Description:
Scientific name: Rhacodactylus chahoua
Life span: 15-20 years
With a length of 10-12″/25-31 cm, chahoua geckos are among the bigger New Caledonian geckos. They feature a broad, triangular head, a blunt nose, big, lidless eyes, vertical pupils, velvety skin, sticky, clawed toe pads, and a powerful, prehensile tail.
Native Region/Habitat
The New Caledonian islands of Grande Terre and Isle of Pines are home to the nocturnal, omnivorous, arboreal chahoua gecko.
Behavior:
Nocturnal indicates that chahoua geckos spend the most of their time active at night. As a result, they probably prefer cooler weather, receive little indirect UVB during the day, and have excellent night vision.
Care As a pet/In captivity:
Enclosure: Choose a tall terrarium with some additional height. The ideal chahoua gecko tank measurements are 36 inches length, 18 inches wide, and 36 inches high.
Remember that young chahoua geckos require a smaller cage while they develop since they can become anxious in a tank with too much room and begin to feel exposed to dangers. A younger chahoua gecko should have an enclosure that is 12 inches length, 12 inches wide, and 12 inches high.
Temperature and Humidity: Chahoua geckos thrive in colder climates since they are nocturnal animals. To efficiently control their body temperature, these reptiles require a range of temperatures in their cage. Chahoua geckos prefer daytime temperatures of 78 to 82 degrees Fahrenheit, but they also require a hotter basking area and a colder area to simulate the temperature variations in their native habitat. The basking area’s temperature should be maintained between 82°F and 85°F, but it should not rise above 86°F.
The best way to give the gecko the required warm place in the habitat is to use a basking light. To replicate the gecko’s natural habitat, place the lamp adjacent to a plant or a branch of wood that it can climb. The terrarium’s cooler area should be between 65°F and 72°F in temperature.
Moreover, the enclosure must have a high level of humidity for the chahoua gecko. For these geckos, the typical humidity ranges from 60% to 80%. A hygrometer should be used to measure humidity. It’s important to wet the terrarium twice a day in order to maintain the ideal humidity level. The installation of a water bowl for the reptile will help maintain steady humidity levels in the aquarium.
Food and Water
Due to their omnivorous nature, chahoua geckos must include both plant-based and animal-based items in their diet to obtain all the essential elements. In the wild, these lizards frequently consume fruit and insects. In captivity, they can consume live insects for 50% of their diet and a specially formulated crested gecko food for the remaining 50%. (CGD).
Juvenile chahoua geckos should be fed every day and given insects once every few days if they are between the ages of 0 and 12 months. Mature geckos need to be fed three to four times per week, and every other day they should be given insects.
The water drops that form on the terrarium walls as a result of condensation are occasionally licked by chahoua geckos. Therefore, a separate water bowl must be provided in the enclosure for these reptiles to use. To avoid any health problems brought on by poor cleanliness, make sure to cleanse the bowl once a week and change the water in it every day.
Table
