The gargoyle gecko, from southern New Caledonia, is named for the cranial bumps above its eyes that resemble small horns.
It is a hardy, arboreal, nocturnal species with care almost identical to the crested gecko, which makes it a good and slightly less common beginner gecko.
Unlike crested geckos, gargoyles can regrow a dropped tail, and they are noted for a bolder, more predatory streak.
They tolerate normal room temperatures well, so they are inexpensive to run, but they still need height, cover and steady moderate humidity to do well.
Housing
Provide a tall, well-ventilated vivarium of at least 45x45x60cm for one adult, well planted with branches, cork bark and foliage for climbing and security.
As an arboreal species it values vertical space over floor area, and a bioactive setup helps maintain humidity naturally.
Keep temperatures around 22-26C, avoiding sustained heat above 28-29C, which is stressful, so a strong basking lamp is rarely needed indoors.
A low-output UVB tube is beneficial.
Mist once or twice daily to hold humidity around 50-70%, letting the enclosure dry partly between mistings to prevent mould and respiratory disease.
Diet
Gargoyle geckos do well on a commercial complete crested/gargoyle gecko diet, a powdered fruit-and-insect mix prepared with water and offered in a shallow dish several times a week.
This balanced food can form the bulk of their nutrition and simplifies feeding considerably.
They are more carnivorous than crested geckos and readily take gut-loaded, calcium-dusted live insects such as crickets and dubia roaches once or twice weekly.
Avoid relying on plain fruit or baby food, which is unbalanced.
Provide fresh water in a dish, though they also lap droplets from misted surfaces.
Health
Healthy gargoyles have clear eyes, full toe pads, a good appetite and steady weight.
The main risks are metabolic bone disease from inadequate calcium or UVB, retained shed on the toes that can constrict them, and overheating, which can be rapidly fatal in this cool-tolerant species.
A dropped tail will regenerate, though imperfectly, and is not an emergency.
Any sudden change in weight, appetite or activity warrants attention from a vet experienced with exotics.
Correct humidity and ventilation prevent most skin and respiratory problems.
Temperament
Gargoyle geckos are generally calm and become tame with gentle, regular handling, though they can be quick and are capable jumpers, so handle low over a soft surface.
They are nocturnal, so expect them to be most active and confident in the evening.
They must be housed singly.
Adults, particularly males, are territorial and will bite and fight, and their predatory nature means they may injure smaller cage mates.
Solo housing is the responsible standard and avoids stress and injury.
Small geckos dehydrate and lose condition quickly, and the tail is the fuel gauge.
Go now
Tremors, weak grip, or a jaw that will not close properlyGo now. Calcium and D3 deficiency.
Now
Today
Tail visibly thinning in a species that stores fat thereWeigh, then call with the trend. The fat store goes before the body condition does.
Today
Stuck shed around the toes or over the eyesRaise humidity, offer a damp hide, and call if it is not clear within a day. Constricting shed rings cost toes. This is the most common avoidable injury in geckos.
Today
Refusing food with weight lossCheck the cool-end and warm-end temperatures, then call. A gecko that cannot reach its preferred temperature cannot digest.
Today
This is general guidance for a healthy adult, not a diagnosis. An exotics vet who knows your animal always overrides it — and the time to find one is before you need one.
Can a gargoyle gecko eat that?
Geckos split into two diets that share almost nothing: insectivores like the leopard gecko, and the fruit-and-insect species like the crested gecko. Check which one you have.
Never (13)
AlcoholNo safe amount at any body weight on this site.
never
AvocadoPersin.
never
CaffeineCoffee, tea and energy drinks. Cardiac and neurological toxicity at tiny doses for an animal this size.
never
ChocolateTheobromine and caffeine. Small mammals and reptiles cannot clear either.
never
CitrusAcidic, and it blocks calcium absorption.
never
FirefliesLucibufagins. Fatal to geckos.
never
GarlicSame allium toxicity as onion, and more concentrated by weight.
never
Insects larger than the gap between the eyesA recognised cause of impaction and neurological injury in small geckos. Size the feeder to the animal, every time.
never
LeekAllium family. Same mechanism as onion and garlic.
never
OnionOrganosulphur compounds damage red blood cells. The whole allium family is out.
never
RhubarbVery high in soluble oxalate, high enough to cause acute kidney injury. The leaves are worse than the stalks.
never
Salty or seasoned human foodSalt, oil and seasoning. Crisps, chips, seasoned leftovers and processed meat are all out.
never
Wild-caught insectsPesticides and parasites.
never
Rare treats (1)
WaxwormsVery fatty and habit-forming. Useful to get weight on a thin animal. One or two, rarely.
rare treat
Occasional (4)
HornwormsHigh water content; useful for a dehydrated animal. One occasionally.
occasional
Mashed fruitFor crested and gargoyle geckos only, and only as a supplement to a complete diet. Never for a leopard gecko. A small amount, alongside the complete diet.
occasional
MealwormsHard chitin and a poor calcium ratio. A leopard gecko fed only mealworms is a leopard gecko heading for calcium problems. A few alongside better feeders.
occasional
SuperwormsFatty. One or two.
occasional
Everyday foods (4)
Black soldier fly larvaeHigh in calcium, and readily taken. Several per feed.
everyday food
Complete crested gecko diet powderFor crested, gargoyle and chahoua geckos only, mixed with water. A complete food and the simplest way to feed those species correctly. Fresh, every other day, for fruit-eating species.
everyday food
CricketsStandard feeder. Gut-load for 24 hours before offering. Sized to the eye gap.
everyday food
Dubia roachesThe best routine feeder for insectivorous geckos. Sized no wider than the space between the eyes.
everyday food
That food is not on our list. Check which kind of gecko you have first — the two diets barely overlap — then ask an exotics vet.
Dust feeders with calcium to the schedule in the species guide, and keep a small dish of plain calcium available for insectivorous species.
Setup, monthly, first year and across a whole life, itemised and with the electricity worked out from the actual wattage. Published figures for the same animal disagree by a factor of four, so the calculator shows ranges rather than picking one.
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