The giant day gecko is perhaps the most beautiful gecko in the reptile keeping hobby. They are the largest day gecko species that is commonly kept and range from 10-12 inches in length, including the tail.
The Madagascar giant day gecko (Phelsuma grandis) is found in tropical and subtropical regions of Madagascar and feeds on a variety of invertebrates, smaller vertebrates including small lizards, and fruit nectars. Diurnal and arboreal, they are a bright green in coloration and many feature a prominent red stripe that extends from its nose to the eye. Some may also have a “V” shaped red stripe that runs parallel to the eye stripes. Some may have spots and some may have The back, near the hind legs have more red stripes and blotches. The belly is usually a creamy white to a yellowish coloration. Like many lizard species, males are territorial and won’t tolerate other males in the vicinity. They are also known to injure females, so if this occurs in captivity, the lizards must be separated.
Giant Day Gecko In Hawaii
The Madagascar giant day gecko in Hawaii is an invasive day gecko species that was first found in Manoa Valley in December of 1996. It is believed to have arrived earlier, perhaps in the mid-1990s. Manoa Valley is on the island of O’ahu and is just a quick 10 minutes down the hill to get to Waikiki. The valley is very lush and wet with plenty of flora and fauna and is an excellent ecosystem for the giant day gecko to thrive in. The gecko is found mostly in Manoa Valley, with reports of single specimens found near Pearl Harbor, Ewa Beach on the leeward side and Waimanalo on the windward side. They do not appear to be on other islands in the chain, though the introduced gold dust day gecko (Phelsuma laticauda) and orange-spotted day gecko (Phelsuma guimbeaui) are found on Oahu and the other main islands in the Hawaiian chain.
My personal observation of a giant day gecko eating a Hawaiian centipede. Photo © by John Virata
Swallowing the Hawaiian centipede down. Photo © John Virata
The giant day gecko spent more than an hour eating the centipede. Photo © John Virata
Giant day gecko eating papaya seeds. Photo © John Virata
The giant day gecko is perhaps the most beautiful gecko in the reptile keeping hobby. They are the largest day gecko species that is commonly kept and range from 10-12 inches in length, including the tail. When they drop their tail (Caudal autotomy) their tail grows back thicker and shorter. I have passed a few links below for more information on this species.
The Insider’s Guide To The Giant Day Gecko
