Description:
Scientific name: Coleonyx mitratus
Life span: 10-15 years
These geckos feature horizontal brown, black, and yellow bands on their dorsal surfaces, as suggested by their name. A species of medium-sized gecko in the genus Coleonyx, native to the Central American region and habitat, is the banded gecko (Coleonyx mitratus).
Native Region/Habitat
Origins lie in Central America. From Guatemala to Costa Rica in the south, these geckos can be found.
Behavior:
They spend the night. The banded gecko of Central America is nocturnal and spends the daytime in a soil-based tunnel. It comes out in the evening to hunt for insects. Like most geckos, it can lose its tail if it feels threatened. Most animals will grow new tails within a year.
Care As a pet/In captivity:
Housing: Two or three adult Central American banded geckos can live in a 10–20 gallon tank. More people can be housed in larger cages, but males shouldn’t be kept together because they can be violent to one another. Coco fibre can be used as a base for a variety of substrate mixes, however the majority of the substrate should stay dry. Peat moss and vermiculite mixed one-to-one are also effective.
Temperature: The ideal environment for this species is between 75 and 80 °F. Moreover, a 90–92°F hot spot should be available during the day; a heat pad or heat lamp can be used to maintain this temperature. The banded geckos of Central America don’t require any additional lighting.
Humidity: The more humid environment is where Central American banded geckos spend a lot of their time. A humid hide should be offered, utilizing things like sphagnum moss as a substrate to retain moisture, in addition to keeping a portion of the substrate moist. Between 50% and 60% of the air may be humid. A piece of the substrate for this species should be misted four to five times each week in order to provide water droplets on the enclosure walls from which the geckos can drink.
Diet: Only insects are consumed by banded geckos in Central America. Dubia roaches or crickets should be their main sources of nutrition. Other foods, like tiny mealworms or wax worms, make tasty treats on occasion. Only provide insects that are no longer than the distance between the gecko’s eyes as a general rule for size. In general, subadults and adults should be fed 14-inch insects, while hatchling Central American banded geckos should be fed insects of around 18 inches. It is advisable to sprinkle a vitamin/mineral supplement on the feeder insects. Bugs won’t be able to hide within the enclosure thanks to a feeding bowl with an escape-proof lid.
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