All species
reptileintermediate
Madagascar Giant Day Gecko
Phelsuma grandis
The real-life version of a famous gecko mascot — bright red-spotted green, active by day, and lightning fast.
10–12 in15–20 years
Habitat
Enclosure
18×18×24 in tall minimum
Temperature
Basking 90–95°F · ambient 75–82°F
Humidity / Water
60–80%, misted daily
Heating & lighting
Low-wattage halogen basking plus linear 5–6% UVB in a tall planted vivarium with bamboo and branches. Misting daily.
Diet
Feed these
- Crested gecko diet powder (CGD)
- Crickets
- Dubia roaches
- Mashed fruit (mango, apricot)
Never feed
- Citrus fruit
- Large or hard-shelled insects
- Mealworms (poor digestion)
CGD twice a week plus dusted insects. Diurnal display lizards — fast, fragile, and best enjoyed through the glass: grabbing them can tear their skin.
Cohabitation
Can live with
No one — house this species alone.
Never house with
Other day geckos — fiercely territorial Any different species
One per enclosure — even proven pairs need huge tanks and constant space to escape each other.
