Beaded gecko (Lucasium damaeum)

Short answers

How big does the enclosure for Beaded gecko need to be?

From 45×30×30 cm for one animal, for a pair or one male with two females from 60×40×30 cm (ground dweller, floor space matters more than height).

What temperature does Beaded gecko need?

Daytime 26–30 °C, basking spot Warm spot 30–32 °C over a heat mat or stone slab, at night 18–22 °C.

Does Beaded gecko need UVB lighting?

UVB: Optional (nocturnal; low-output UVB does no harm).

How long does Beaded gecko live?

Life expectancy: 5–8 years (captive figures for related Australian ground geckos).

Is Beaded gecko suitable for beginners?

Partly – manageable with some prior knowledge (difficulty: Beginner to intermediate).

Climate

Daytime temperature

26–30 °C

Night temperature

18–22 °C

Basking spot

Warm spot 30–32 °C over a heat mat or stone slab

Humidity

30–50 %, one corner slightly moist

UVB

Optional (nocturnal; low-output UVB does no harm)

Enclosure

Minimum size

from 45×30×30 cm for one animal, for a pair or one male with two females from 60×40×30 cm (ground dweller, floor space matters more than height)

Substrate

Fine, slightly loamy sand 3–5 cm, deeper in places so burrows hold; cork tubes, flat stones and grass tussocks as hides

Feeding

Food

Small insects: house crickets, small field crickets, small roaches, flies

Feeding interval

Adults 2×/week, less often in winter

Key facts

Adult size

up to about 10 cm total length

Life expectancy

5–8 years (captive figures for related Australian ground geckos)

Origin

Arid interior of Australia: from south-eastern Western Australia to southern Queensland, western New South Wales and Victoria

Protection status

Not protected; Australia prohibits the export of wild animals – captive-bred only

Brumation

Yes, 6–8 weeks at 15–18 °C without feeding (prerequisite for breeding)

Cohabitation

Kept singly or as a trio (1.2): the least stressful option is to keep the male on his own outside the breeding season and only introduce him to the females after the winter rest. One male with two females can also live together all year round in a sufficiently large enclosure with several hides, so that his courtship is spread out. Never keep two males together – they fight. Feed separately if the animals differ in size.

Notes

A small, fast ground gecko without adhesive toe pads and with a bead-like bordered dorsal stripe. Needs sandy substrate with burrows and hides.

Look for Beaded gecko (Lucasium damaeum) in the marketplace →

Related species

• Thick-tailed gecko (Underwoodisaurus milii) – Beginner to intermediate
• Broad-tailed gecko (Phyllurus platurus) – Intermediate
• Fat-tailed diplodactylus (Diplodactylus conspicillatus) – Intermediate
• Delean's knob-tailed gecko (Nephrurus deleani) – Intermediate
• Jewelled gecko (Strophurus elderi) – Intermediate
• Ranges stone gecko (Diplodactylus furcosus) – Beginner to intermediate
• Banded knob-tailed gecko (Nephrurus cinctus) – Intermediate
• Eastern stone gecko (Diplodactylus vittatus) – Intermediate

All species in the care wiki →

What you need to start

To keep Beaded gecko (Lucasium damaeum) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (from 45×30×30 cm for one animal, for a pair or one male with two females from 60×40×30 cm (ground dweller, floor space matters more than height)), substrate (Fine, slightly loamy sand 3–5 cm, deeper in places so burrows hold; cork tubes, flat stones and grass tussocks as hides), a heat source with a thermostat, UVB lighting, thermometer and hygrometer, a water dish and hides. You will find equipment in the Reptoria marketplace.