Ranges stone gecko (Diplodactylus furcosus)

Short answers

How big does the enclosure for Ranges stone gecko need to be?

From 45×30×30 cm for one animal, for a pair or one male with two females from 60×40×40 cm (ground dweller with a stone structure).

What temperature does Ranges stone gecko need?

Daytime 26–30 °C, basking spot Warm spot 30–32 °C over a heat mat or stone slab, at night 18–20 °C.

Does Ranges stone gecko need UVB lighting?

UVB: Optional (nocturnal; low-output UVB does no harm).

How long does Ranges stone gecko live?

Life expectancy: 5–8 years (captive figures for the genus).

Is Ranges stone gecko suitable for beginners?

Partly – manageable with some prior knowledge (difficulty: Beginner to intermediate).

Climate

Daytime temperature

26–30 °C

Night temperature

18–20 °C

Basking spot

Warm spot 30–32 °C over a heat mat or stone slab

Humidity

30–50 %, one corner slightly moist

UVB

Optional (nocturnal; low-output UVB does no harm)

Enclosure

Minimum size

from 45×30×30 cm for one animal, for a pair or one male with two females from 60×40×40 cm (ground dweller with a stone structure)

Substrate

Sand-loam with plenty of stone gravel, flat stone slabs as crevices and hides, one slightly moist corner

Feeding

Food

Small insects: house crickets, field crickets, small roaches, flies

Feeding interval

Adults 2×/week, less often in winter

Key facts

Adult size

6–10 cm total length

Life expectancy

5–8 years (captive figures for the genus)

Origin

Southern South Australia: Gawler, Flinders and Mount Lofty Ranges to the Murray and into far western New South Wales

Protection status

Not protected; Australia prohibits the export of wild animals – captive-bred only

Brumation

Yes, 6–8 weeks at 15–18 °C without feeding (prerequisite for breeding)

Cohabitation

Kept singly or as a trio (1.2): the least stressful option is to keep the male on his own outside the breeding season and only introduce him to the females after the winter rest. One male with two females can also live together all year round in a sufficiently large enclosure with several hides, so that his courtship is spread out. Never keep two males together – they fight. Feed separately if the animals differ in size.

Notes

A ground dweller of stony slopes with a forked head stripe. Needs stone slabs and crevices, dry with one slightly moist corner.

Look for Ranges stone gecko (Diplodactylus furcosus) in the marketplace →

Related species

• Fat-tailed diplodactylus (Diplodactylus conspicillatus) – Intermediate
• Eastern stone gecko (Diplodactylus vittatus) – Intermediate
• Helmeted gecko (Diplodactylus galeatus) – Intermediate
• Tessellated gecko (Diplodactylus tessellatus) – Beginner
• Western stone gecko (Diplodactylus granariensis) – Beginner to intermediate
• Thick-tailed gecko (Underwoodisaurus milii) – Beginner to intermediate
• Broad-tailed gecko (Phyllurus platurus) – Intermediate
• Delean's knob-tailed gecko (Nephrurus deleani) – Intermediate

All species in the care wiki →

What you need to start

To keep Ranges stone gecko (Diplodactylus furcosus) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (from 45×30×30 cm for one animal, for a pair or one male with two females from 60×40×40 cm (ground dweller with a stone structure)), substrate (Sand-loam with plenty of stone gravel, flat stone slabs as crevices and hides, one slightly moist corner), a heat source with a thermostat, UVB lighting, thermometer and hygrometer, a water dish and hides. You will find equipment in the Reptoria marketplace.