Tropical House Gecko (Hemidactylus mabouia)

Tropical House Gecko Hemidactylus mabouia
Name	Tropical House Gecko
Name Lat.	Hemidactylus mabouia
Family	Geckos
Family lat.	Gekkonidae
Order	Scaled Reptiles
Order lat.	Squamata
Origin	Africa, Central & South America
Habitat	Humid savanna
Diet	Insects
Humidity	60-80 %
Behavior	Nocturnal; ♂ territorial
Keeping	Individual, pair, harem
Care Level	Easy
Reproduction	Oviparous
Housing	Semi-humid terrarium
Life Span	6-8 years
Protection	No
Metric Units
Size	16 cm
Temperature	25-28 °C
Temperature Local	35 °C
Housing Size	60 x 60 x 80 cm
US Units
Size	6.3"
Temperature	77-82 °F
Temperature Local	95 °F
Housing Size	25" x 25" x 30"

Distribution and habitat

The nocturnal domestic geckos originate from the wet savannahs of West Africa. Through displacement, they are now also native to Central and South America as well as Caribbean islands. They are crop followers, living mainly on house walls, stones, rocks, bushes and trees.

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 L 50 x W 50 x H 80 cm for 2-4 animals is recommended, which should be placed in a quiet and vibration-free place.

They need a terrarium structured with roots, climbing branches, cork tubes and bamboo sticks (hiding places and privacy screen), a substrate of sand-humus mixture and rubble, a small water container and potted small climbing plants. The substrate should always be kept slightly moist. Several times a day the inside of the terrarium (but not directly the animals) should be finely sprayed with water (humidity), better is a rain or mist system.

Temp.day: 25-28 °C

Temp.night: 20-23 °C

Temp.local: up to 35 °C

Humidity: 50-80

Thermostatically controlled floor heating is recommended. The lighting duration must be 12-14 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 cleft).

The female lays her hard-shelled eggs (1-3 pieces) in the decoration several times a year. At a temperature of 28-30 °C the incubation period is 40-50 days. Breeding is not practiced. As first food for the young animals small insects like fruit flies and micro crickets are suitable

The life expectancy can be 6-8 years.

Important

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 2-3 females is unproblematic.

For the resting phase, the lighting duration is shortened by 2-3 hours for about two months and the temperature is lowered by 3-4 °C

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; ENGELMANN (2006): Zootierhaltung - Tiere in menschlicher Obhut: Reptilien und Amphibien, Harri Deutsch Verlag; BILL BRANCH (1994): Field Guide to Snakes and Other Reptiles of Southern Africa, Struik Puplishers Ltd.

• Gemäß § 21 Abs. 5 Tierschutzgesetz idgF