Crested Gecko — Soft Scale
Correlophus ciliatus
The Pinstripe Crested Gecko is a color morph of Correlophus ciliatus characterized by two continuous cream or white lines running along the outer edges of the dorsal crests.
Umgebung
Terrestrisch
Luftfeuchtigkeit
60 - 80 %
Tagestemperatur
22 - 26 °C
Nachttemperatur
20 - 22 °C
Erwachsenengröße
20 cm
Artbeschreibung
Geographical Origin and Habitat: Endemic to the southern rainforests of New Caledonia. Inhabits the lower and mid-levels of the forest canopy and dense shrubs, seeking shelter from direct sunlight.
Taxonomy and Genetics: Features eyelash-like projections above the eyes and down the sides of the head. The co-dominant 'Soft Scale' mutation physically reduces scale size, making the skin remarkably smooth and velvety to the touch, while enhancing overall color saturation.
Behavior and Habits: Crepuscular and nocturnal. Spends the day hiding in foliage. At night, it becomes active, jumping from branch to branch using its adhesive toe pads and semi-prehensile tail.
Morphology: Mature males develop prominent hemipenal bulges at the base of the tail around 9-12 months of age. Females lack these bulges.
Pflege, Zucht und Mitbewohner
Terrarium Setup: Requires a vertically oriented terrarium (minimum 45x45x60 cm for an adult). Furnish with dense foliage (Pothos, Sansevieria), vines, and climbing branches. Use coconut coir or peat moss as substrate.
Lighting and Heating: Prefers moderate temperatures of 22-26°C. Temperatures exceeding 28°C cause severe, often fatal heat stroke. Do not use heating pads or hot rocks. Provide a low-intensity 5% UVB light.
Humidity and Hydration: Maintain high humidity (60-80%) by misting daily in the evening. Allow a dry-out period during the day (around 50-60% humidity) to prevent bacterial growth. Geckos drink water droplets from leaves.
Feeding and Supplementation: The primary diet should consist of complete powdered fruit-based replacement diets. Supplement with gut-loaded crickets or roaches dusted with calcium and D3 once or twice a week.
Compatibility: Strictly solitary. Males are highly territorial and will fight. Females can occasionally be cohabitated in large enclosures, but individual housing is safest.
Health and Common Diseases: Vulnerable to tail autotomy (tail loss) if grabbed or stressed; the tail does not regenerate. Prone to metabolic bone disease (MBD) from calcium deficiencies and heat stroke in warm environments.
Geografische Herkunft und Verbreitung
Endemic to the southern rainforests of New Caledonia. Inhabits the lower and mid-levels of the forest canopy and dense shrubs, seeking shelter from direct sunlight.
Ursprung
Selektive Züchtung und SortenAustralien, Neuguinea und Ozeanien
Reptilienprofil
- Diät
- Omnivore
- In the wild, the Crested Gecko is primarily an omnivore, feeding on a wide variety of insects, overripe fruits, and nectar found in the canopy of New Caledonia. In captivity, their dietary needs are mostly met through commercially prepared powdered diets that provide a balanced ratio of fruit, protein, vitamins, and minerals. Offering live feeder insects like crickets or dubia roaches once or twice a week is highly recommended to stimulate hunting behavior and provide essential proteins for growth and breeding. Insects should be appropriately sized and dusted with calcium and vitamin D3 supplements to prevent metabolic bone disease.
- Erwachsenengröße
- 20 cm
- Lebensstil/Mikrohabitat
- Arboreal
- They are predominantly arboreal, spending the vast majority of their lives in the canopy of trees and tall shrubs. They possess specialized toe pads with microscopic setae that allow them to easily scale smooth vertical surfaces.
- Aktivitätszyklus
- Crepuscular
- These geckos are primarily crepuscular and nocturnal, becoming highly active during the twilight hours of dusk and dawn, as well as throughout the night. During the day, they typically remain hidden and asleep in foliage or bark.
- Sozialität
- Gregarious
- As naturally solitary and nocturnal reptiles, Crested Geckos spend their days resting in foliage and become active at dusk to forage and explore. Males are highly territorial and will fight aggressively if housed together, often resulting in severe injury or tail loss. While females can occasionally be kept in small groups under close supervision in large enclosures, solitary housing is the safest and least stressful approach for all individuals. They are widely recognized for their docile temperament with humans and will tolerate gentle, short handling sessions once acclimated, though excessive handling can induce stress.
- Reproduktion
- Oviparous
- The Crested Gecko is oviparous and remarkably prolific when maintained under optimal conditions. Females typically lay clutches of two eggs every 30 to 45 days during the breeding season, burying them in a moist substrate. Incubation temperatures can influence the hatching time and, to some extent, the sex ratio of the offspring, generally taking between 60 and 120 days depending on the thermal environment. Cappuccino is an incomplete dominant gene. The homozygous form creates a dark 'Super Cappuccino'. Careful genetic tracking is essential when working with these distinct morphological variations to maintain healthy lineages and avoid undesirable traits.
- Handhabungstoleranz
- Tolerant
- Generally very docile and tolerant of human interaction, making them excellent pets for beginners. However, they are known to be "jumpy" and can drop their tails if startled or grabbed abruptly, a condition that is permanent as their tails do not regenerate.
- Brumation
- Nicht erforderlich
- This species does not require a brumation period and can be kept at standard room temperatures (72-78°F or 22-25°C) year-round. A slight nighttime temperature drop is natural but extreme cold should be avoided.
- Häutung
- Periodic
- Shedding occurs regularly, typically every 2 to 4 weeks depending on the age and growth rate of the gecko. Proper shedding requires a consistently humid environment (60-80% relative humidity), and they will instinctively eat their shed skin to recover nutrients and hide their presence from predators.
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