Painted Dwarf Gecko (Lygodactylus picturatus)

Painted Dwarf Gecko Lygodactylus picturatus
Name	Painted Dwarf Gecko
Name Lat.	Lygodactylus picturatus
Family	Geckos
Family lat.	Gekkonidae
Order	Scaled Reptiles
Order lat.	Squamata
Origin	Africa
Habitat	Humid savanna
Diet	Insects, fruits
Humidity	70-90 %
Behavior	♂ territorial
Keeping	Individual, pair, harem
Care Level	Experts only
Reproduction	Oviparous
Housing	Humid terrarium
Life Span	5 years
Protection	No
Metric Units
Size	8 cm
Temperature	25-30 °C
Temperature Local	35 °C
Housing Size	40 x 40 x 60 cm
US Units
Size	3.1"
Temperature	77-86 °F
Temperature Local	95 °F
Housing Size	15" x 15" x 25"

Distribution and habitat

The arboreal, diurnal yellow-headed dwarf geckos are found mainly in the coastal regions of Kenya, Tanzania and Somalia. They live in the lowland wet savannahs preferably on trees and coconut palms. As crop followers they can also be found in gardens and on house walls.

Maintenance

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

1-2 animals

6KRL x 6KRL x 8KRL (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 40 x 60 cm is recommended, which should be placed in a quiet and vibration-free place.

You need a terrarium with partly vertical climbing branches (bamboo) and branch caves as well as plants, like Ficus, Bromeliads, Sindapsus etc. (hiding and shadow places), structured back and side walls (e.g. cork covering), a substrate of forest soil-peat mixture and a water basin (waterfall). The substrate should always be kept slightly moist. Several times a day the inside of the terrarium should be finely sprayed with water (humidity), but a rain or mist system is better

Temp. day: 25-30 °C

Temp. night: 20-22 °C

Temp. local: up to 35 °C

Humidity: 70-90

Thermostatically controlled floor heating is recommended. Lighting duration must be 12-14 hrs depending on the season. They need high light intensity and daily UV irradiation as well as sunny places with radiant heat.

Diet

The food supply consists of live insects, such as crickets, house crickets, grasshoppers, cockroaches, zophobas and mealybug larvae, alternatively special ready-made food for geckos or insectivorous reptiles can be offered, supplemented with some fruit pulp and sweet fruits (e.g. bananas, papaya). Wax moths should rarely be fed in very small amounts due to their large fat content. Young animals should be offered food daily, adults 4-5 times a week. Regular addition of minerals and vitamins (dusting of feed) is important. Drinking water must always be available, but is preferably taken in drop form from leaves or furnishings. A regular and varied diet promotes health and prevents deficiency symptoms.

Reproduction and breeding

Males grow slightly larger and the body is blue-gray colored with a yellow head, while females have a beige-gray body coloration

The female lays her hard-shelled eggs (2 eggs) in rock crevices, tree bark, or hollow logs. The incubation period is 45-70 days at a temperature of 28-30 °C. Small insects, such as fruit flies and micro crickets, are suitable as initial food for the young. Life expectancy can be 5 years.

Important

They must not be held by their tails, which they can shed in case of danger. In most cases, no complete regeneration takes place.

Adult males are territorial and incompatible with each other. However, they can be kept in a group, one male with 2-3 females.

They are very sun-loving and need sunny places warmed up by radiators

For the resting phase, shorten the lighting duration by 2-3 hours and lower the temperature by 3-4 °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: petdata; Image: petdata

Source: BMELV (1997): Tierschutzgutachten - Mindestanforderungen an die Haltung von Reptilien; RÖLL BEATE (2006): Zwerggeckos Lygodactylus, Natur und Tier-Verlag; DREWES, R.C. & ASHE, J. (2001): A field guide to the reptiles of East Africa, Struik Puplishers Ltd.

• Gemäß § 21 Abs. 5 Tierschutzgesetz idgF