THE VERSATILITY OF THE GIANT DAY GECKO
Our giant day gecko has adjusted to many differing situations. I have never seen him go on a hunger strike or be stressed to the point of affecting his health, regardless of what I have put him through, or what he has put me through.
Beck arrived here through a pet store as an adult. He had lost his tail right up to his behind and was looking rather ugly. The store was selling him at 1/2 price ~ $50.00. I have learned that when buying a species I have never worked with before to purchase an adult or older juvenile. There is much more time to figure out what the problem may be if there is one. If you have purchased a baby who isn't eating for you, your time is very limited to find the solution. Beck has never given me any concern in his years with us. Giant Day Geckos are also pretty safe when they escape as they will stay high on the walls, hiding behind pictures, clocks, etc.
Beck has lived with a female Day Gecko without much success. Even placing them in a 2 by 3 by 3 didn't give the 2 enough room not to argue and he usually came out on the short end of the stick, ending up with patches of skin torn off from the mate attacking him. Although eggs were layed consistantly. I now keep the 2 separated in different tanks and neither is aggressive to other species.
I have found him to be extremely hardy. I used to panic if he got out. I tend to do all my rearranging of envrionments without actually moving the animals and escapees are fairly common here. At the longest length of time Beck wandered the walls for 5 months. During that time he would make his way to the pond for water, heat, sun....or even the dog's water bowl. He knew where the crickets and worms were kept and raided the boxes when he felt like it or I would feed him a worm or two when he was within reach. I also left on top of one of the other vivs he visited his honey and baby food mixture with vitamins. Sometimes he would even go home for a day or two. (At that time he was housed in the 6 ft when standing on end.) He could also slip into the 110 gallon and visit there for some sun. We rarely went a day or two without seeing him and it was easy to keep an eye on his condition. That is what I call an extreme hardiness factor. I did make a huge effort to catch him before winter set in as I was concerned the outside walls of the house would become too cold.
To catch the Day Geckos I use a large plastic container. Place it over top of them and slide the lid along the wall until they are forced to move into the container. That way I am not going to damage their skin or lose a tail.
I have heard mentioned that the Giant Day Gecko's have trouble with sheds. Beck peels like a banana and has never had a problem....though my other Giant Day does have shedding issues. Same environments, same diets and humidity but the second takes days to go through a shed where Beck takes a few hours. The lack of a perfect shed hasn't affected it's health.
Beck is in the "apartment complex", since last fall and has adjusted well. He is somewhat intimidating to the golden gecko and when they run across each other will head bob......just to say.......get out of my way I want to get by you. Even in a 5 ft x2 ft space he is around that space 5 to 6 times a day. He has also lived with the asian water dragons, the cuban anole, the brown basilisks when younger and the green basil. The female is about 1/2 the size of him and is currently living in the 70 gallon with: a rainbow skink, 2 swifts, the brown anole and the cuban.
As mentioned in the Lizard Lounge...I had the Day Geckos set up in an environment painted dark green on the inside and covered in by 3 sides. During the time the 2 lived in here they were rarely on the walls or front glass.
The Giant Day Gecko gets a top notch 10, on the 1 -10 scale. They are findable when they escape. They are hardy enough to survive their attempts to experience freedom. They are versatile room mates whose appetite gets them through new situations. They are active and their personalities are excellent. If your set up works for them....there is little to do but feed them. They are professionals at being beautiful.
If there was one negative ~ they like to come to the front of the vivarium to eliminate.....and they like to do it 10 minutes after you have cleaned the glass! But that also means that they are not spreading feces throughout the environment.
When I see trouble I rework things quickly. I always have plenty of spare, smaller aquariums sitting around. Though at this time my lights are stretched to the limit. Beck has taken the pressure of the additions with grace. He isn't fond of anything larger that is quick moving though he handles the anoles and skinks well. He wasn't fond of the emerald swifts though. Basilisks are therefore not his thing either. He has lived with the green basilisks for a short time ~ not to his liking. He has lived with B&E the water dragon well. He seems neutral about the rainbow skinks. He is cool with the anoles and has never tried to taste one. Though I wouldnt recommend a young one or anything smaller than the anoles. Nor did he touch the baby green tree frogs. Beck though, doesn't understand why they don't move out of his way, everyone else does. I am sure he can see the little heart beating. Nor do the frogs attempt to move. Impasse, for a few minutes then Beck goes around them.
RESOURCES
FORUMS
www.forums.repashy.com
http://forums.phelsumaweb.com
www.ReptilesCanada.com
BOOKS
Breeders Seriers, Day Geckos F. Bruse, M.Meryer, W.Schmit ISBN#3-930612-95-x
WEBSITES
Day Gecko Species List and Info. http://www.daygecko.com/html/phelsuma_list.html
Fruit Recipe for Giant Days: http://www.reptilia.org/care_sheets/lizards/csheets_liz_fruithoney.htm