Golden gecko


The golden gecko '', also known commonly as Baden's Pacific gecko, is a species of lizard in the family Gekkonidae. The species is native to Vietnam.

Etymology

The specific name, badenii, refers to Núi Bà Đen, to which this species is indigenous.

Description

The golden gecko gets its common name from the gold-colored scales on its body. Males grow to around in total length, while females stay around. Males have a longer tail base, with fleshy knobs at the base of the tail. Pores appear on the insides of the legs, while females have none of these.

Geographic range

G. badenii has been reported from the Tây Ninh Province and Kon Tum Province of southern Vietnam.

Habitat

The preferred natural habitat of G. badenii is granite rocky areas including those in lowland rainforest, at altitudes from sea level to.

Diet

The golden gecko is primarily lives on bugs, but will also take some fruit. The golden gecko hydrates by drinking water from rainfall collecting on leaves.

Reproduction

G. badenii is oviparous.

As a pet

The golden gecko is not very popular in the pet trade, so most specimens are wild caught. It requires a terrarium of a minimum of 20 US gallons for an adult, though a vertical 18 in x 18 in x 24 in Exo Terra tank could accommodate an adult due to the greater space. Two golden geckos of the same sex should not be housed together because they will fight. Captive hatchlings feed daily, and adults only need food every 5–6 days. Juveniles and adults will eat crickets and meal worms, wax worms, and fruits, such as bananas and mangos, which are rich in calcium.