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Stumpff's Ground Gecko
Paroedura stumpffi
The Madagascar Ground Gecko is an active, nocturnal species with tuberculated skin and large golden eyes. Thrives in semi-arboreal setups with damp substrate and cork bark.
Class:Squamata
Order:Squamata
Family:Gekkonidae
Genus:Paroedura
Species:Paroedura stumpffi
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Environment
Terrestrial
Humidity
60 - 80 %
Day temperature
24 - 28 °C
Night temperature
20 - 22 °C
Adult size
7.49 cm
UVB
Low
Species description
Geographical Origin and Habitat: Endemic to northern and northwestern Madagascar, including the island of Nosy Be. They inhabit the leaf litter and low tree trunks of deciduous dry forests and low-altitude humid forests.
Taxonomy and Genetics: Belonging to the family Gekkonidae. Commonly known as the Madagascar Ground Gecko or Stumpff's Ground Gecko. It is appreciated in captivity for its active nocturnal behavior and hardiness.
Behavior and Habits: Nocturnal and primarily terrestrial, but they have expanded toe pads that allow them to climb low branches and rocks easily. They are peaceful and search for insects actively at night.
Morphology: Reaches 10–13 cm in length. Females are slightly wider. Males are distinguished by very prominent hemipenal bulges at the base of the tail.
Care, breeding and tankmates
Terrarium Setup: A semi-arboreal terrarium (minimum 45x45x45 cm) is suitable. Use a damp substrate mix of soil, coco fiber, and sphagnum moss. Provide plenty of stacked cork bark hides, low branches, and live or artificial plants.
Lighting and Heating: Keep daytime temperatures at 26–28°C, with a basking area of 30°C using an overhead heat lamp. Drop temperatures to 20–22°C at night. A low-output (2–5%) UVB source is highly recommended for calcium synthesis.
Humidity and Hydration: Maintain relative humidity between 60% and 80%. Spray the terrarium with dechlorinated water nightly to allow them to lick droplets from leaves and decor. Provide a small, shallow water dish.
Feeding and Supplementation: Active insectivores. Feed on crickets, small roaches, and mealworms. Dust insects with a high-quality calcium and vitamin D3 supplement three times a week.
Compatibility: Males are territorial and must never be kept together. Can be housed individually or in compatible pairs/harems (one male, multiple females) in spacious enclosures with multiple hides.
Health and Common Diseases: Prone to metabolic bone disease (MBD) if calcium supplementation is ignored. Ensure good ventilation to prevent skin infections from waterlogged substrate.
Geographic Origin and Distribution
Endemic to northern and northwestern Madagascar, including the island of Nosy Be. They inhabit the leaf litter and low tree trunks of deciduous dry forests and low-altitude humid forests.
Origin
Africa and MadagascarEurope, Mediterranean, and West Asia
Reptile profile
- Diet
- No verified data available
- Life expectancy
- No verified data available
- Adult size
- 7.49 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 7.49 cm. The ReptTraits v1.2 source reports a maximum adult measurement of 7.49 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.
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