Golden geckos are highly active lizards that love climbing! For optimal care, they require either a 20 US gallon high enclosure or vertical Exo Terra tank with vertical sides for climbing.
Captive hatchlings should be fed daily, while adults require feedings every 5-7 days. Crickets, mealworms and wax worms are the mainstays for their sustenance but they also enjoy commercial fruit mashes as an occasional treat.
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Substrate
Golden geckos thrive in environments that resemble their wild habitat, meaning a substrate that holds humidity is essential. Reptile-safe mulch such as cypress mulch, orchid bark, Ecoearth or moss growing substrate mixed with leaf litter may help provide this necessary environment.
Misting their enclosure first thing in the morning and again at night is an effective way of maintaining optimal humidity levels in their habitat. Without sufficient misting, reptiles may develop metabolic bone disease – a condition which causes tremors and dehydration – potentially leading to metabolic bone disease symptomatically.
Golden geckos are nocturnal creatures and therefore require places for shelter and climbing, along with enrichment from branches, plants and vines that create climbing obstacles or offer cover and hiding spots. Additionally, a shallow bowl filled with clean water should always be available and it should be replaced daily.
Insects
Golden geckos are predominantly insectivores, though they will occasionally feed on fruit as well. Their primary diet consists of crickets, mealworms, superworms, waxworms and cockroaches; other treats may include waxworms or cockroaches for occasional snacking purposes. All feeder insects should be gut loaded (fed premium nutrient-rich food 24-48 hours prior to feeding) in order to promote proper digestion and healthy growth.
Golden geckos should also receive commercial fruit mashes as part of their regular insect diet, making sure to rinse all fruits and vegetables well prior to giving them to your pet.
Golden geckos are nocturnal animals and will appreciate having branches, driftwood and faux silk plants in their environment. Hiding spots such as reptile caves and clay plant pots offer perfect hideaways. A UVB light helps golden geckos metabolize calcium for overall bone health.
Calcium
Geckos require high-grade calcium powder for maintaining bone health. The ideal formulations contain an adequate proportion of carbonate and phosphate to allow optimal absorption.
Geckoes should receive their primary protein source from insects such as crickets, mealworms and super worms; also provide some fatty waxworms, roaches and other pesticide-free insect prey as treats. All insects should be gut loaded or coated in vitamin and mineral supplement before being fed to your gecko.
Many gecko owners enjoy offering their pet free access to plain calcium in an open bowl for them to snack on at will. This method can be safe and recommended provided your gecko has a healthy appetite and does not suffer from metabolic bone disease (MBD), whereby they lose weight due to insufficient metabolism of calcium.
Vitamin D3
Geckos require Vitamin D3, a fat-soluble vitamin, for bone health and metabolic processes. Without it, their bodies cannot absorb essential minerals like calcium and phosphorous for absorption purposes.
Expert Tip: Many owners administer multivitamin supplements containing D3 to their geckos each time they feed them, in order to ward off Metabolic Bone Disease (MBD), a condition which affects reptiles who don’t get enough calcium in their diets, leading to brittle bones and extraneous shedding known as dysecdysis.
This powdered multivitamin provides geckos with vitamin A to strengthen their eyesight and immune systems, along with small doses of niacin, the B vitamins (B1, B2, B5, B6 & B12), calcium & D3. Simply dust it lightly over your pet’s insects. Most gecko breeders recommend it.
Lighting
Golden geckos are notorious egg gluers, attaching their eggs to various surfaces within their habitat so they become difficult to remove once hatched. They typically lay their eggs at night and can be fertilized by males over one year old; multiple geckos should not be housed together due to territoriality issues and competition for resources such as food and shelter.
As tropical species, golden geckos require an enclosure with appropriate lighting, heat and humidity conditions – at minimum they require a 20 gallon enclosure, although larger enclosures would be preferable.
As part of their habitat, reptiles require a hiding spot, branches and water dish. A hygrometer should be used to measure humidity. A regular misting should be administered; they also should have access to sources of moisture such as damp leaves or cage walls where drops of water might form.
