Gonatodes albogularis fuscus care sheet
Species description
The coloration of males and females is markedly different. The males are very bright in colours (orange-yellow head, silver-grey body and black tail with white tip), the females are relatively inconspicuous (brown-black-white spotted). Juveniles have female coloration, young males start to change their colours at their age of 4 - 6 months. Next interesting thing is that Gonatodes have not suction lamellae on their toes like other day geckos (Phelsuma or Lygodactylus) have and so they can't walk on glass surface. Of course, on roughened vertical surfaces they run often and quite easy.
Terrarium
I breed my Gonatodes in smaller terrariums (mainly in dimensions - 45-50(h) x 30(w) x 30(l) cm), which should be vertically oriented. Terrariums are pretty well planted (bromeliads, tillandsias, mini-orchids, pothos, ficus benjamina, small-leaf voluble plants etc.) as Gonatodes are generally shyer in comparison with Phelsumas. Two walls of each terrarium I cover by pressed cork to extend their living space. Vertically and horizontally oriented decorative roots are not only nice but Gonatodes like to run them very often. I breed them strictly in pairs as I do not recommend keeping of more adult Gonatodes individuals in one terrarium, even the females are not an exception. As a substrate I use 1:1 mixed soil and sand.
Temperatures
Daytimes 25 - 28 °C (locally up to 30 °C), dropping to room temperature at nights. Generally, I decrease temperature in terrariums and separate some females from males in winter, too.
Humidity
Approximately 65 %, misting 1x/day.
Lighting
Adults - 1x UVA/UVB tube (however, it's not necessary!). I prefer rather one low wattage (5W or 10W) spot lamp. It is necessary to mention that Gonatodes practically don't bask and UVA/UVB source is not so key matter for them as for Phelsumas. In any case I do not recommend UVA/UVB tube or bulb light exposure for hatchlings, because it can result in serious shedding problems and subsequent hatchling death! I breed my hatched hatchlings and juveniles solely under common tubes or bulbs, all this practically with 100% rate.
Feeding
Small and soft insects adequate to individual gecko size - crickets, non-flying fruit flies, house-flies, meal worms, moths, firebrates, woodlouses etc. For newly hatched young (25 mm) it is necessary to have suitably small feeding. Gonatodes don't lick offered sweet nectars. Small water-dish should be at disposal in terrarium all the time as well as pulverized calcium especially for eggs lying females. I regularly vitaminize the feeding and offer vitamin D3.
Maturity
Approximately in age of 10 - 12 months. Mating recommended from the age of twelve months.
Egg laying:
Every 3 - 4 weeks one egg, female buries egg into substrate or she deposit it in convenient hidden place e.g. under bark, into cork bark hollow or lignified herbal stem etc. - it depends on given Gonatodes species.
Incubation
At 27 °C approx 60 - 90 days, incubation in terrarium takes longer time.
Generally, it is possible to state that Gonatodes albogularis fuscus is not problematic species for breeding, its reproduction is pretty successful and the offspring are very hardy then.