The Madagascar giant day gecko is a large, vivid emerald-green, diurnal gecko from northern Madagascar, often marked with red flecks.
Unlike most pet geckos it is active and brightly coloured in daylight, which makes it a striking display animal, but it is a look-don't-touch species with delicate, tear-prone skin.
It is more demanding than the nocturnal beginner geckos because it genuinely needs strong UVB, a basking gradient and high humidity.
It suits keepers who want a planted vivarium to observe rather than a gecko to handle, and rewards good husbandry with bold, interesting behaviour.
Housing
Provide a tall, well-planted vivarium of at least 45x45x60cm for one adult, furnished with bamboo, broad-leaved live plants and cork for climbing and basking.
As an arboreal, diurnal species it needs both vertical space and bright lighting, so a bioactive planted setup suits it well.
Maintain a basking spot of around 30-32C with a cooler ambient of 24-26C, and provide a moderate-to-high output UVB tube, which is essential for this sun-loving lizard.
Keep humidity around 60-80% by misting once or twice daily, allowing partial drying between mistings to prevent stagnant, mouldy conditions.
Diet
Day geckos are omnivores.
Feed gut-loaded, calcium-dusted live insects such as crickets, dubia roaches and locusts several times a week, sized no larger than the space between the eyes.
Alongside insects, offer a commercial day-gecko nectar or a crested-gecko-style fruit diet a couple of times weekly to mimic the pollen, nectar and soft fruit they take in the wild.
Supplement with calcium and vitamin D3 on a regular schedule to support their fast metabolism and coloration.
Provide fresh water, though they mostly lap droplets from misted leaves.
A varied insect-and-nectar diet prevents the deficiencies seen on insects alone.
Health
Healthy day geckos are vividly coloured, alert and quick, with clear eyes and a good appetite.
Their skin is fragile and tears easily, sometimes leaving permanent scars, so they should be handled as little as possible.
Calcium deposits, metabolic bone disease from poor UVB or supplementation, and retained shed are the main concerns.
Dull colour, lethargy, weight loss or a swollen jaw signals a problem and warrants a vet experienced with exotics.
Because they bask in strong light, correct UVB and a proper thermal gradient are central to preventing the most common illnesses.
Temperament
Day geckos are fast, alert and largely hands-off; they stress easily when handled and their delicate skin can be injured by restraint, so they are best enjoyed as an active display species.
They are diurnal, so unlike most geckos they are at their most visible during the day.
They are territorial and must be housed singly outside of supervised, carefully managed breeding.
Two adults, especially males, will fight fiercely.
A single gecko in a well-planted vivarium is the correct, welfare-friendly setup.
Intermediate
Intermediate
Intermediate
Intermediate
Intermediate
Intermediate