Madagascar Day Gecko

Origin and Habitat: Coastal and wooded areas of eastern Madagascar. It favors humid forests, banana plantations, and tall trees, living strictly in arboreal contexts.

Morphology: Reaches 8.5-9.5 inches (22-24 cm) in length. It features a vibrant bright or pale green coloration, decorated with small irregular red spots and a red line running from the eye to the nostril. While being a large gecko, it is morphologically more slender than its cousin *Phelsuma grandis*.

Behavior: A diurnal, frantic, and territorial species. They hunt and feed actively during the day, tirelessly exploring their environment. Males do not tolerate other males. Absolutely not suited for handling due to the ease with which they lose pieces of live skin if grabbed or frightened.

Terrarium: Vertical glass enclosures (e.g., 18x18x24 or 24x18x36 inches for adults). Mandatory decor consists of long, large-diameter hollow bamboo poles placed diagonally and horizontally, along with dense, sturdy live vegetation.

Lighting and Temps: Mandatory UVB radiation (5.0 / 6%) is essential for vitamin D3, combined with heating lamps creating a basking area at 90-93°F (32-34°C). The rest of the tank should be kept around 75-79°F (24-26°C).

Humidity and Water: Requires high humidity (60-80%). It quenches its thirst exclusively by licking the microscopic water droplets that settle on leaves and glass following heavy morning and evening misting (manual or automated).

Diet: In captivity, it thrives when offered prepared powder diets for crested geckos (CGD) 2-3 times a week, alternated with meals of live insects (crickets, locusts, lateral roaches) properly dusted with calcium and vitamins.