Standing's day gecko (Phelsuma standingi)

Short answers

Standing's day gecko: How big does the enclosure need to be?

A large tall enclosure of at least 60×60×60 cm for a pair; 80×60×100 cm is better (with visual barriers).

Standing's day gecko: What temperature does it need?

Daytime 25–30 °C (ambient 22–28 °C), basking spot 32–35 °C (high UV index at the basking spot), at night 18–22 °C.

Standing's day gecko: Does it need UVB lighting?

UVB: UVB needed, a high requirement (Ferguson zone 3, UV index 3–5); diurnal.

Standing's day gecko: How long do they live?

Life expectancy: 10–20 years.

Standing's day gecko: Is it suitable for beginners?

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

Climate

Daytime temperature

25–30 °C (ambient 22–28 °C)

Night temperature

18–22 °C

Basking spot

32–35 °C (high UV index at the basking spot)

Humidity

50–60 % by day (from arid south-western Madagascar), higher at night at ~70–80 % through misting

UVB

UVB needed, a high requirement (Ferguson zone 3, UV index 3–5); diurnal

Enclosure

Minimum size

a large tall enclosure of at least 60×60×60 cm for a pair; 80×60×100 cm is better (with visual barriers)

Substrate

A coco and sand-soil mix, live plants, thick branches and bamboo

Feeding

Food

Insects plus fruit purée or nectar; calcium

Feeding interval

adults ~3×/week plus fruit purée, juveniles daily

Key facts

Adult size

~23–28 cm total length (one of the largest day geckos)

Life expectancy

10–20 years

Origin

South-western Madagascar (arid Zombitse-Vohibasia, Sakaraha)

Protection status

CITES Appendix II / EU Regulation Annex B (Phelsuma spp.); proof of origin plus registration required

Brumation

No real winter rest; a slightly cooler, drier winter period is possible

Cohabitation

In pairs (one male, one female) – this is how the species lives in the wild, and a settled pair usually gets on well. Keeping it singly is equally appropriate; you just do not see pair behaviour. Never put two animals of the same sex together: unlike most geckos, females here are also strongly territorial and fight each other – an all-female group is therefore no solution.

Notes

Drier and warmer than the Madagascan rainforest species; nonetheless night-time humidity and misting. A powerful species that can eat other animals too. UVB and calcium are essential.

Do you keep this species?

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Related species

• Abbott's day gecko (Phelsuma abbotti) – Intermediate
• Barbour's day gecko (Phelsuma barbouri) – Intermediate
• Blue-tailed day gecko (Phelsuma cepediana) – Intermediate
• Lined day gecko (Phelsuma lineata) – Beginner
• Gold dust day gecko (Phelsuma laticauda) – Beginner to intermediate
• Giant day gecko (Phelsuma grandis) – Beginner
• Seychelles giant day gecko (Phelsuma sundbergi) – Intermediate
• Comoros day gecko (Phelsuma v-nigra) – Intermediate

All species in the care wiki →

What you need to start

To keep Standing's day gecko (Phelsuma standingi) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (a large tall enclosure of at least 60×60×60 cm for a pair; 80×60×100 cm is better (with visual barriers)), substrate (A coco and sand-soil mix, live plants, thick 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.