Care Sheet for GeckosAverage Rating Given To This Care Sheet Is 0 (1=lowest, 5=highest) Last Updated: 05/17/2009 |
Main Category: | Lizards |
Sub Category: | Geckos |
Care Sheet Submitted By: | Lucifor666 |
Years Experience: | Under 1 Year |
Species: | Gecko - Fan Footed (Ptyodactylus hasselquisti) |
Other Species or Phases this Care Sheet May Cover: | N/A |
Sexing and Characteristics: | Fan foot geckos are relatively easy to sex with the males having large, hemipenal bulges.
Males can become territorial, Keep separate from other males.
Very active and rather difficult to hold.
|
Mostly Active During: | N/A |
Substrate and Water Needs: | The ideal substrate to use with this species is fine-grade sand. However kitchen towel is by far the safest option with hatchlings or young geckos. You can also use tropical soil/bark substrate. Wherever possible try to provide a cork or rock surface along the back & sides of the viv to allow these geckos to climb. |
Lighting and UVB: | Fan foot geckos are nocturnal and therefore do not necessarily need specialist lighting, however they do need to have access to at least some lighting, even if it’s only daylight, to help maintain a natural body clock. The period of daylight needs to mimic natural seasonal changes, with a total of up to 16 hours in high summer to around 8 hours during winter. If using an artificial lighting source, try to maintain these seasonal adjustments with the use of an electrical timer.
UV tubes cannot be rigged to a dimmer or thermostat. Many people use an overhead bulb to raise the temperature. Although I use UV as the main ’added’ heat source, their tanks are placed on shelves in our room where ambient temperature are relatively high. There are occasions where we have to turn all lights out & just have daylight, but this is normally only during the hottest months. |
Temperatures and Humidity: | Fan foot geckos require an ambient temperature of 80°F (27°C) rising to a hot spot of 95°F (35°C),with a night-time drop of approx 10°. These temperatures are easily achieved with a heatmat controlled by a suitable thermostat placed along the outside of the viv and covering one side or one-third of the back area. Depending on your set-up, it is possible to utilize the heat produced by the starter unit as an extra source - for instance placing the control at one end of the shelf the tank is on. This has the same effect as using a heatmat & can be adjusted by manual placement. If using artificial lighting, adjust the thermostat accordingly to take into account the higher ambient temperature.
Always use a quality digital thermometer to monitor your temps. Humidity is best provided by lightly misting the viv at least once a day
Daytime temperature should be:
Basking Area 80 to 85 degrees F.
Cool Area 77 degrees F.
Night temperature should range between 70-75 degrees F.
Use a reptile heat mat for 24-hour ground heat inside the vivarium.
This species requires low to moderate levels of humidity.
Supply a medium size shallow bowl for drinking and bathing.
|
Heating and Equipment: | May benefit from UV lighting (Activa/Arcadia D3).
Provide a basking area with access to a cooler area.
This lizard likes plenty of hiding places ( imitation plants).
Also supply lots of climbing branches. Use sand/gravel
or bark substrate.
Fan foot geckos can be housed simply in tall, glass vivaria with a minimum size of 18" H x 12"W x 12"D. The ideal substrate to use with this species is fine-grade sand. However kitchen towel is by far the safest option with hatchlings or young geckos. Wherever possible try to provide a cork or rock surface along the back & sides of the viv to allow these geckos to climb.
Other furnishings should consist of a few small, flat rocky perches and cork hides. A water bowl isn’t necessary as these geckos prefer to lick the condensation from the walls, so spraying lightly at least once a day is advisable
|
Caging Provided: | Mine are in tall, glass vivaria with size of 18" H x 12"W x 12"D |
Diet: | Carnivorous |
Description of Diet: | This species is a carnivore, these lizards like assorted insects.
Always offer a variety, black or brown crickets, mealworms, waxworms,
Small Locust. Always use a good dusting supplement.
Suitably sized crickets can provide the bulk of these geckos diet, but they will thrive if given as much variety as possible to provide alternative minerals & maintain an interest. Other commonly available insects include waxworms, and small locusts. These in turn can be supplemented with small, naturally occurring invertebrates during the spring & summer months, such as small spiders, grasshoppers etc.
Food insects should always be gut-loaded a day prior to feeding with a high-quality insect gutload, fresh green vegetables and non-citrus fruit. Extra supplementation can be provided by dusting the insects with Nutrabol, Reptivite or equivalent every other feed. We have also found the addition of a small bowl filled with calcium powder placed in the viv an ideal option, with the geckos often helping themselves as they need - especially with breeding females
|
Supplements, Nutrition and Usage: | Lightly dust your chosen food with Nutrabol, Reptivite or equivalent every other feed as this will help them get the nutrition they need |
Maintenance: | The tanks get cleaned out every couple of months and disinfected. Spot clean daily e.g clean up feces Also change water bowl daily and mist the tank daily. |
Some Words on this Species: | Fan foots are a great pet to have for beginners and experienced but one word of warning I would’t buy this pet if your looking for a pet to handle regularly and easily. |
How Members Rated
This Care Sheet | Rate This Care Sheet
Please keep all comments constructive to Gecko - Fan Footed (Ptyodactylus hasselquisti) husbandry methods and care. Any degrading, sarcastic, or disrespectful comments will be removed. |
Total Members Rating: 0
| 1 |  ( 0 ) |
| 2 |  ( 0 ) |
| 3 | ( 0 ) |
| 4 | ( 0 ) |
| 5 | ( 0 ) |
|
|
