Kinabalu bent-toed gecko (Cyrtodactylus baluensis)

Short answers

Kinabalu bent-toed gecko: How big does the enclosure need to be?

60×45×60 cm for a pair.

Kinabalu bent-toed gecko: What temperature does it need?

Daytime 26–30 °C, basking spot No basking spot — at most a warm place up to 30 °C, at night 22–24 °C.

Kinabalu bent-toed gecko: Does it need UVB lighting?

UVB: Not essential (nocturnal), but weak UVB is still beneficial.

Kinabalu bent-toed gecko: How long do they live?

Life expectancy: 8–12 years.

Kinabalu bent-toed gecko: Is it suitable for beginners?

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

Climate

Daytime temperature

26–30 °C

Night temperature

22–24 °C

Basking spot

No basking spot — at most a warm place up to 30 °C

Humidity

70–85 %

UVB

Not essential (nocturnal), but weak UVB is still beneficial

Enclosure

Minimum size

60×45×60 cm for a pair

Substrate

Forest-floor substrate, permanently slightly damp, plus cork tubes and vertical pieces of bark

Feeding

Food

Crickets, roaches, house crickets and firebrats, dusted regularly with calcium and vitamins

Feeding interval

adults 2–3×/week

Key facts

Adult size

16–20 cm

Life expectancy

8–12 years

Origin

Borneo, the Kinabalu massif

Protection status

Not listed under CITES

Brumation

No winter rest; in winter just somewhat cooler and drier

Cohabitation

Keep in pairs, as 1.1 or 1.2; males never together. The reason: several males fight over territory and the best hides until one is injured or sits permanently in a corner. Females generally get along but need their own hides; feed animals of different sizes separately.

Notes

A montane form; keep it permanently cool — above 28 °C things get critical.

Do you keep this species?

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Related species

• Agusan bent-toed gecko (Cyrtodactylus agusanensis) – Intermediate
• Chanhome's bent-toed gecko (Cyrtodactylus chanhomeae) – Intermediate
• Elok bent-toed gecko (Cyrtodactylus elok) – Intermediate
• Intermediate bent-toed gecko (Cyrtodactylus intermedius) – Intermediate
• Short-palmed bent-toed gecko (Cyrtodactylus brevipalmatus) – Intermediate
• Malayan bent-toed gecko (Cyrtodactylus pulchellus) – Intermediate
• Malaysian bent-toed gecko (Cyrtodactylus malayanus) – Intermediate
• Marbled bent-toed gecko (Cyrtodactylus marmoratus) – Intermediate

All species in the care wiki →

What you need to start

To keep Kinabalu bent-toed gecko (Cyrtodactylus baluensis) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (60×45×60 cm for a pair), substrate (Forest-floor substrate, permanently slightly damp, plus cork tubes and vertical pieces of bark), a heat source with a thermostat, UVB lighting, thermometer and hygrometer, a water dish and hides. You will find equipment in the Reptoria marketplace.