Cave gecko – Kuroiwa (Goniurosaurus kuroiwae)

Short answers

Cave gecko – Kuroiwa: How big does the enclosure need to be?

50×40×40 cm for one animal (approx. 50×50×50 cm for a 1.2 trio).

Cave gecko – Kuroiwa: What temperature does it need?

Daytime 20–25 °C (max. 26 °C, do not exceed), basking spot — (no basking spot; overheating above 26 °C is harmful), at night 18–22 °C.

Cave gecko – Kuroiwa: Does it need UVB lighting?

UVB: UVB not essential (nocturnal/crepuscular); weak UVB alongside D3 supplementation does no harm.

Cave gecko – Kuroiwa: How long do they live?

Life expectancy: 10–15 years.

Cave gecko – Kuroiwa: Is it suitable for beginners?

Rather not – it is considered an intermediate species (difficulty: Intermediate).

Climate

Daytime temperature

20–25 °C (max. 26 °C, do not exceed)

Night temperature

18–22 °C

Basking spot

— (no basking spot; overheating above 26 °C is harmful)

Humidity

60–80 % (mist daily; a humid hide whose microclimate briefly reaches ~90 %)

UVB

UVB not essential (nocturnal/crepuscular); weak UVB alongside D3 supplementation does no harm

Enclosure

Minimum size

50×40×40 cm for one animal (approx. 50×50×50 cm for a 1.2 trio)

Substrate

Damp woodland substrate (coco humus or soil) with leaf litter, moss and a cork back wall; a water dish

Feeding

Food

Insects (crickets, small roaches); dust with calcium, vitamins and D3

Feeding interval

adults approx. 2×/week, juveniles every other day

Key facts

Adult size

13–15 cm total length

Life expectancy

10–15 years

Origin

Japan – the Ryukyu / Nansei Islands (Okinawa); humid, cool forest and rock habitats

Protection status

CITES Appendix III (listed by Japan); a national monument and protected in Japan, with export prohibited; IUCN "Endangered" – in the trade only European captive-bred animals, proof of origin required

Brumation

A cool spell in winter (dropping to ~15–18 °C and shortening the photoperiod) to stimulate breeding; subtropical

Cohabitation

Keeping them singly is the least stressful option and the safe standard — the animals are solitary, and when kept together weaker ones are pushed away from food and hides. Several females can live together given enough floor space and a hide each; drawback: lower-ranking animals eat less, so weights must be checked regularly. Introduce a male only for mating; kept permanently, he harasses the females. Never keep two males together.

Notes

Temperature-sensitive – above about 26 °C is harmful, and no heat lamp. Prone to dehydration → a water dish plus a damp hide are essential. Strictly protected: reputable captive-bred animals with papers only.

Do you keep this species?

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Related species

• Bawangling leopard gecko (Goniurosaurus bawanglingensis) – Intermediate
• Cave gecko – Araneus (Goniurosaurus araneus) – Intermediate
• Cave gecko – Cat Ba (Goniurosaurus catbaensis) – Expert
• Cave gecko – Hainan (Goniurosaurus hainanensis) – Intermediate
• Cave gecko – Lichtenfelder (Goniurosaurus lichtenfelderi) – Intermediate
• Cave gecko – Lui (Goniurosaurus luii) – Intermediate
• Cave gecko – Orientalis (Goniurosaurus orientalis) – Expert
• Cave gecko – Splendens (Goniurosaurus splendens) – Expert

All species in the care wiki →

What you need to start

To keep Cave gecko – Kuroiwa (Goniurosaurus kuroiwae) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (50×40×40 cm for one animal (approx. 50×50×50 cm for a 1.2 trio)), substrate (Damp woodland substrate (coco humus or soil) with leaf litter, moss and a cork back wall; a water dish), a heat source with a thermostat, UVB lighting, thermometer and hygrometer, a water dish and hides. You will find equipment in the Reptoria marketplace.