Annex D
Metric Units
Size	18 cm
Temperature	26-28 °C
Temperature Local	35-40 °C
Housing Size	80 x 50 x 50 cm
US Units
Size	7"
Temperature	79-82 °F
Temperature Local	95-104 °F
Housing Size	30" x 20" x 20"

Distribution and habitat

The range of the crepuscular to nocturnal, ground-dwelling wonder geckos extends from the Caspian Sea through Uzbekistan and Tajikistan to western China. There they live in deserts and semi-deserts, during the day mostly hiding in rock crevices and self-dug burrows to protect themselves from heat, cold and predators.

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. 80 x 50 x 50 cm is recommended, which should be placed in a quiet and vibration-free place.

You will need a terrarium with roots and stone structures that provide plenty of hiding and shading places, structured back and side walls (e.g. cork covering), a deep burrowable substrate of sand-clay mixture and rubble, as well as a small water container and some drought-resistant potted plants (e.g. succulents). 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 interior of the terrarium should be finely sprayed with water, but not directly the animals.

Temp. day: 26-28 °C

Temp. night: 18-22 °C

Temp. local: up to 40 °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 according to their size, such as crickets, house crickets, grasshoppers, cockroaches, 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

The adult male has a thickened caudal root with a distinct hemipenis pouch.

The female lays her eggs (1-2 pieces) several times a year in the substrate or hidden in the decoration. The incubation period depends on temperature and is about 100 days at a temperature of 27 °C. Small insects such as fruit flies are suitable as initial food for the young animals.

Species protection

Species protection: EU Appendix D, monitoring of trade relevance (monitoring).

Your pet store will be happy to provide you with further information.

Important

They do not have adhesive lamellae. In case of danger they straighten up and flap the tail horizontally back and forth (hissing sound). Adult males behave territorially. They can be well maintained in a group, one male with 2-4 females

They require basking sites with radiant heat, such as rocks irradiated with a spotlight. For the resting phase, shorten the lighting time by 2-3 hours and lower the temperature by 4-6 °C for about 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