Vivariums;reptiles;Other Day Geckos 2

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5- Agalega day gecko Phelsuma borbonica

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Agalega day gecko (Phelsuma borbonica agalegae Cheke, 1975) is a subspecies of geckos.

Agalega day gecko

Scientific classification :

Kingdom:Animalia

Phylum:Chordata

Class:Reptilia

Order:Squamata

Family:Gekkonidae

Subfamily:Gekkoninae

Genus:Phelsuma

Species:P. borbonica

Subspecies:P. b. agalegae

Trinomial name:

Phelsuma borbonica agalegae
Cheke, 1975

General introduction

This diurnal gecko only lives on Agaléga Islands. It typically inhabits coconut trees or cheval trees. The Agalega day gecko feeds on insects and nectar.

Description

This lizard belongs to the medium-sized day geckos. Males are slightly larger than females and can reach a total length of about 16 cm whereas females measure only 13.5 cm. The basic body colour is grayish green. Both the head and the neck are yellow-brown. The tail and back can be bright turquoise. The flanks are grey or beige. The dorso-lateral bands are turquoise. On the back and tail there are brownish or red-brick coloured dots or bars.

Distribution

This species is endemic to the two Agalega islets.

Habitat :

The two islands where P. borbonica agalega occurs, are small low coral sand island. On these islands are mainly coconut tree plantations. The Agalega day gecko is often found on these trees as well as on Terminalia spec. and mango trees.

Diet :

These day geckos feed on various insects and other invertebrates. They also like to lick soft, sweet fruit, pollen and nectar.

Behaviour :

This Phelsuma species is rather shy.

Reproduction :

The pairing season is between April and the first weeks of September. During this period, the females lay up to 4 pairs of eggs, often under loose bark of coconut trees. Females often share the same location for their eggs. The young will hatch after approximately 70–100 days, depending on the temperature. The juveniles measure 45–50 mm.

Care and maintenance in captivity

These animals should be housed in pairs and need a large, well planted terrarium. The temperature should be between 24 and 30°C. During the night the temperature can drop to 18–22°C. The relative humidity should be maintained between 40 and 60% during the day and 75% at night. These animals can be fed with crickets, wax moths, fruit flies, mealworms and houseflies.

References :

Henkel, F.-W. and W. Schmidt (1995) Amphibien und Reptilien Madagaskars, der Maskarenen, Seychellen und Komoren. Ulmer Stuttgart. ISBN 3-8001-7323-9
McKeown, Sean (1993) The general care and maintenance of day geckos. Advanced Vivarium Systems, Lakeside CA.

Captive care and maintenance of Phelsuma barbouri

courtesy to : www.phelsuma.se/main_artikles.htm
By Magnus Forsberg

Phelsuma barbouri ( Loveridge 1942 ) origin from the mountains Ambohimirandrana and Mantsina, Madagascar. They only appere on high altitudes up to 2600 meter. The klimat on this altitudes is the main reasoon that this specie are considered a bit difficult to keep and breed in captivity. The average temperature on yearly basis is 13,9° C. The average temperature the coldest month is 10,2°C, and the hottest month 16,1°C. The yearly rainfall is around 1700 mm. Normally the days are hot and dry and the nights cool and moist. On these altitudes sunshine and UV radiation is very intensive, and this together with the almost allways windy conditions makes important parameters for a successful captive care of this specie.

