Ring Tailed Gecko / Giant Banded Gecko Care Sheet
John Fowler & Rachel Barnes
Ring Tailed Gecko's or Giant Banded Gecko's (Cyrtodactylus tuberculatus). Previously known as C. louisiadensis are Australia's largest species of gecko and are found in north eastern Queensland, New Guinea and the Solomon Islands.
Caging
Being found tropical high rainfall areas they need to be kept at high humidity, and also kept warm. A 2ft (60cm) aquarium with a low wattage coloured globe is ideal. They do not have pads on their toes so they have great difficulty climbing the glass, however they are agile jumpers so an escape proof lid is needed on our cages. They are at home amongst rocks or bark.
Food
Moths, crickets, cockroaches, mealworms, earthworms etc, preferably dusted or gut loaded with calcium or reptile supplement for about half of the feeds.
Sexing
At approximately several months of age the males can be sexed by looking for hemipenal bulges at the base of the tail.
Breeding
They lay 1 or 2 eggs which take about 8 months to hatch at 23 degrees centigrade, however they will hatch much quicker, at temperatures up to 30-31 degrees centigrade. They seem to lay their eggs almost any time of year and it may only be a few weeks between clutches.
The female usually digs a hole in which she buries her eggs.
Being hard shelled they are more likely to be damaged when you dig them up or handle them.
Special Requirements
They will easily overheat in summer. Ensure that the terrarium does not overheat.
The females are apparently prone to calcium deficiency problems, so dusting with calcium is very important.
They should be misted or sprayed with water often, particularly in dry weather.
Special Notes
The hatchlings are much larger than most other baby geckos, and grow rapidly, they do not feed if they are not kept warm enough.
