Description
Scientific Name : Mniarogekko chahoua
Common Name : Mossy Gecko – Chahoua Gecko
Origins : New Caledonia
Behaviour : Crepuscular
Easy Of Care : Beginner
Life Span: 15 – 20 Years +
About Chahoua Geckos
Chahoua Geckos – Mossy Geckos (Mniarogekko chahoua) are popular Geckos to keep. They are easy to care for, have calm temperaments which makes for easy handling and remain relatively small (approx. 20-25cm Full length).
Chahoua Geckos have a Prehensile tailed that they have adapted to grasp vines, twigs ect..
Along with the small size, the large range of colours and patterns these geckos are available in make them a fun reptile to keep. They prefer to live alone. Cohabiting can lead to fighting, and competition for food.
In their natural habitat chahoua geckos can lose their tails this is mostly likely caused by being a food opportunity to predators in their natural habitat. Chahoua geckos tails sometimes regenerate but this is usually only found with mainland Chahouas not the Pine island. Tails that do not grow back will heal up to being a little pointed stump. Keeping your gecko separately from other geckos will help prevent tail loss.
Set-up / Enclosure
Chahoua geckos are best kept in an arboreal terrarium. A 45x45x60cm glass terrarium is the minimum size for an adult. Glass terrariums with good ventilation help with the higher humidity requirements. Young geckos, it is advised they are housed in smaller setups, to aid with monitoring growth and feeding.
Decor
This is not only to make your enclosure more pleasing to look at but is essential to make your crested gecko feel safe and secure in its enclosure. This can be accomplished with a simplistic artificial set up of vines, branches, artificial plants & coco fiber. Chahoua love Cork bark tubes and they make ideal hiding spots, and the rough outer aids the shedding process. Bio Active set ups are also great for Chahoua geckos.
Lighting
Although Chahoua geckos are crepuscular they can benefit from additional UVB lighting. They can be found in Ferguson Zone 2. which means they require UVI 0.7 – 1.0 (Maximum UVI: 1.1 – 3.0 in basking zone). A 2.4% UVB bulb is recommended to give the correct UV strength when placed on the mesh screen on top of your terrarium.
Temperature & Humidty
Chahoua geckos require An ambient temperature in the range of 20-24C within the enclosure. Although no additional heat is required a basking spot can be added. The basking spot should be set to 25°c – 27°c Ideally night time temps should not dip below 18°c.
Chahoua Geckos thrive with a slightly higher humidity than most other reptiles this should be maintained at around 50% with this increasing to around 70-80% when misting once or twice a day depending your location in the world. Bioactive is a great way to keep the correct humidity levels in your terrarium.
You can monitor humidity with a hygrometer but generally misting once a day in colder wetter months and twice a day in warmer months will keep your Chahoua gecko at the correct humidity. The enclosure should have a drying out period between mistings.
Food & water
Chahoua geckos eat both fruit and insect-based diets. There are a variety of complete geckos diets available on the market. These are available as a powder, when mixed with water make a fruit smoothie type meal. This should be replaced every 48 hours. It can be fed in a bowl on a ledge where the gecko finds it easy to access.
Chahoua geckos can also be offered a variety of different, gut loaded livefood insects.
Live foods can include:
Crickets
Calci-Worms
Locusts
Waxworms
Silkworms
Roaches
*Important* Always feed insects of an appropriate size, the insect should be no bigger than the gap between your geckos eyes All live food should be dusted in Vitamin & Mineral powders, Calcium powder with added D3. (Please read the label of your chosen brand) You will often see your gecko lapping water from the leaves in their enclosure after misting, They will also drink from a water bowl. Adding a water bowl ensures constant access to water.
Handling
When you introduce you Chahoua gecko in his/her new home its best to leave them alone to settle in and get used to their surrounding for 3-4 weeks this will help encourage them to eat their gecko diet. Hatchlings are more flighty than adults but soon get used to being held Chahoua geckos are easy to handle but if you can refrain from too much handling is best. They can sometimes display some territorial behaviour when they are in their enclosure, but once out are friendly and easy to handle.
Health
- Stuck Shed – If your gecko has had a bad shed (stuck shed) this usually indicates your humidity is too low. If you can, addressing the issue as soon as possible is best. Try rasing your humidity.
- MBD Metabolic Bone Disease – Happens when your gecko doesn’t have the correct amount of calcium in their diet resulting in bad bone structure – jaw deformitiesand mussle tremors to name a few.
- Egg Binding – (Dystocai) caused if your geckos fat or calcium deposits are low. If you suspect your gecko has egg inside her she may be having trouble passing them it is best to call your reptile vet straight away.
- Bacterial and fungal infections – are caused by poor hushandry dirty enclosures, if you notice any symptoms please seek veterinarian advice straight away.
- Impaction “although uncommon” If using coco fiber your gecko could become impacted particularly in smaller geckos.
- Please be aware reptiles can carry salmonella. Good handwashing practices should be taken before after handling your reptile.
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