The Terrarium

Today I have two terrariums with Phelsuma barbouri. In one I keep 1.1 and in the other 1.2. The terrariums messure 50X60X50 ( length, width, hight).
Exept from the interior, two things are different from all my other Phelsuma terrariums. Normally a third part of the top is covered with screen for ventilation.
On the terrariums for Phelsuma barbouri the whole area of the top is sreened. This to provide for as much ventilation as possible. The second thing is the lightning. Normaly I use 1-2 full spectrum tubes with UV radiation for my Phelsumas as only light and heatsourse. For P.barbouri I use three tubes, and also one halogenspot. The tubes are on for 14 hours between mars and october

and are reduced to 10 hours between november and february. The halogen spot are turns on at 11 and goes of at 14 the whole year. This gives the animales a chance to bask and digest food better even under the cold winter months.
Every evening the cage is sprayed to increase humidity. The humiditylevels varies between 50-85% (day/night). The average temperatures in the cages is during summertime 24°C and in winter 16°C.
Nightime temperatures in summer drops to 18°C, and in winther to 13°C. Under the halogenspots temperature is 29-30°C all year. As substrate I use 6 cm of sand that is sprayed every evening to hold humidity the night through.
For climbing steady rocks and a few branches are used. A Sansiveria plant is also included, mostly to give the terrarium a nicer look. One of the branches reaches all the way to the top to give the animales a chance to bask close to the tubes and the halogenspot. Even if this specie normally lives on the ground in the wild, there behavior in terrarium looks like most Phelsumas. They spend most of there time climbing on the branches or the glasswalls. No bambustalks are used as the animales seams to prefer hiding between the rocks instead of in tubes.
They also very rarely use tubes for egglaying, and therfore I see no reasoon for using them. As with all Phelsumas this specie benifits highly from a outdoor summervacation in screened terrariums. They do well outside in screened terrariums even if the temperature occasionally should drop below 0°C.

Feeding
As with all Phelsumas the diet contains of both insects and different kind of fruitmixtures. I use crickets as base insect food, varied with waxmoths and fruitflies. The fruit I use is mostly papaya, and to give the animales some variation, yougurt, mango, banana and babydeserts are used. The adults are feed twize a week with insects and once a week with fruit. Every other feeding the fooditem is dusted with Minerall 1, that I consider is the number one multivitaminpouder.

Breeding and incubating the eggs
My females normally lays there first clutch in the middle of september. They continue to lay eggs once a month until the temperature get to hot, normally at the end of june. Then they make a break and continues again in september. Phelsuma barbouri is an egg-gluer, but not to the point as for instance the Mauritius and Reunion species. My animales prefer to lay eggs high up in the terrarium, mostly on the leaves of Sansiveria but sometimes also on the glass walls. When the eggs are deposited on leaves they can normally be removed without breaking them, and putten into an incubator. When deposited on the glass walls they must be incubated in situ. As egglaying perioud for my animales is during the coldest months, incubating the eggs in situ automaticly means a very long incubationperioud. As you can see in the diagram below the normal incubationtime is 67-74 days in a incubator, but the eggs incubated in situ took as much as 136 days to hatch. In the diagram you can see the incubation datas for one of my females.

Phelsuma barbouri
Female Ho 82

Data for incubation:
Daytime temperature: 30,5°C.
Nighttime temperature: 26°C.
Relative humidity: 70-80 %.

Based on these data, the average incubationtime for Phelsuma barbouri is 70 days. The one egg incubated in situ is not included. From a total of 15 eggs, 13 hatched and 2 was unfertilized.

Raising the hatchligs

As for all my Phelsumas I raise the hatchlings in modified so called petboxes. The interior is minimal with barchmulch-substrate to be able to maintain humidity, something to hide in and a pice of artificial plant for climbing. All hatchligs are kept separately. This to prevent agressivness and to easily monitor each animal. Hatchlings from Phelsuma barbouri messure 3,2-3,5 cm and seams to be very delicate the first two months. Two things seams to be very important to succesfully get them pass this period. The first thing is as with the

adults: good ventilation. This can of course be satisfied in a terrarium, but it is much easier to make small screened containers for each hatchling. These can be brought outside in good wether. But what I have experienced to be even moore important is frequent feeding. I feed my hatchlings with insects like small crickets and fruitflies four times a week, and at all time they have access to some kind of fruitmixture. If these two things are neglected the hatchlings often die after two to three month without any visible reasoon. They look healthy one day and die the other. Sometimes slight sheddingproblems are a early sign of trouble. When cared for correctly the young Phelsuma barbouri reach adult size in 8-9 months.

