Ocellated gecko (Gonatodes ocellatus)

Short answers

Ocellated gecko: How big does the enclosure need to be?

30×30×60 cm for a pair.

Ocellated gecko: What temperature does it need?

Daytime 25–28 °C, basking spot 35–40 °C locally under the lamp, at night 21–24 °C.

Ocellated gecko: Does it need UVB lighting?

UVB: Recommended (UVB 2–5 %).

Ocellated gecko: How long do they live?

Life expectancy: 5–8 years.

Ocellated gecko: Is it suitable for beginners?

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

Climate

Daytime temperature

25–28 °C

Night temperature

21–24 °C

Basking spot

35–40 °C locally under the lamp

Humidity

75–90 %

UVB

Recommended (UVB 2–5 %)

Enclosure

Minimum size

30×30×60 cm for a pair

Substrate

Coco humus, leaf litter, cork bark, dense planting

Feeding

Food

Fruit flies, springtails

Feeding interval

3×/week

Key facts

Adult size

8–11 cm total length (males up to 11 cm, females usually under 10 cm)

Life expectancy

5–8 years

Origin

Tobago, Little Tobago

Protection status

Not listed under CITES; a very small island range

Brumation

None

Cohabitation

In pairs (1.1), no more animals. Males are incompatible with each other, and females should not be kept together either because of their intraspecific aggression – a harem of several females is explicitly not recommended for this species. Once a year the sexes are separated for one to two months so the female can recover from the laying period. Young that hatch in the enclosure are not pursued by the parents.

Notes

The male has striking eyespots on the shoulders. A small island population – in Europe from only a few breeding lines; document the bloodlines.

Do you keep this species?

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Related species

• Bridled forest gecko (Gonatodes humeralis) – Beginner
• Yellow-headed gecko (Gonatodes albogularis) – Intermediate
• Ringed gecko (Gonatodes annularis) – Intermediate
• Striped day gecko (Gonatodes vittatus) – Intermediate
• Grenadines clawed gecko (Gonatodes daudini) – Intermediate
• Angolan dwarf gecko (Lygodactylus angularis) – Intermediate
• Ocellated gecko (Sphaerodactylus argus) – Intermediate
• Chobe dwarf gecko (Lygodactylus chobiensis) – Intermediate

All species in the care wiki →

What you need to start

To keep Ocellated gecko (Gonatodes ocellatus) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (30×30×60 cm for a pair), substrate (Coco humus, leaf litter, cork bark, dense planting), a heat source with a thermostat, UVB lighting, thermometer and hygrometer, a water dish and hides. You will find equipment in the Reptoria marketplace.