Ocellated gecko (Sphaerodactylus argus)

Short answers

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

30×30×45 cm for a pair.

Ocellated gecko: What temperature does it need?

Daytime 24–28 °C, not below 18 °C at night, basking spot Small basking spot 30–33 °C, at night 19–22 °C.

Ocellated gecko: Does it need UVB lighting?

UVB: Essential for the diurnal species (UVB 5.0).

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

24–28 °C, not below 18 °C at night

Night temperature

19–22 °C

Basking spot

Small basking spot 30–33 °C

Humidity

50–65 %, mist every one to two days

UVB

Essential for the diurnal species (UVB 5.0)

Enclosure

Minimum size

30×30×45 cm for a pair

Substrate

Forest-floor substrate with live plants, plus thin branches and bamboo

Feeding

Food

Small insects such as firebrats, fruit flies and micro crickets, dusted regularly with calcium and vitamins

Feeding interval

adults 3–4×/week

Key facts

Adult size

5–7 cm

Life expectancy

5–8 years

Origin

Jamaica (native range), Cuba, the Bahamas and the Colombian islands of San Andrés and Old Providence; introduced to Florida, the Yucatán, Nicaragua and Panama

Protection status

Not listed under CITES

Brumation

No winter rest

Cohabitation

In pairs; never keep males together. The reason: several males fight over territory and the warm spot until one is injured or spends its life in a corner. Females usually get on, but each needs its own warm spot and hide; feed them separately once they differ in size.

Notes

Finely spotted. It lives in leaf litter and under bark.

Do you keep this species?

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Related species

• Reef gecko (Sphaerodactylus notatus) – Intermediate
• Big-scaled dwarf gecko (Sphaerodactylus macrolepis) – Intermediate
• Ashy gecko (Sphaerodactylus elegans) – Intermediate
• Nichols' dwarf gecko (Sphaerodactylus nicholsi) – Intermediate
• Torre's dwarf gecko (Sphaerodactylus torrei) – Intermediate
• Angolan dwarf gecko (Lygodactylus angularis) – Intermediate
• Ocellated gecko (Gonatodes ocellatus) – Intermediate
• Bridled forest gecko (Gonatodes humeralis) – Beginner

All species in the care wiki →

What you need to start

To keep Ocellated gecko (Sphaerodactylus argus) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (30×30×45 cm for a pair), substrate (Forest-floor substrate with live plants, plus thin branches and bamboo), a heat source with a thermostat, UVB lighting, thermometer and hygrometer, a water dish and hides. You will find equipment in the Reptoria marketplace.