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Description
Madagascar Day Gecko
Scientific Name: Phelsuma madagascariensis madagascariensis
Common Name: Madagascar Day Gecko, Madagascar Giant Day Gecko
Species Overview
Size: Adult Madagascar Day Geckos typically reach 9–11 inches (23–28 cm) in total length, making them one of the largest and most impressive members of the Phelsuma genus. They are robust, highly active, and well-adapted for climbing and basking in bright light.
Appearance: This stunning gecko displays an intense emerald to bright green base colour with distinct red or orange markings across the back and head. The head often features a red band running from the nostrils to the eyes, while the back may show scattered red or rust-coloured spots. The underside is pale cream or yellowish-white. The eyes are large, round, and golden-brown with vertical pupils, adapted for daylight activity. Compared to other subspecies like P. m. kochi, the nominate madagascariensis form exhibits stronger red patterning and more vivid overall coloration.
Distribution: Native to eastern and northern Madagascar, where it inhabits tropical coastal forests and humid lowland areas.
Habitat: In the wild, Madagascar Day Geckos live on large trees, bamboo, and occasionally human structures in warm, moist regions. In captivity, they thrive in tall, well-ventilated enclosures with abundant vertical climbing surfaces, lush vegetation, and high light intensity.
Behaviour: This species is diurnal, alert, and territorial. Males are particularly aggressive toward one another and should be housed separately. Madagascar Day Geckos are highly visual, using movement and colour to communicate. They are fast and fragile, so handling should be minimized, though they make exceptional display animals.
Captive Care
Enclosure: Provide a vertically oriented terrarium measuring at least 18 inches × 18 inches × 36 inches (45 × 45 × 90 cm) for one adult. Include large cork branches, bamboo sections, and sturdy live plants such as Pothos, Dracaena, or Ficus. Ensure strong ventilation and secure lids, as these geckos can easily climb smooth glass.
Temperature & Humidity: Maintain daytime temperatures between 78–86°F (26–30°C) with a basking area reaching 90°F (32°C). Nighttime temperatures can drop to 70–75°F (21–24°C). Keep humidity between 60–80%, achieved through daily misting and live plants. Allow short drying periods between mistings to prevent bacterial buildup.
Lighting: Madagascar Day Geckos require full-spectrum lighting with 5–7% UVB to support calcium metabolism and overall health. Provide a 12-hour day/night cycle, ensuring both bright basking zones and shaded retreats for thermoregulation.
Diet: Offer a balanced diet consisting of gut-loaded insects such as crickets, roaches, and black soldier fly larvae, along with commercial gecko fruit or nectar diets. Adults should be fed every other day, and juveniles daily. Dust insects with calcium and multivitamin supplements at each feeding.
Behaviour in Captivity: Under consistent care, Madagascar Day Geckos are hardy, vibrant, and highly active during the day. They are quick to establish territories and display natural basking and hunting behaviours. Though best observed rather than handled, they are captivating display reptiles that thrive with proper lighting and humidity.
Special Considerations: Avoid housing males together and provide multiple visual barriers in enclosures with pairs or groups. Their skin is delicate and can tear easily, so avoid direct handling. Maintain stable temperatures and avoid overheating under basking lamps.
Taxonomy Note
The Madagascar Day Gecko (Phelsuma madagascariensis madagascariensis) belongs to the family Gekkonidae and represents the nominate subspecies of the Phelsuma madagascariensis complex, which includes P. m. kochi (Kochi Day Gecko) and P. m. grandis (Giant Day Gecko). It is one of the most recognizable Phelsuma due to its large size, brilliant coloration, and widespread distribution across Madagascar’s humid forests.
Genetics Note
There are no established morphs of Phelsuma madagascariensis madagascariensis, though natural variation exists among individuals from different regions. Colour brightness, pattern density, and red marking intensity vary naturally with locality and environmental factors rather than selective breeding.