Cave gecko – Lui (Goniurosaurus luii)

Short answers

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

60×40×50 cm for one animal (a specialist source); larger is recommended, an egg-laying box with at least 5 cm of substrate.

Cave gecko – Lui: What temperature does it need?

Daytime 24–26 °C, basking spot local hot spot up to 28 °C (optional), at night 20–21 °C.

Cave gecko – Lui: Does it need UVB lighting?

UVB: UVB not essential (nocturnal/crepuscular); weak UVB (Ferguson zone 1) optional.

Cave gecko – Lui: How long do they live?

Life expectancy: approx. 10 years (more with good care).

Cave gecko – Lui: Is it suitable for beginners?

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

Climate

Daytime temperature

24–26 °C

Night temperature

20–21 °C

Basking spot

local hot spot up to 28 °C (optional)

Humidity

60–80 %

UVB

UVB not essential (nocturnal/crepuscular); weak UVB (Ferguson zone 1) optional

Enclosure

Minimum size

60×40×50 cm for one animal (a specialist source); larger is recommended, an egg-laying box with at least 5 cm of substrate

Substrate

A damp sand and coco mix, a cork back wall to climb, several hides

Feeding

Food

Insects and larvae, worms; always dust them well with minerals and vitamins (they are prone to deficiencies)

Feeding interval

adults 2–3×/week, juveniles daily

Key facts

Adult size

approx. 18–19 cm total length

Life expectancy

approx. 10 years (more with good care)

Origin

Southern China (Guangxi, Hainan) and the far north of Vietnam (Cao Bang, Lang Son); limestone and karst caves in forest, 100–700 m

Protection status

CITES Appendix II / EU Regulation Annex B (since 2019, Vietnam Decree Group IIB); heavily threatened by wild collection; proof of origin plus registration required

Brumation

A moderate winter rest or cooling is recommended to stimulate breeding; not essential

Cohabitation

Keeping them singly is the standard; NEVER keep males together. 1.1 or 1.2 (one male plus one or two females) is possible only with enough space and supervision

Notes

Prone to dehydration and deficiencies – always supplement the food well and provide a water dish. It prefers cooler, humid conditions; avoid heat. Prefer captive-bred animals.

Do you keep this species?

Add your animal to Reptoria – Reptoria reminds you about feeding and shedding. Add your animal for free →

Look for Cave gecko – Lui (Goniurosaurus luii) in the marketplace →

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 – Kuroiwa (Goniurosaurus kuroiwae) – Intermediate
• Cave gecko – Lichtenfelder (Goniurosaurus lichtenfelderi) – 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 – Lui (Goniurosaurus luii) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (60×40×50 cm for one animal (a specialist source); larger is recommended, an egg-laying box with at least 5 cm of substrate), substrate (A damp sand and coco mix, a cork back wall to climb, several 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.