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Blue-tailed Day Gecko
Phelsuma cepediana
Endemic to Mauritius, the blue-tailed day gecko is a stunning arboreal species. Vulnerable to habitat loss, it needs a vertical terrarium with rough branches and broad-leafed plants.
Class:Squamata
Order:Squamata
Family:Gekkonidae
Genus:Phelsuma
Species:Phelsuma cepediana
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Environment
Terrestrial
Humidity
60 - 80 %
Day temperature
26 - 30 °C
Night temperature
20 - 24 °C
Adult size
6 cm
UVB
Medium
Species description
Geographical Origin and Habitat: Endemic to the island of Mauritius. It inhabits dense, humid upland forests, macadamia plantations, and native palm groves. Ongoing deforestation and habitat loss are reducing its wild range, making it a vulnerable species.
Taxonomy and Genetics: Member of the Gekkonidae family. Commonly known as the blue-tailed day gecko. It is widely considered one of the most colorful day geckos. It shares part of its range with Phelsuma guimbeaui, from which it is distinguished by pattern and coloration.
Behavior and Habits: Diurnal, highly alert, and extremely fast. They spend their day active on tree trunks, hunting small insects and licking flower nectar. They are very shy and will instantly slide to the opposite side of a branch (eclipsing behavior) if disturbed. Strictly an observation-only pet.
Morphology: Reaches a length of 13-15 cm. Adult males display a grass-green head and back, with bright red spots or stripes, and a sky-blue or electric cyan tail and hindbody. Females are emerald green, much duller, and lack the blue tail. Females possess large endolymphatic calcium sacs on the neck.
Care, breeding and tankmates
Terrarium Setup: Requires a vertically oriented terrarium (minimum 45x45x60 cm). Prefer rough vertical branches (such as natural cork bark) and broad-leafed plants (such as Sansevieria) to provide cover. Add vertical and horizontal bamboo tubes.
Lighting and Heating: Heliophilic species requiring high-quality T5 UVB lighting (6-7% UVB) for proper calcium synthesis. Provide a localized basking spot of 32°C on an upper branch. Maintain ambient temperature between 25 and 28°C, with a night drop to 20-22°C.
Humidity and Hydration: Requires high humidity (70-80%), with peaks up to 85-90% achieved via morning and evening misting. They drink exclusively from water droplets deposited on leaves and glass; automated misting systems are highly recommended.
Feeding and Supplementation: Frugivorous and insectivorous diet. Offer powdered day gecko diet mixes (such as Pangea or Repashy fruit flavors) in elevated cups. Provide small crickets or fruit flies dusted with calcium and vitamins twice a week.
Compatibility: Highly territorial and aggressive. Housed best individually or, at most, as a bonded male/female pair in a very large enclosure. Avoid visual contact between adjacent terrariums housing males.
Health and Common Diseases: Skin is extremely delicate and tears easily if handled roughly. Maintain strict hygiene to prevent mouth rot (stomatitis). Constantly monitor the calcium sacs of breeding females (they should be plump and white).
Geographic Origin and Distribution
Endemic to the island of Mauritius. It inhabits dense, humid upland forests, macadamia plantations, and native palm groves. Ongoing deforestation and habitat loss are reducing its wild range, making it a vulnerable species.
Origin
Cosmopolitan or introducedAfrica and Madagascar
Reptile profile
- Diet
- No verified data available
- Life expectancy
- No verified data available
- Adult size
- 6 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 6 cm. The ReptTraits v1.2 source reports a maximum adult measurement of 6 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.