PHELSUMA BREVICEPS

courtesy to : www.ig-phelsuma.de/phelsumen/tipps-fur-einsteiger/phelsuma-breviceps/

Literatur:
Hallmann,G.,Krüger & G.Trautmann
( 1997)
Faszinierende Taggeckos.
( Natur und Tier Verlag )

Other and Recommended websites :

- www.geckosunlimited.com/community/day-geckos-phelsuma/79287-phelsuma-borbonica-cepediana-guimbeaui-inexpectata.html

- www.gbif.org/species/113421316

- www.geckotime.com/breeding-endangered-geckos/

Phelsuma borbonica (agalegae) mater mating

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Phelsuma breviceps is a diurnal species of gecko that is native to south-east Madagascar and typically dwells on trees and bushes. Its diet in the wild consists mainly of insects.

Grüner Berggecko (Phelsuma borbonica)2 im Zoo Augsburg

Grüner Berggecko (Phelsuma borbonica) im Zoo Augsburg

6- Phelsuma breviceps

Phelsuma breviceps

Conservation status

Scientific classification:

Kingdom:Animalia

Phylum:Chordata

Class:Reptilia

Order:Squamata

Suborder:Lacertilia

Family:Gekkonidae

Subfamily:Gekkoninae

Genus:Phelsuma

Species:P. breviceps

Binomial name :

Phelsuma breviceps
Boettger, 1894

Description :

This lizard belongs to the smallest day geckos. It can reach a maximum total length of about 10 cm. This species is easily recognised by its short snout, after which it has been named. The basic body colour is light grey to brownish. On the back there are light blue and dark dots and stripes. The legs have light blue spots.

Distribution :

This species inhabits southeast Madagascar. It is found in the area around Toliara and near the Tsimanampetsotsa-lake.

Habitat :

Euphorbia stenoclada

P. breviceps is adapted to a dry climate. It is often found on the succulent spurge Euphorbia stenoclada which has 7 cm long thorns.

Diet

These day geckos feed on various insects, other invertebrates and nectar, both in the wild and in captivity.

Behaviour :

Like most geckos of the genus Phelsuma, this species is quite silent.

Reproduction :

The females lay their eggs between the wood spurge thorns.

Care and maintenance in captivity

These animals should be housed in pairs and need a dry terrarium. These animals can be fed with crickets, wax moth, fruits flies, mealworms, houseflies and fruit baby food.

References

-Jump up^ Bora, P., Glaw, F., Rabibisoa, N., Rakotondrazafy, N.A., Ratsoavina, F. & Raxworthy, C.J. (2011). "Phelsuma breviceps". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2012.1. International Union for Conservation of Nature. Retrieved 23 August 2012.

Christenson, Leann and Greg (2003) "Day Geckos In Captivity". Living Art Publishing. ISBN 0-9638130-2-1
Henkel, F.-W. and W. Schmidt (1995) Amphibien und Reptilien Madagaskars, der Maskarenen, Seychellen und Komoren. Ulmer Stuttgart. ISBN 3-8001-7323-9
McKeown, Sean (1993) The general care and maintenance of day geckos. Advanced Vivarium Systems, Lakeside CA.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The blue-tailed day gecko (Phelsuma cepediana Merrem, 1820) is a diurnal species of gecko, which is endemic to the island Mauritius. It typically inhabits warm and humid places and dwells on different trees and bushes.

Boettger, 1894

Short head Taggecko
The name derives brevis (lat.) = Short and caput (lat.) = Head.

