Gargoyle Gecko

Another gecko has arrived. Gargoyle Gecko is the name of the creature. We’ll talk about them today. It comes in a variety of designs and colors. Also, if you enjoy keeping reptiles as pets, they may be the finest choice. Continue reading to find out more information about them.

Introduction

• They are native to New Caledonia’s island.
• It is known as one of the smaller species of Rhacodactylus.
• They come in a variety of patterns and colors. Some feature stripes, while others are reticulated, have red stripes, orange spots, or are black and white.
• Like all geckos, they can be domesticated too. They are excellent beginners reptile pets because they have basic, easy-to-meet requirements.
• They make excellent shows in realistic aquascape since they prefer to live in trees.

Scientific Name

Rhacodactylus auriculatus

Kingdom

Animal

History

• It is also known as the knob-headed huge gecko, New Caledonia bumpy gecko, or New Caledonian bumpy gecko, is a species of gecko found exclusively in the southern end of the island of New Caledonia.
• Deforestation on the island is threatening its habitat.

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Appearance

The cranial lumps on their heads, which resemble those of a Gargoyle, are their most distinguishing trait. Thin, regenerating tails and short toe pads are further features. Their little toe pads yet allow them to be semi-arboreal.

Color

• In the wild, the brown base is the most prevalent.
• When they flare up, they might appear yellow, and yellow base geckos can appear brown, making it difficult to tell them apart.
• Red, orange, pink, and white are some of the other hues that may be found.

Size & Weight 

• Gargoyle Gecko grow to be 7 to 10 inches long and weigh up to 65 grams when fully mature.
• The kids are around 1 inch long from snout to vent when they are born, weigh about 3 grams, and can normally be purchased when they are about 5 inches long.

Behavior

• It is predominantly a nocturnal animal that sleeps throughout the day.
• They are most active at night, emitting a variety of sounds such as squeaks, growls, barks, and yips.
• In reality, this is how they communicate with one another, especially when there are other geckos nearby.

Diet, Food & Water

• In the wild, insects, flowers, sap, and even tiny lizards are all part of their food.
• In the wild, insects, flowers, sap, and even tiny lizards are all part of their food.
• In captivity, they consume crickets, dubia roaches, powdered crested gecko food, as well as other invertebrates.
• In a shallow water dish, gargoyle geckos should constantly have access to water.
• Relative humidity of at least 50%, and ideally 70%, is required for these geckos. The tanks should be softly misted overnight in dry locations, or a cold air humidifier could be put in the room.

Habitat

• Scrub woodlands are where these arboreal lizards call home.
• They prefer deep woodlands and prefer to stay close to the forest bottom.
• Deforestation on the island has put their environment in jeopardy.

Housing

• It should be kept in 20-gallon aquariums with screen tops as adults.
• Better displays will be possible with larger tanks.
• They do well in screen cages in places with moderate to high relative humidity.
• The advantage of these tanks is that they are light and easy to clean.

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Life Expectancy

• When it comes to human engagement, the gargoyle gecko, which may live up to 20 years in captivity, is a rather laid-back species that can be comfortably handled for short periods.

Heat, Light, Humidity

• Temperature changes are not a problem for these geckos, and they are forgiving of most husbandry concerns.
• They dwell in humid, warm temperatures throughout their range and should be kept at 50-70 percent humidity with regular misting.
• They require a temperature range in their enclosure so that they may control their body temperature as needed.
• Heat promotes functions such as digestion and healing by speeding up their metabolism. Cooler environments decrease metabolism and encourage rest and energy saving.
• Gargoyle Geckos may technically survive without UVB illumination, relying instead on crested gecko food and supplementation for vitamin D3. However, this is not the greatest practice because UVB has other advantages as well, including avoiding sickness, boosting neurological and digestive function, and increasing mental health.

Common Health Problems

They are excellent at concealing diseases. To ensure your pet’s health, we recommended biannual checkups with fecal matter parasite screening and X-rays. Some of the common health problems are:

• Intestinal parasites
• Anorexia
• Intestinal blockage

Reproduction & Life Cycle 

• They may be made to mate in captivity by simply pairing an adult female with an adult male. Mating is a difficult process that frequently results in the loss of a tail and other injuries.
• The female gargoyle lays its eggs after successful intercourse, which takes around 20-35 days.
• For depositing their eggs in captivity, a container filled with wet substrates such as a combination of vermiculite and peat moss is recommended. The container should have a depth of at least 4-5 inches.
• Female gargoyle geckos bury a pair of eggs (one from each ovary), and the hatchling geckos emerge 70 to 90 days following oviposition. The incubation period is directly proportional to temperature. Incubation does not require any additional heat.

Population

• It is predominantly a nocturnal animal that sleeps throughout the day.
• They are most active at night, emitting a variety of sounds such as growls, squeaks, barks, and yips.
• In reality, this is how they communicate with one another, especially when there are other geckos nearby.

Distribution 

• This gecko can only be found in the wild on the southern end of the island of New Caledonia, a French special collectivity in the southwest Pacific Ocean.
• They may be found on the island known as ‘Grande Terre,’ also known as the “Mainland.”

Natural Predators

Some of the natural predators of this creature are feral cats, pigs, and rodents.

Gargoyle Gecko For Sale 

• If you’re considering purchasing a Gargoyle Gecko, pricing will likely vary based on where you acquire it, the color patterns, and the breeder.
• The retail price of a Gargoyle Gecko, on the other hand, can range from $200 to over $600 for uncommon varieties.

Fun Facts 

• These Gargoyle Gecko (even youngsters) have large, sharp teeth, and their bites can readily cause superficial skin lacerations that bleed.
• Adult females, especially when housed together in a terrarium, have a surprising habit of eating the tails of males regularly. Tail cannibalism, as well as cannibalism of toes and other extremities, is fairly prevalent.
• They lose their tails so often that they are frequently offered tailless in commerce without any discount.
• The knobs on the tops of their heads, as well as their enormous fangs, remind people of stone gargoyles, therefore they’re dubbed “Gargoyle” geckos.
  

Reference Link

• https://g.co/kgs/iZCUu3

Gargoyle Gecko-FAQ