Dubious dtella (Gehyra dubia)

Short answers

Dubious dtella: How big does the enclosure need to be?

From 30×30×50 cm for one animal; for a pair from 35×35×50 cm (1997 expert report, at 6 cm SVL).

Dubious dtella: What temperature does it need?

Daytime 26–30 °C, basking spot 32–33 °C (local warm spot), at night 20–24 °C.

Dubious dtella: Does it need UVB lighting?

UVB: UVB not essential (nocturnal), a low dose does no harm.

Dubious dtella: How long do they live?

Life expectancy: 10+ years.

Dubious dtella: Is it suitable for beginners?

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

Climate

Daytime temperature

26–30 °C

Night temperature

20–24 °C

Basking spot

32–33 °C (local warm spot)

Humidity

50–70 % (mist in the evening, drying out by day)

UVB

UVB not essential (nocturnal), a low dose does no harm

Enclosure

Minimum size

from 30×30×50 cm for one animal; for a pair from 35×35×50 cm (1997 expert report, at 6 cm SVL)

Substrate

A sand-loam mix or coco humus, rather dry; cork and bark hides

Feeding

Food

Insects (crickets, roaches, beetles); occasionally nectar or fruit purée

Feeding interval

adults 2–3×/week, juveniles daily

Key facts

Adult size

approx. 11–15 cm total length (snout–vent length 5–7 cm, tail about as long as the body)

Life expectancy

10+ years

Origin

Northeast Australia (Queensland, northern New South Wales, islands of the Torres Strait and the Great Barrier Reef) as well as southern New Guinea; trees, rocks and buildings

Protection status

No CITES; Australia prohibits the export of wild-caught animals → only captive-bred animals in the trade; no special protection in Germany

Brumation

No real winter rest; a slight winter drop in temperature or photoperiod to stimulate breeding is possible

Cohabitation

Keep them singly or as a pair (1.1); NEVER keep males together (territorial). If kept as a pair, provide enough climbing surfaces and visual barriers

Notes

Very fast and with extremely thin, easily torn skin – barely handleable. Species-specific keeper data are sparse; the care is derived conservatively from genus and field data (Gehyra spp.).

Do you keep this species?

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Related species

• Halmahera giant gecko (Gehyra marginata) – Beginner
• Stump-toed gecko (Gehyra mutilata) – Intermediate
• Voracious gecko (Gehyra vorax) – Intermediate
• 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

All species in the care wiki →

What you need to start

To keep Dubious dtella (Gehyra dubia) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (from 30×30×50 cm for one animal; for a pair from 35×35×50 cm (1997 expert report, at 6 cm SVL)), substrate (A sand-loam mix or coco humus, rather dry; cork and bark 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.