Synonyms:
1894 Phelsuma breviceps BOETTGER, Zool. Num. Leibzig, 17 (445): 137th

Type specimen:
SMF 9465, Senckenberg Museum, Frankfurt am Main

Terra typica (restricta):
southern tip of Madagascar, (land between Lac Tsimanampetsotsa and the Indian Ocean)

Description:
P. breviceps is less noticeable by their coloring, as by their exceptionally short body shape. As body size has been reported in the literature always to 100mm. This is true for wild catches with Schwanzregeneraten to. Breeding animals reach but certainly sizes up to 120mm.

The basic color is a lighter shade of gray. The body top is darker in color and usually covered with pale green and brown spots. The body bottom is dirty-white. Striking is a dark brown to black Nasofrenal Strip, which runs through the eye and extends to the ear opening. The skin of P. breviceps is very sensitive and dissolves rapidly, which can be seen especially by small biting among the animals. The body coloration is highly dependent on the illumination intensity and the general condition of the animals. Only when sufficiently intense light (HQL lighting or direct sunlight) the animals show the above-described light-gray coloring and puncturing.

Habitat:
P. breviceps inhabited one for Phelsumen extremely to be designated habitat - the hot bush savannas in the southwest of Madagascar. Preferred location is growing in habitat Euphorbia stenoclada . This bush to tree-like growing plant is reinforced with up to 70 mm long thorns. The adaptation of P. breviceps at this plant goes so far that the eggs deposited on the outer, heavily thorned branches of euphorbia and wedged literally between their spines (Prädationsschutz). Most paired clutches are directly exposed to all climatic influences. Single protection represents the as polished acting surface of the egg.

Breeding:
To successfully keeping and breeding, it is particularly important to illuminate the terrarium sufficient. For this, HQL-lamps have been developed with high wattage. The cagesize can be described with a size of 30x40x70 cm (LxWxH) than adequate. The device consists of glattrindigen book branches. Very important is the application of a so-called "sun shelf", which consists of a horizontally arranged piece of branch. The distance to the HQL lamp is approximately 15 cm, whereby here temperatures of up to 40 ° C. This possibility of warm-up is essential for the welfare of the animals.

For planting the terrarium best suited to the already mentioned Euphorbia stenoclada which is rare in culture. As a replacement, some plant species have been tried. Based on the natural habitat of the animals was the first specimen plant Euphorbia millii , the Crown of Thorns. This type has, around their urges, up to 20 mm long thorns and was well accepted by the Phelsumen. They climbed by comprising the thorns up on the plants. Although the Geckos to this moving cautiously, but there were also violations of their right sensitive skin. Therefore Euphorbia millii not suitable for permanent planting.

Another replacement plant itself has aloe arborescens , the Baumaloe of which is also accepted by its thorny structure. However, it is not important which plant is located in the terrarium; P. breviceps climbs on the Sansevieria also offered around merrily. With optimal attitude up to four clutches are deducted. The egg size is 9 mm in diameter quite remarkable, especially in relation to the overall size of the geckos. At temperatures around 25 ° C to 30 ° C the eggs hatch after about 60 days with a size of ca.40mm and have no difficulty in rearing.Basically it can be said that it is P. breviceps a good durable and extremely interesting Gecko is, if a few fundamental husbandry conditions (light, heat) are taken into account.

7- Blue-tailed day gecko, Phelsuma cepediana

Blue-tailed day gecko

Scientific classification:

Kingdom:Animalia

Phylum:Chordata

Subphylum:Vertebrata

Class:Reptilia

Order:Squamata

Suborder:Sauria

Infraorder:Gekkota

Family:Gekkonidae

Subfamily:Gekkoninae

Genus:Phelsuma

Species:P. cepediana

Binomial name:

Phelsuma cepediana
(Milbert, 1812)[1]

Etymology

The specific name, cepediana, is in honor of French naturalist Bernard Germain de Lacépède.[2]

Scientific synonyms

-Phelsuma inunguis Cuvier, 1817

-Platydactylus Cepedianus A.M.C. Duméril & Bibron 1836: 301

-Phelsuma trilineatum Gray, 1842

-Phelsuma cepedianum Angel, 1942: 29

-Phelsuma trilineata Raxworthy & Nussbaum, 1993

-Phelsuma cepediana Kluge, 1993

-Phelsuma cepediana Glaw & Vences, 1994: 297

-Phelsuma cepediana Rösler, 2000: 101

Description :

