Defining Characteristics:

• Diurnal
• Arboreal
• Intermediate Care
• Bright Colors and Pattern

Name: Phelsuma klemmeri. Commonly known as the neon day gecko for its incredibly bright colors, or the yellow-headed day gecko for its yellow head

Benefits from buying at Josh's Frogs:

• Exclusively fed on fruit mix and gutloaded crickets - this means well-fed, healthy animals.
• Neon day geckos are well-established and at least 2 months old
• CB from CB parents, from genetically diverse and colorful bloodlines.
• Bred by experienced herpetoculturists
• Live arrival and health guarantee unsurpassed in the reptile industry.

Recommended Terrarium Size: This species is best kept solo or in a pair. A 12x12x18 enclosure will house one or two adults. A bioactive setup with live plants is strongly recommended for this species; BioBedding is recommended to maintain live plants, springtails, and isopods.

Since these geckos live in bamboo forests in the wild, providing bamboo placed both horizontally and vertically in the enclosure is strongly recommended for this species; branches, standing cork, or tall or hanging plants will also make your arboreal geckos feel at home.

Temperature: Keep neon day geckos between 75-80 F. A basking spot of around 90 F is also recommended. Temperatures should be monitored with a digital thermometer. Night temperatures should not fall below 65 F. Neon day geckos should also be provided with a 5.0 or similar strength UVB light.

Humidity: Neon day geckos should be provided a humid but well-ventilated setup between 60-70%. Plants can be added to provide humid microclimates. Ambient humidity should be monitored with a digital hygrometer. Neon day geckos should be misted daily or every other day to provide dew on enclosure walls and cage items from which they can drink. A water dish can be provided but is not necessary with regular misting.

Size: Neon day geckos are one of the smallest day gecko species, reaching only a little under 4 inches as adults! Offspring sold by Josh's Frogs will measure approximately 2" or larger at the time of shipment.

Age: Provided proper care, this species can live up to 10 years in captivity. Neon day geckos sold by Josh’s Frogs are at least two months old when sold.

Feeding: Neon day geckos are omnivores, eating both insects and fruit in the wild. In captivity, they will thrive on a diet of gecko diet mix and feeder insects. Hatchlings and juveniles should be offered ⅛ inch crickets or fruit flies until they are older and large enough to eat ¼ inch crickets. Providing mounted feeding cups for this arboreal species is recommended.

Other appropriately sized feeder insects, like dubia roaches and black soldier fly larvae, can also be occasionally offered but need to be provided in a food dish to be accessible.

Feeder insects should be dusted with a calcium and multivitamin supplement.

Sexing: Neon day geckos become sexually mature at about 10-12 months of age. Males can be identified by femoral pores between their hind legs. Sexually mature males will also have a light orange coloration between their hind legs.

Identifying sex by the presence of calcium sacs is not recommended as both males and females will exhibit this characteristic.

Color/Pattern: Neon day geckos exhibit extraordinarily bright colors with their yellow heads and turquoise bodies. Their sides are flanked by a thick black line, and their heads may be speckled with dark spots that may extend down their back.

Social Behavior: Juveniles can be housed together. While neon day geckos are reportedly not as territorially aggressive as other day geckos, we still recommend housing them solo or in a pair.

Breeding: Neon day geckos will reproduce throughout the year, laying two eggs once every four weeks or so. They will take a 2-3 month break after laying 2-3 clutches before reproducing again.

We have successfully used egg laying tubes with this species, but these tubes must be placed at a slight horizontal angle as this species does not glue its eggs to a surface. Eggs are commonly laid nestled in between the leaves of live plants

Natural Range: Neon day geckos are found in bamboo forests in northwest Madagascar. This species is endangered in the wild. All animals sold by Josh's Frogs are captive bred. By buying captive bred, you are supporting the trade with animals that were not taken from the wild!

History in the Hobby: Captive breeding efforts have removed the need to take this species from the wild. While not quite as readily available as other day gecko species, their dramatic colors and relatively calm and curious demeanor makes them a very popular choice. Set up right, this species is easy to care for and breed.

Links of Interest:

 IUCN Redlist - Information about the Neon Day Gecko's status in the wild

Supreme Gecko - basic klemmeri care sheet

Geckos Unlimited - extensive care sheet from the popular gecko forum

Think Phelsuma klemmeri from Josh's Frogs may be the gecko for you? Read below to see what others are saying!