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ReptileTerrestrialIntermediate
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Cameroon Dwarf Gecko
Lygodactylus conraui
A tiny, brilliantly colored African day gecko. Known for its bright green and yellow hues, it is ideal for small, densely planted bioactive terrariums.
Class:Squamata
Order:Squamata
Family:Gekkonidae
Genus:Lygodactylus
Species:Lygodactylus conraui
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Environment
Terrestrial
Humidity
70 - 85 %
Day temperature
24 - 27 °C
Ambient temperature
24 °C
Night temperature
21 - 22 °C
Basking spot
30 °C
Adult size
4 cm
Minimum enclosure
>= 30 L
UVB
Basso
Species description
Geographical Origin and Habitat: Native to the humid tropical forests of Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, and Bioko Island in central-western Africa. They inhabit the dense understory and the mossy trunks of primary rainforests.
Taxonomy and Genetics: Belonging to the Gekkonidae family. Commonly known as the Cameroon Dwarf Gecko, it is one of the smallest Lygodactylus species available in the hobby.
Behavior and Habits: Strictly diurnal and highly active. They are shy, alert, and exceptionally fast geckos that prefer to stay on tree trunks and under leaves, scanning their surroundings for micro-prey.
Morphology: Reaches a total length of only 6–7 cm. Males possess visible preanal pores and display a brighter yellow ventral and throat coloration. Females are slightly more stocky.
Care, breeding and tankmates
Terrarium Setup: A vertical rainforest setup (minimum 30x30x45 cm) is required. Furnish with thin twigs, cork bark, and live plants with small leaves (such as Pothos and Ficus pumila) to create abundant hiding spots. Bioactive soil with clean leaf litter is recommended.
Lighting and Heating: Keep daytime temperatures at 24–27°C, dropping to 21–22°C at night. High heat above 29°C must be avoided. A low-output (2–5%) UVB source is essential for synthesis of vitamin D3 and calcium absorption.
Humidity and Hydration: Requires high humidity levels of 75–90%. Mist the enclosure once or twice daily with clean, dechlorinated water; they will drink water droplets from the leaves. Good ventilation is necessary.
Feeding and Supplementation: Strictly insectivorous. Feed micro-prey such as fruit flies (Drosophila melanogaster), springtails, pea aphids, and pinhead crickets. Dust prey with calcium and vitamin D3 twice a week.
Compatibility: Best kept in pairs (1.1) or small harems (one male, multiple females). Do not house multiple males together as they are territorial. Avoid housing with any larger animals.
Health and Common Diseases: Very fragile; their skin can easily tear, and they will readily drop their tails if grabbed. Ensure the enclosure is escape-proof with a mesh size smaller than 2 mm.
Geographic Origin and Distribution
Native to the humid tropical forests of Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, and Bioko Island in central-western Africa. They inhabit the dense understory and the mossy trunks of primary rainforests.
Origin
Africa and MadagascarEurope, Mediterranean, and West Asia
Reptile profile
- Diet
- No verified data available
- Life expectancy
- No verified data available
- Adult size
- 4 cm
- Lifestyle/Microhabitat
- No verified data available
- Activity cycle
- No verified data available
- Sociality
- No verified data available
- Reproduction
- No verified data available
- Handling tolerance
- No verified data available
- Brumation
- No verified data available
- Molting
- No verified data available
The catalog's scalar value is 4 cm. The ReptTraits v1.2 source reports a maximum adult measurement of 4 cm for this species, recorded as snout–vent length (SVL). These figures are not interchangeable: the first is the profile's editorial reference, whereas the second is a published maximum under a specific measurement convention; differences among sources can reflect sex, population, life stage and measuring method.
Image gallery
Licensed images linked to the species or, when marked, to the closest representative taxon.
Related species
Recommendations grouped by close relatives, companion choices, and similar care.