P. cepediana belongs to the middle-sized day geckos. It can reach a total length (including tail) of about 15 centimetres (5.9 in). There always is a dorso-lateral stripe present, which may be broken. A red stripe extends from the nostril to the shoulder. The male body colour is light green or bluish green. The backs of males have a bright blue colour and are covered with dark red spots and dashes. The males have deep blue tails. Females lack the brilliant blue colour of the males. They have a bright green back and rust-coloured spots.

Specimen on tree in Mauritius

Distribution

The blue-tailed day gecko inhabits the island Mauritius where it is widely distributed. P. cepediana may also have been introduced to Madagascar where it has been reported a few times, amongst others in the region of Iviloina. These observations have not been confirmed though.

Habitat :

palms, traveler's palms, banana trees and papayas. They also inhabit gardens and houses in suburban areas. These geckos prefer a moist and warm climate. McKeown (1993) mentions that the original vegetation of Mauritius has been largely replaced with agricultural crops where these day geckos cannot live.

Diet :

Blue-tailed day geckos feed on various insects and other invertebrates. They also like to lick soft, sweet fruit, pollen and nectar. The flowers of the now critically endangered liana Roussea simplex produce copious amounts of nectar and are pollinated only by the blue-tailed day gecko. The blue-tailed gecko later on plays a role by lincking up a gelatinous substance secreted by the fruit which contains the minute seeds. It disperses the seeds in its droppings. Regrettably, the 2 mm long ant Technomyrmex albipes that was introduced to Mauritius from the Indo-Pacific area seal the flowers of Roussea with clay to protect mealy bugs. These drink the sap and excrete a sugary urine that is collected by the ants. The ants attack animals that visit the plant, and so prevent the blue-tailed day gecko from pollinating the flowers and eating from the fruit, and in this way seriously hampering Roussea's reproduction.[3]

Behavior :

This Phelsuma species can be quite aggressive both toward their own and to other Phelsuma species. In captivity, where the females cannot escape, the males can also sometimes seriously wound a female. In this case the male and female must be separated.

Reproduction

The females lay their eggs in a protected location. These Phelsumas glue their eggs. At a temperature of 28 °C (82 °F), the young will hatch after approximately 40–45 days. The juveniles measure 40 millimetres (1.6 in).

Care and maintenance in captivity

These animals should be housed in pairs and need a large, well planted terrarium. It is important to provide the terrarium with sufficient air flow. The temperature should be between 28 and 30 °C (86 °F). The humidity should be maintained between 75 and 100. In captivity, these animals can be fed with crickets, wax moth, fruits flies, mealworms and houseflies.

References

Jump up^ "Phelsuma cepediana ". The Reptile Database. www.reptile-database.org.
Jump up^ Beolens, Bo, Michael Watkins and Michael Grayson (2011). The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. ISBN 978-1-4214-0135-5. (Phelsuma cepediana, p. 149).
Jump up^ "Roussea simplex". Kew Royal Botanic Gardens. Retrieved 2016-03-17.

Christenson, Leann, and Greg Christenson (2003). Day Geckos In Captivity. Ada, Oklahoma: Living Art Publishing. pp. 123–124. ISBN 0-9638130-2-1.
Henkel, F.-W., and W. Schmidt (1995). Amphibien und Reptilien Madagaskars, der Maskarenen, Seychellen und Komoren. Ulmer Stuttgart. ISBN 3-8001-7323-9
McKeown, Sean (1993). The general care and maintenance of day geckos. Advanced Vivarium Systems, Lakeside CA.

