A-1 Reptiles
Gargoyle Gecko Care
Make sure a shallow dish of water is available at all times. The Rhacodactylus auriculatus specie is commonly referred to as the Gargoyle gecko.
Unlike other gecko species the Gargoyle gecko tends to eat allot of fruit. Apricots, bananas, plums, pears, peaches, etc., are all acceptable fruit items to feed. Apricots being the highest in calcium.
Fresh fruit is always best but when not available strained baby food fruit can be used and can be purchased at any local grocery store in the baby food section. Strained baby foods store easily and are quite inexpensive.
On occasion the Gargoyle gecko will take insects such as crickets or mealworms. Mealworms should not be given to reptiles under the age of six months.
All food items should be dusted with a high calcium supplement such as Rep-Cal with D3. Twice monthly food items should be dusted with a good reptile vitamin such as Nekton-Rep.
Due to the carnivorous tendencies youngsters have toward one another it is best to house babies singly until the age of four months or you might find tails missing. The tail on this specie does regenerate but it is darker in color and not as patterned as the original tail.
An easy way to house youngsters is to use plastic shoe boxes with air holes drilled along the sides for ventilation.
Its always much less expensive to buy young reptiles but there is also a certain amount of risk in buying young.
The Gargoyle gecko is found in New Caledonia and is the smallest of the Rhacodactylus specie growing to a length of five inches.
Gargoyle Geckos have a knob on each side of the top of their skull which protrudes out. This specie also has large teeth. They resemble, in appearance, the Gargoyles which perch above the old church's or cathedrals in Europe hence the nickname Gargoyle.
Only one male should be placed inside the enclosure. You may house up to four females with a single male.
Screened cages are always best and provide maximum ventilation inside the enclosure and a more natural environment. Ventilation is especially important when housing species that require daily misting's. The more ventilation in a cage the better.
Glass aquariums tend to hold to much moisture. Constant wet soil conditions may cause bacteria growth which may cause illness or even death.
Daytime temperatures should reach 74 deg f. A basking lamp may be placed on top of the screened enclosure and the basking temperature should be approximately 82 deg f. The screened enclosure must be tall enough to permit the Gargoyle gecko to bask under the basking lamp and also allow the reptile to move down farther in the cage to cooler areas for rest.
Gargoyle geckos are arboreal and branches should be provided inside the enclosure for climbing.
Gargoyle geckos should be provided with a hide area which may consist of top soil or peat moss which is slightly damp. The female Gargoyle gecko will be drawn to this area to lay her eggs.
The Gargoyle gecko readily breeds in captivity and is long lived. The life span of this specie is approximately fifteen years.
A substrate which may be used is a mixture of store bought top soil and Canadian sphagnum peat moss.
Gargoyle geckos do not require the high humidity levels that other Rhacodactylus specie require. A daily misting of the substrate is all that is required in order to keep humidity levels in check.
Breeding takes place in the fall with the first eggs being laid in December or January. Incubation temperature of the Gargoyle eggs should be around 78 deg f. Incubation medium may consist of slightly dampened peat moss or vermiculite. Incubation time for the egg is approximately fifty to sixty days.
Accurately sexing of Gargoyles may be done at the age of seven to eight months. The males have an obvious swollen tailbase.
Coloration is achieved by multiple generations of selective breeding.
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Rhacodactylus auriculatus
