Przewalski's wonder gecko (Teratoscincus przewalskii)

Short answers

Przewalski's wonder gecko: How big does the enclosure need to be?

80×40×40 cm.

Przewalski's wonder gecko: What temperature does it need?

Daytime 28–34 °C, basking spot 35 °C, at night 16–20 °C.

Przewalski's wonder gecko: Does it need UVB lighting?

UVB: Recommended (UVB 5.0).

Przewalski's wonder gecko: How long do they live?

Life expectancy: 8–12 years.

Przewalski's wonder gecko: Is it suitable for beginners?

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

Climate

Daytime temperature

28–34 °C

Night temperature

16–20 °C

Basking spot

35 °C

Humidity

30–45 %

UVB

Recommended (UVB 5.0)

Enclosure

Minimum size

80×40×40 cm

Substrate

Deep sand they can dig in (15–20 cm), stone slabs

Feeding

Food

House crickets, crickets, roaches, mealworm larvae

Feeding interval

2–3×/week

Key facts

Adult size

13–17 cm total length

Life expectancy

8–12 years

Origin

North-western China, Mongolia – the Gobi Desert

Protection status

Not listed under CITES

Brumation

A winter rest of 10–14 weeks at 8–14 °C

Cohabitation

A harem (one male with several females) is less stressful than a plain pair because the male's attention is spread across several animals. A pair is also possible. Two males do not go together — they fight over territory and the basking spot until one is injured or sits permanently in a corner. Females need their own basking and hiding spots; feed animals of different sizes separately.

Notes

A desert gecko with large fish-like scales that fall off when touched – so no handling. It digs deep burrows; the sand layer has to be correspondingly deep and lightly dampened so it compacts. A genuine winter rest is needed.

Do you keep this species?

Add your animal to Reptoria – Reptoria reminds you about feeding and shedding. Add your animal for free →

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Related species

• Keyserling's wonder gecko (Teratoscincus keyserlingii) – Intermediate
• Roborowski's wonder gecko (Teratoscincus roborowskii) – Intermediate
• Common wonder gecko (Teratoscincus scincus) – Intermediate
• Agusan bent-toed gecko (Cyrtodactylus agusanensis) – Intermediate
• Common house gecko (Hemidactylus frenatus) – Beginner
• Chanhome's bent-toed gecko (Cyrtodactylus chanhomeae) – Intermediate
• Chinese gecko (Gekko chinensis) – Intermediate
• Termite hill gecko (Hemidactylus triedrus) – Intermediate

All species in the care wiki →

What you need to start

To keep Przewalski's wonder gecko (Teratoscincus przewalskii) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (80×40×40 cm), substrate (Deep sand they can dig in (15–20 cm), stone slabs), a heat source with a thermostat, UVB lighting, thermometer and hygrometer, a water dish and hides. You will find equipment in the Reptoria marketplace.