Rough thick-toed gecko (Pachydactylus rugosus)

Short answers

Rough thick-toed gecko: How big does the enclosure need to be?

80×40×40 cm for a pair.

Rough thick-toed gecko: What temperature does it need?

Daytime 28–33 °C, basking spot Basking spot 35–40 °C, at night 18–22 °C.

Rough thick-toed gecko: Does it need UVB lighting?

UVB: Recommended (UVB 5.0), weaker for nocturnal species.

Rough thick-toed gecko: How long do they live?

Life expectancy: 8–12 years.

Rough thick-toed gecko: Is it suitable for beginners?

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

Climate

Daytime temperature

28–33 °C

Night temperature

18–22 °C

Basking spot

Basking spot 35–40 °C

Humidity

30–50 %

UVB

Recommended (UVB 5.0), weaker for nocturnal species

Enclosure

Minimum size

80×40×40 cm for a pair

Substrate

A sand-loam mix they can dig in, plus stone slabs and roots

Feeding

Food

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

Feeding interval

adults 2–3×/week

Key facts

Adult size

9–11 cm

Life expectancy

8–12 years

Origin

Namibia and South Africa

Protection status

Not listed under CITES

Brumation

A cooler rest of 6–8 weeks at 16–20 °C

Cohabitation

Can be kept in pairs (1.1) or as a group with one male and several females (1.2). Never keep two males together, they fight over territory and the basking spot until one is injured or permanently pushed into a corner. Females usually get along but need their own heat and hide spots; feed separately if there is a size difference.

Notes

It comes from a very dry region — permanent damp is the commonest keeping mistake.

Do you keep this species?

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Related species

• Bibron's thick-toed gecko (Pachydactylus bibronii) – Beginner
• Spotted thick-toed gecko (Pachydactylus maculatus) – Beginner with some knowledge
• Cape thick-toed gecko (Pachydactylus capensis) – Beginner with some knowledge
• Namaqua thick-toed gecko (Pachydactylus namaquensis) – Beginner with some knowledge
• Web-footed gecko (Pachydactylus rangei) – Intermediate
• Tiger thick-toed gecko (Pachydactylus tigrinus) – Beginner with some knowledge
• Weber's thick-toed gecko (Pachydactylus weberi) – Beginner with some knowledge
• Arabian short-fingered gecko (Stenodactylus arabicus) – Beginner with some knowledge

All species in the care wiki →

What you need to start

To keep Rough thick-toed gecko (Pachydactylus rugosus) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (80×40×40 cm for a pair), substrate (A sand-loam mix they can dig in, plus stone slabs and roots), a heat source with a thermostat, UVB lighting, thermometer and hygrometer, a water dish and hides. You will find equipment in the Reptoria marketplace.