How to care for Golden Gecko

Common Name:Golden Gecko

Latin name: Gekko ulikovskii

Native to: Golden geckos can be found in the warm rain forests of Vietnam

Size: Male golden geckos grow to around seven inches, while females stay smaller at around five to six inches
Golden Gecko (Gekko ulikovskii)

General appearance: Golden geckos do not like to be handled. They are somewhat hyper and can stress easily. Golden geckos can and will bite when bothered.

Housing requirements:

Enclosure: A single golden gecko can be housed in a 10-gallon aquarium. Provide hiding spots, climbing branches and vines within the tank. A secure lid is necessary.

Temperature: Range between 78° - 85° F

Heat/Light: Golden geckos do not need a UV light, but do need a nocturnal heat lamp to provide necessary heat. An under-the-tank heater can also be used to supplement heat if needed.

Substrate: A substrate such as Bed-A-Beast™ or any other lizard bedding can be used. Moss also helps keep the humidity inside the cage, and provides more cover for the golden geckos. Try to avoid substrates such as reptile carpet or Repti-bark™

Environment: Golden geckos need a warm and humid environment. The cage needs to be misted at least twice a day and the geckos themselves should be misted. A large water dish is also helpful with humidity, even though very few golden geckos will drink directly from the dish.

Diet: A varied diet of crickets, mealworms, wax worms and super worms works best for golden geckos. Make sure to gut load the insects and dust calcium/vitamin powder once a week. Make sure no uneaten crickets remain in the cage, as crickets tend to bite at the limbs of the golden geckos and may injure them.

Maintenance: Dead crickets and fecal material should be cleaned out regularly and the water bowl should be kept clean. Handlers should be sure to thoroughly wash hands after handling the golden geckos or related materials.