Reptile Forum, Reptile Classifieds - CaptiveBred

[Cleef]

Hello all,

I'm taking the plunge and joining the Phelsuma club. I've always been fascinated by Phelsuma and a thread on here, made a few weeks ago now, reactivated my interest in them. (big time! )

I started looking around various books I have, and on websites etc, and kind of got addicted to reading and researching about Phelsuma .

Anyway, today I have finished setting up a ~25 gallon viv (18" cubed exo terra) which isn't entirely finished yet. I'm just waiting for some smaller diamater bamboo to arrive to finish it off. I have included horizontal, vertical and diagonal bamboo. Live plants, (pothos and dracaena at the moment, more to come). The recommended Phelsuma setup basically, I'll post pictures when it's finished.

My first Phelsuma species will be going in here, and suggestions would be great.

I had laticauda laticauda in mind, I find these things stunning and most Phelsuma keepers agree that they are a good starter species, though I believe I should be able to keep most Phelsuma species successfully providing their needs are met, which they would be.

I spoke directly to a Phelsuma breeder too, and they suggested that Madagascariensis would do well in the size of vivarium mentioned, (they said they breed this species successfully in these vivariums). I would have thought my viv would be a bit on the small side for Madagascariensis though?

I would just like to know what people thought regarding what species I should go with first though

Cheers
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Steve P

[Thomas Shanta]

Lineatus would also suit a viv that size,my first and only Phelsumas were Standings and they are very easy to keep and breed because they don't need a humid enviroment.I would say minimum viv size for the giants i.e Grandis,standingi should be around 2ft cubed.

[Cleef]

Thanks for the comments. Personally I wouldn't feel comfortable with any of the giants in my size viv either, I was quite suprised when they recommended it.

Klemmeri could also be an option I think, it depends on availability however, and I do prefer the look of laticauda. I have read that Klemmeri are slightly less aggressive though, and any unfound eggs, therefore hatchlings, usually don't get eaten which is a plus.
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Steve P

[Saedcantas]

Ahh! if you can get hold of some klemmeri, with the right amount of research, they'd just be adorable.
They're not too big on foliage, they prefer to stick with the bamboo and dart in and out of splits in it

They've got tons of character and I'm fairly certain that Paul Ritchie "The Lizard Wizard" is breeding these guys aswell as the other Phelsuma species you've mentioned
Check out his Day Geckos careguide as a good start
http://www.thelizardwizard.co.uk/day_gecko_care.htm

Lotte***

[Cleef]

Thanks Saedcantas,

I have already contacted thelizardwizard about Laticauda, they have been very helpful and I'm on the waiting list for when they have some available.

I have also read numerous care sheets on Klemmeri, I think Joe Farah's is probably the most detailed; http://www.freewebs.com/joefarah/neondaygeckos.htm

I am still edging towards Laticauda but I'm not 100% yet
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Steve P

[Saedcantas]

Great link Steve The pics on there are awesome, but the bunch of babies had me chuckling

Good luck getting the ones you want
Lotte***

[Cleef]

Thanks

I take it you keep Klemmeri, what about any other species?
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Steve P

[Saedcantas]

Ahh not currently, I've worked with P. klemmeri and bred them in the past and (it's true really for all and any of the smaller phelsuma) nothing quite matches the hilarity of trying to keep the hatchlings contained, especially if they hatch in with the adults and you dont notice... open the viv for cleaning and zip!

I'm familiar with the standingi and grandis but not the laticauda that you're leaning towards so I'll let someone who knows come along and do the talking

Lotte***

[Cleef]

Well I think the setup is pretty much finished now:

For some reason it is very hard trying to get a decent picture of it, its just in a bit of an awkward position to photograph. Anyway hopefully you get the idea.



There are several pieces of bamboo which have been slit for hiding etc. The pics below are of a slit which has had the cut-out placed back into position. The idea is to make it easier to check any potential egg laying sites in the future, we'll see how it goes though lol









Plants are pothos, dracaena and sansevieria, horizontal bamboo under the basking area which is upper 80's lower 90's deg F.

Now it just needs something to occupy it
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Steve P

[Mememe]

How did you split that bamboo? Look like a good solution - provides security!
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