Other and Recommended websites :

- eol.org/pages/1056088/details

- www.daygeckos.co.uk/?product=phelsuma-cepediana-mauritian-blue-tailed-day-gecko-male

- www.mauritiusencyclopedia.com/Nature/Fauna/Reptiles/Phelsuma_cepediana.htm

- Important for breeder : (( Breeding ofendangered-geckos )): www.geckotime.com/breeding-endangered-geckos/

Care of Blue-tailed Day Gecko

courtesy to : cripticspage.com:1991/asp/animalcare/Animal_Care_detail.asp?key=Blue-tailed%20Day%20Gecko%201&itemNumber=15

Common Name : Blue-tailed Day Gecko

Scientific Name :Phelsuma cepediana

Region :Africa

Country : Madagascar

Location :Tamatave 20ft 6m 18 07 S 49 24 E 20 yrs

Enviroment :Tropical Rainforest

Animal Type :Reptile - Gecko

Activity Period :Diurnal

Temperature :70-90 F

Humidity : 60 %

Gestation Period :Unknown

Incubation Period :Unknown

Incubation Temp :Unknown

Natural History :

widely distributed in Mauritius, both coastal areas and interior regions, at low, mid, and high elevations. Adapts well to areas disturbed by humans, as long as some vegetation is present. Prefers less arid areas. Introduced in the region of Ivoloina, on the east coast of Madagascar in 1962. Within the past 400 years, most of the natural vegetation on Mauritius has been destroyed and replaced with agricultural crops, such as sugar cane. Day geckos cannot live in these agricultural areas. P. cepediana is found on trees and bushes, including coconut palms, bananas, papayas, and traveler's palms. healthy populations occur on bananas and other backyard vegetation in suburban areas of some villages and towns. Found in very high densities in suitable habitat where there is high rainfall or sufficient moisture.

Biology :

males average 4.5-5.5 inches with large specimens reaching 6 inches. Females average 3.75-4.5 inches. A brilliantly-colored, sexually dimorphic species. When at peak activity colors, males are typically brilliant blue above with large, irregular red spots and dashes. A dorso-lateral stripe, which may or may not be broken, is always present. A red eye stripe extends from the back of the nostril to the shoulder. the flanks are a bright chartreuse. The tail is deep blue. Females are bright green with rust-colored spotting. A rust-colored dorso-lateral stripe and characteristic eye stripe are always present. Females from the upland populations frequently have brighter reds, reducing striping, and may have a cluster of small red spots on the lower back.

Care

Females are extremely delicate and this species is best managed in vertically oriented enclosures with live plants such as potted banana trees, Dracaena, bromeliads, philodendra, or birds of paradise. it is essential to use a well planted enclosure with this species, and to keep humidity levels up while affording sufficient air flow. this is accomplished through watering and heavy misting of major portions of the enclosure twice daily. House as pairs. this and other delicate day gecko species do much better if housed in screened outdoor enclosures with large potted plants during late spring, summer, and early fall when the temperatures are in the 70-90 F range. Be sure there are areas which afford both sun and shade in the enclosures.

Breeding :

Unknown

Incubation

This species is an "egg gluer." The eggs frequently need to be incubated in place.

Rearing

Neonates are grey or charcoal with light and dark dotting. Hatchlings vary in total length from 1.1-1.5 inches. they are extremely shy and require a number of hiding places in their rearing enclosure. During the first week, hatchlings often refuse insects, but will lick sliced papaya or a baby food/nectar mixture. This supplementation is critical for their survival. the enclosure must also be heavily misted several times a day, as the small body size of these neonates allows for rapid desiccation. Up to four hatchlings of similar size may be reared together in a 6-10 gallon enclosure. Neonates do best if given mid-size branches with rough bark and live plants in their enclosures. Standard reptile tanks with sliding tops are not suitable as the neonates are capable of fitting into the top groove and may be crushed when the top is opened. Instead, house in a plastic terrarium with the opening at the center of the top directly under full-spectrum lighting. Proper care during the first several weeks is critical for their survival.

Illnesses :

Unknown