Chahoua Gecko Care Sheet Provided by Reptifiles - Old

Chahoua Gecko (Mniarogekko chahoua)

Difficulty: Easy

Chahoua Gecko

Chahoua geckos are a nocturnal, omnivorous, arboreal lizard native to the islands of Grande Terre and Isle of Pines in New Caledonia. Although they are arboreal, chahoua geckos tend to spend more time in the shaded understory of the forest rather than up in the canopy.

Chahoua geckos are among the larger New Caledonian geckos, reaching 10-12”/25-31cm long. They have a large triangular head, blunt snout, large lidless eyes, vertical pupils, velvety skin, sticky toe pads with claws, and a muscular prehensile tail. Coloring is generally mottled with various shades of green, brown, and pink, with some darker markings, giving the impression of moss or lichen.

Like other New Caledonian geckos, chahoua geckos are fairly easy to care for as far as reptiles go. When appropriate chahoua gecko care is provided, you may expect a lifespan of 15-20 years.

Chahoua Gecko Shopping List

These are products I personally recommend for setting up a functional chahoua gecko terrarium. 

Chahoua Gecko Enclosure Size

Chahoua geckos need an enclosure that is large enough to give them adequate opportunity to explore, hunt, and generally exercise natural behaviors. They are also arboreal, which means that they are a tree-dwelling species, and need a terrarium that provides a generous amount of climbing space. Considering that chahoua geckos can grow up to 12″/31cm long, the minimum recommended enclosure size for a single chahoua gecko is 24”L x 24”W x 36”H / 60 x 60 x 90 cm or equivalent. Where possible, larger is always better.

Here are some enclosures that are appropriate for housing chahoua geckos:

Especially young chahoua geckos (less than 12g) benefit from being kept in a smaller, temporary “grow out” enclosure (around 5 gallons, or roughly 12” x 12” x 12”) until they are large enough to safely navigate a full-sized adult enclosure. For safety reasons, UVB and heat lamps should be omitted from this small grow-out setup.

Can multiple chahoua geckos be housed in the same enclosure?

It’s best not to house multiple chahoua geckos together.

Lighting & UVB for Chahoua Geckos

Chahoua geckos are nocturnal, which means that they are primarily active at night.  This means that they are likely to prefer cooler temperatures, are exposed to low levels of indirect UVB during the day, and have exceptional night vision.

UVB Lighting

Chahoua geckos are capable of surviving without UVB lighting as long as they get a certain amount of dietary vitamin D3, but they can’t thrive unless it is provided. UVB lighting can be tricky, because in order to get the right strength of UVB (measured by UV Index, or UVI), distance must be considered.

As a rough estimate, to provide appropriate UVB to a chahoua gecko in a 36-48” tall enclosure, you will need one Zoo Med T8 ReptiSun 5.0 in a reflective T8 fixture or an Arcadia ShadeDweller Arboreal UVB kit. Place the basking branch no closer than 6” below the lamp.

(These recommendations are approximations. It is strongly recommended to use a Solarmeter 6.5 to determine the best placement to achieve a UVI of 1.0-2.0 in the basking area at the top of the enclosure.)

Chahoua Gecko Temperature Requirements

Humans are warm-blooded, which means that our body temperature is automatically regulated. Chahoua geckos, however, are cold-blooded, and they need to move between areas of different temperatures in order to regulate their body temperature. In the wild, chahoua geckos warm up during the day by sleeping in a warm patch of sunlight. In captivity, sunlight can be replicated with a white incandescent heat lamp.

  • Basking area temperature: 82-85°F (28-29°C)
  • Cool zone temperature: 72-75°F (22-24°C)
  • Nighttime temperature: 65-72°F (18-22°C)

Generally speaking, it doesn’t take much to achieve such a low basking temperature. A cluster of two 40w white incandescent bulbs such as the Zoo Med Nano Basking Spot should be plenty, but results will vary based on your room temperature. If you notice that the basking area is too warm, dial down the heat down with a lamp dimmer or switch to a lower wattage bulb. If your basking area is too cool, you will need a higher wattage bulb.

The basking area should be a vine or branch directly under the heat lamp. Because your chahoua gecko is arboreal and will be living in a tall enclosure, the warmest temperatures will be at the top (near the heat lamp), and the coolest temperatures will be toward the bottom. You will need vines, branches, and foliage at all levels to allow for proper thermoregulation.

To track basking temperature, use a digital probe thermometer, with the probe zip-tied to the basking surface under the heat source. Most reptile-brand digital probe thermometers function well.

Chahoua Gecko Humidity Requirements

Chahoua geckos do best in a high-humidity environment, with an average humidity of 60-80% as measured by a digital probe hygrometer with the probe placed in the middle of the enclosure. Humidity levels that are consistently too high or low can cause health problems for your gecko. However, it is natural for humidity to be lower in the warm area and higher in the cool area. It is also normal and healthy for humidity levels to rise at night and fall during the day.

To raise the humidity in your gecko’s enclosure (and provide an extra source of drinking water), use a pump-style pressure sprayer such as the Exo Terra Mister to wet down the enclosure every evening, and again in the morning if needed.

Chahoua Gecko Substrate Options

Because chahoua geckos are arboreal (tree-dwelling), they don’t spend much time on the ground. Although it’s not necessary to use bedding for them, it’s very useful for helping to stabilize humidity. It also acts as a cushion if they fall from their perch, which does happen occasionally.

It’s best to use a moisture-retentive substrate that is similar to the soil in a chahoua gecko’s natural habitat. Here are some reliable options:

For best results, add a generous layer of leaf litter on top.

