Type locality: Port Luis (Mauritius, Mascarene Islands)
Description: Phelsuma cepediana is certainly one of the most stunning species of day gecko presently kown, and its colors are matched only by a very few other species and surpassed by none. Its ground color is a bright (turquoise) blue, marked with larger red spots between the back of the head to halfway down the tail. These spots are paralleled by (partly interrupted) stripes of the same colour along the flanks. The blue basic color often leans toward a light green shade on the head, front legs and flanks, whereas the hind legs are frequently bright blue. All these colors vary, however, with the individual population. They are at the brightest during the mating season or when displayed in territorial disputes.
These geckos also vary as to their size. While specimens from the highlands and the west coas may measure up to 150mm in the male and about 115 in the female sex, those from the east coast may only be 120 and 100mm in total length, respectively. Besides their larger total length the males are also identifiable by their distinctly wider heads, the thickened lower base of the tail and the presence of preanofemoral pores.
Distribution and natural habitat: Phelsuma cepediana prefers moister habitats and is often encountered in the gardens of houses in smaller towns. Here the geckos can be seen running about and climbing on banana shrubs, palm trees, walls of houses, large trees and bushes. A particular hotspot for observing them in nature is in the Pamplemousses Garden in Port Luis. The level of relative humidity in their natural habitats ranges around 70 to 80 percent, with temperatures between 28 and 30°C.
Like all day geckos of the Mascarenes, Phelsuma cepediana pastes its eggs, usually in pairs and often fully in the open, to elevated spots. The hatchlings are then often seen climbing about the outermost tip of palm leaves.
In nature the geckos help themselves to a wide spectrum of food, ranging from small insects to the nectar of flowers to overripe fruit from which they lap up the dissipating juice or bite off small pieces.
Husbandry and reproduction: Taking into consideration the need for a relatively high level of ambient moisture the geckos are best kept in a lushly planted terrarium in which climbing plants such as Ficus pumila, Epipremunum sp., Scindapsus sp. and others not only maintain the required levels of relative humidity, but also offer ample cover. The latter is definitely beneficial to the well.being of the animals and particularly important to make new acquisitions feel safe.
A pair may be kept in a tank of at least 80 cm in height in which air temperature range around 30°C. blowing clay, as is used in hydroculture, makes for a suitable substrate when covered with cushions of moss. Some smooth- barked branches or bamboo tubes complete the decoration. A number of acceptable ovoposition sites - e.g., in the form of open pieces of bamboo into which the females can climb - favor their readiness to propagate.
If everything goes according to plan, the eggs hatch after about 45 days and about 40 mm long, bright green juveniles emerge. They are best kept one by one in very small rising tanks and fed a diet of very small, vitaminized fruit flies and newly hatched crickets. Banana gruel fortified with a vitamin D3 supplement completes their menu plan. If you have the opportunity to collect insect plankton on a meadow unaffected by pesticides, you should by all means make use of it! Provided with adequate amount of food the juveniles will be fully grown after about one year.
Mi piacerebbe sapere quali sono i problemi che emergono nell'allevamento di questi gechi e ovviamente il loro prezzo...
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