White Spotted Gecko: Complete Care Sheet


The white spotted gecko is a cute lizard that seems clad in armor and measures up to 7-8 inches. Its back is covered with a pattern of big, tuberculous scales that are scratchy. Raised scales protect the limbs, and the tail is encased in whorls of raised scales.

The Ideal Habitat for the White-Spotted Gecko

Should Have a Glass Terrarium

This is because glass enclosures have adequate ventilation and will allow heat to escape, ensuring that the enclosure maintains an adequate level of coolness. It is also ideal to house this gecko in a wooden vivarium as it’s also good at keeping the appropriate temperature and humidity levels in the tanks.

The length of the tank should be at least 450 millimeters, and the height should be at least 600 millimeters. Because this particular species of gecko reaches between 7 and 8 inches when mature, the enclosure needs to be large enough to accommodate its full size.

Since these lizards are arboreal, they need a variety of climbing mediums, such as bamboo, cork and driftwood of different heights and oriented in different directions

Should Have the Right Temperature

Because of their sensitivity to changes in air temperature, white-spotted geckos require a constant tank temperature of around 75 degrees Fahrenheit.

They require a temperature difference in the tank, with one side reaching 90 degrees Fahrenheit and the other not below 75 degrees Fahrenheit.

Creating a temperature gradient within the enclosure will allow the gecko to warm up and cool off whenever they feel like it.

Heat lamps and ceramic heat emitters are effective daytime heat sources. Your best bets are either red nighttime lamps or ceramic heat emitters during the evening. If the heat from the basking lamp isn’t enough, you can combine it with an under-tank heating pad.

Should Have UV Lighting

Because of their nocturnal lifestyle, white-lined geckos don’t require special UV illumination. However, experts recommend providing low levels of UV lighting.

To produce vitamin D3, the white-spotted gecko’s skin needs exposure to UVB light. It will require calcium for proper bone development, and vitamin D3 aids in that process.

The ideal light bulbs for leopard geckos are t5, which should be replaced after every 9 months.

For those who go for compact lamps, ensure that you replace them after 6 months. You must switch off the light when it gets dark to avoid disrupting the day and night cycle.

Should Have the Right Humidity

White-spotted geckos require humidity levels between 50 and 60%. The enclosure’s humidity should be measured with a hygrometer regularly. It is recommended that warm, filtered water be used to mist the gecko’s enclosure several times a day.

When white spotted leopard geckos are brumating, they need humid hides with humidity levels of between 70 and 80%.

While misting the cage helps to address the humidity issue, care should be taken not to make the substrate wet or leave water dripping on the walls.

Should Have Safe Tanks Substrate

Regarding the best flooring for geckos, the best options include paper towels, reptile carpets, and newspapers. Other acceptable substrate alternatives include cypress mulch, Aspen shaving, or coconut fiber.

As mentioned earlier, white-spotted geckos require relatively higher humidity. Therefore, the substrates you choose for your lizard should have high water retention capacity.

Coconut fiber and peat moss are the most commonly used substrates for white spotted geckos since they are good at water retention.

When selecting a substrate, ensure it is free of chemicals and other potentially dangerous substances. You must replace or clean your substrate regularly.

Diet and Nutrition

The main staple for white-lined geckos is insects such as brown or black crickets. Other insects, such as cockroaches, locusts, cutworms, and silkworms, can be introduced for variety but should not be a staple. Feed your lizard with insects that are approximately the same size as the space between its eyes.

Evenings are the best time to feed your gecko. The feeder insects should be gut-loaded and dusted with calcium supplements before they are fed to the gecko.

You might also want to give your pet a multivitamin once per week, but you should talk to your doctor before doing so.

Babies should be fed twice every day, juveniles once every other day, and adults after 2 to 3 days. Let your lizard eat as much as it can in one serving. However, don’t let bugs that haven’t been eaten wander around the tank.

Handling Your Pet

Being arboreal, these species of gecko enjoy climbing up small objects. Branches and rocks provide essential climbing and exploring opportunities.

Therefore, putting them in the terrarium will make it more enriching. Since white-spotted geckos are non-aggressive, they rarely bite and will enjoy climbing on your arms.

When handling your gecko, take care not to hurt them, make them feel threatened, or pick them by the tail as they have tail autotomy.

Take note of these pointers when handling your gecko:

  • To pick the gecko up, place your hand on the ground and slowly let it climb.
  • Let the reptile climb on your hand and hold it with the other hand to make them feel safe.
  • Watch for signs of discomfort, such as tail twitching, barking, or running away as you approach.
  • Approach your gecko slowly, as any quick movement will be interpreted as aggression
  • For the first handling session, don’t let it take more than five minutes
  • Try to handle your white-spotted gecko daily so that it can get familiar with the ritual.

Conclusion

Taking care of your white-spotted gecko doesn’t have to be a tedious and tiring experience. These lizards don’t need much as everything is straightforward. As long as you treat them with kindness and provide the appropriate habitat, food, and tank conditions, they can grow to become the best companion.

Recent Posts