Feces and urates should be removed daily, and contaminated substrate should be scooped out and replaced. Substrate should be completely replaced once every 3-4 months, depending on your needs.

Decorating Your Chahoua Gecko Terrarium

Decorations play a vital role in your gecko’s enclosure as environmental enrichment. Enrichment items encourage exercise, stimulate your pet’s natural instincts, and help promote overall wellbeing. And, of course, they make the enclosure look nicer! Without décor, your terrarium is just a glass box with dirt and a feeding ledge. Just because chahoua geckos can climb up glass doesn’t mean they shouldn’t have other climbing materials available. They also need places to hide that are not on the ground.

Branches, vines, magnetic ledges, cork hollows, and live or artificial foliage work well as décor in a chahoua gecko terrarium. Arrange these items in a way that encourages your gecko to climb and explore, and provides a variety of options for places to sleep during the day.

Feeding Your Chahoua Gecko

Chahoua geckos are omnivores, which means that they need a balanced diet of both plant- and animal-based foods to get the nutrition that they need. In the wild, they eat mostly fruit and insects. As pets, this diet can be re-created with a balance of 50% meal replacement powder and 50% live insects.

How often chahoua geckos need to eat depends on age:

  • Juveniles (0-12 months) — CGD daily, insects every other day
  • Adults (>12 months) — CGD every other day, insects every other day

Crested gecko diet (CGD) must be offered via a wall-mounted feeding ledge, not placed on the ground. Personally I prefer magnets to suction cups.

Best crested gecko diet powders: Pangea, Repashy, Black Panther Zoological, Leapin’ Leachie, Zoo Med, Lugarti

Best feeder insects for chahoua geckos: crickets, dubia roaches, discoid roaches, red head roaches, grasshoppers/locusts

The key to providing a healthy, balanced diet for your pet is VARIETY. Provide as varied of a diet as you possibly can, and you will be rewarded with a healthier pet that always looks forward to mealtime. I prefer to use a rotation of at least 3 different kinds/flavors of CGD.

Supplements

Crested gecko diet is already fortified and balanced with a variety of vitamins and minerals. However, feeder insects need to be “dusted” with a light coating of calcium powder to balance the calcium-phosphorus ratio.

There are many options, but Arcadia CalciumPro Mg or Miner-All Outdoor are both solid calcium supplements. For best results, use as directed by the label.

Drinking Water

Although your gecko will get drinking water from daily mistings, it’s best to always keep a bowl of clean water available on the feeding ledge. This bowl should be scrubbed out with veterinary disinfectant such as Rescue or F10SC weekly for good hygiene.

Handling Your Chahoua Gecko

Once you’ve brought your gecko home, it’s tempting to start playing with them right away. But wait 2 weeks after buying before beginning handling — your gecko needs time to settle into their new home, and handling on top of that can cause additional stress. If your gecko hasn’t eaten by the time the 2 weeks are over, do not handle and make an appointment with an experienced reptile vet.

After the 2 week waiting period is over, introduce yourself to your gecko by putting your hand in its enclosure every night for a few minutes so it can get used to your scent and presence. They should already be relatively familiar with you, since you’ve been in their space replacing water, offering food, cleaning up, etc. Let it come to you! (Food bribes with a pair of soft-tipped feeding tongs can be helpful here.)

When you begin handling, start with 5 minute sessions every other day, gradually increasing the length of the sessions and escalating to daily. Support the feet, body, and tail and keep your movements slow. If the gecko is acting flighty or spastic, “treadmill” it from one hand to the other to wear it out a bit. Never grab the tail, as it is detachable! Consistency is key to successful taming.

Stay close to the ground or a soft surface (ex: bed, couch) in case the gecko jumps. You want handling to be a positive experience, and injury is not a positive experience. It’s best to handle your gecko in the evening rather than during the day so you don’t disturb its rest.

References

  • Chahoua Information & Care. (n.d.). RhacHouse. http://rhachouse.com/chahoua-information-care/
  • Crepuscular Species. (n.d.). Arcadia Reptile. https://www.arcadiareptile.com/lighting/crepuscular-species/
  • Mnairogekko Chahoua. (n.d.). Red Sky Geckos. https://www.lornasredskygeckos.com/mnairogekko-chahoua-or-mossy-geckos.html
  • Mniarogekko chahoua – Care of the Mossy Prehensile Tailed Gecko aka Chewie. (2021, January 3). Josh’s Frogs How-To Guides. https://www.joshsfrogs.com/catalog/blog/2021/01/mniarogekko-chahoua-care-of-the-mossy-prehensile-tailed-gecko-aka-chewie/
  • Mossy Prehensile tailed Gecko (Rhacodactylus chahoua). (n.d.). Good Life Herps. http://goodlifeherps.weebly.com/mossy-prehensile-tailed-gecko-rhacodactylus-chahoua.html
  • Rhacodactylus chahoua. (n.d.). Ridge and Valley Reptiles. https://www.ridgeandvalleyreptiles.com/rhacodactylus-chahoua.html
  • Short-snouted Mossy Gecko (Mnairogekko chahoua) . (n.d.). INaturalist. https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?taxon_id=200409

The ReptiFiles Chahoua Gecko Care Sheet is a simplified care summary, not a full ReptiFiles care guide. While I have done my best to ensure that the information contained is accurate, due to time constraints, the research behind ReptiFiles care sheets is not as thorough as the research involved with my full-length care guides. I strongly encourage readers to do their own research from high-quality, reputable sources outside of just this care sheet as part of preparing for your new pet reptile.