Cave gecko – Splendens (Goniurosaurus splendens)

Short answers

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

60×45×50 cm.

Cave gecko – Splendens: What temperature does it need?

Daytime 20–25 °C (COOL), basking spot No basking spot, at night 17–20 °C.

Cave gecko – Splendens: Does it need UVB lighting?

UVB: Recommended (UVB 2–5 %).

Cave gecko – Splendens: How long do they live?

Life expectancy: 12–18 years.

Cave gecko – Splendens: Is it suitable for beginners?

No – better suited to experienced keepers (difficulty: Expert).

Climate

Daytime temperature

20–25 °C (COOL)

Night temperature

17–20 °C

Basking spot

No basking spot

Humidity

75–90 %

UVB

Recommended (UVB 2–5 %)

Enclosure

Minimum size

60×45×50 cm

Substrate

Coco humus, moss, rock structures, a thick layer of leaf litter

Feeding

Food

House crickets, crickets, roaches

Feeding interval

2–3×/week

Key facts

Adult size

13–16 cm total length

Life expectancy

12–18 years

Origin

Japan – Tokunoshima (the Ryukyu Islands)

Protection status

Strictly protected in Japan, export prohibited – only European captive-bred animals

Brumation

A cooler spell of 10–12 weeks

Cohabitation

Keeping them singly is the least stressful option and the safe standard; two males must never be kept together. Several females can live together given enough floor space and a hide each; drawback: lower-ranking animals are pushed away from food, so weights must be monitored. A male with one or two females only for breeding; kept permanently, he harasses the females.

Notes

A boldly orange-and-black marked island species. Keep it cool and very humid. Wild-caught animals are illegal – have the origin documented without fail.

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 – Kuroiwa (Goniurosaurus kuroiwae) – Intermediate
• Cave gecko – Lichtenfelder (Goniurosaurus lichtenfelderi) – Intermediate
• Cave gecko – Lui (Goniurosaurus luii) – Intermediate
• Cave gecko – Orientalis (Goniurosaurus orientalis) – Expert

All species in the care wiki →

What you need to start

To keep Cave gecko – Splendens (Goniurosaurus splendens) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (60×45×50 cm), substrate (Coco humus, moss, rock structures, a thick layer of leaf litter), a heat source with a thermostat, UVB lighting, thermometer and hygrometer, a water dish and hides. You will find equipment in the Reptoria marketplace.