Western stone gecko (Diplodactylus granariensis)

Short answers

How big does the enclosure for Western 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, floor space matters more than height).

What temperature does Western stone gecko need?

Daytime 26–30 °C, basking spot Warm spot 30–32 °C over a heat mat or stone slab, at night 18–22 °C.

Does Western stone gecko need UVB lighting?

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

How long does Western stone gecko live?

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

Is Western stone gecko suitable for beginners?

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

Climate

Daytime temperature

26–30 °C

Night temperature

18–22 °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, floor space matters more than height)

Substrate

Diggable sand-loam mix 3–5 cm, flat stone slabs, bark and clay shards as hides

Feeding

Food

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

Feeding interval

Adults 2×/week, less often in winter

Key facts

Adult size

7–10 cm total length (subspecies rex up to just over 11 cm)

Life expectancy

5–8 years (captive figures for the genus)

Origin

Western Australia: south-western interior (wheatbelt) to the arid interior; subspecies rex north of about 28° S

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

The largest stone gecko of Western Australia (subspecies rex). A ground dweller with a broad pale dorsal stripe; keep dry, with one corner slightly moist.

Look for Western stone gecko (Diplodactylus granariensis) in the marketplace →

Related species

• Fat-tailed diplodactylus (Diplodactylus conspicillatus) – Intermediate
• Ranges stone gecko (Diplodactylus furcosus) – Beginner to intermediate
• Eastern stone gecko (Diplodactylus vittatus) – Intermediate
• Helmeted gecko (Diplodactylus galeatus) – Intermediate
• Tessellated gecko (Diplodactylus tessellatus) – Beginner
• 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 Western stone gecko (Diplodactylus granariensis) 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, floor space matters more than height)), substrate (Diggable sand-loam mix 3–5 cm, flat stone slabs, bark and clay shards as hides), a heat source with a thermostat, UVB lighting, thermometer and hygrometer, a water dish and hides. You will find equipment in the Reptoria marketplace.