Williams' Dwarf Gecko — Care Sheet & Morphs

Husbandry requirements

Williams' Dwarf Gecko — origin: Tanzania — the Kimboza forest and a few adjacent wooded fragments (an extremely restricted range), where it is tied to the screw pine Pandanus rabaiensis. PROTECTED SPECIES: listed on CITES Appendix I (since 2017) and classified as 'Critically Endangered' (CR) by the IUCN. Massive wild collection has devastated the populations: acquire ONLY captive-bred individuals with proper CITES/EU documents, and refuse any specimen of dubious origin..

Terrarium temperature gradient

Night min20 °C

Cool side24–26 °C

Warm side28–30 °C

Basking spot32–35 °C

A diurnal, heliophilic species that genuinely uses a hot spot: provide an edge spotlight at 32-35 °C under the UVB zone, with a strong gradient allowing the animal to thermoregulate. General ambient temperature 24-30 °C. A nighttime drop to around 20-22 °C is beneficial. Avoid any overheating: in a small volume, an overly powerful heat source dehydrates and kills quickly.

Enclosure (adult)

30 × 30 × 45 cm

Vertical arboreal terrarium, planted and bioactive (humid tropical environment). Cross-ventilation is essential.

Minimum for a pair; a volume of 45x45x60 cm is strongly recommended for a pair or a harem in order to partition territories. Densely planted (Pandanus, bromeliads, Sansevieria, ficus, vines/bamboo) with numerous vertical perches and rough supports. Verticality and the number of hides take precedence over floor area. Provide a very fine mesh lid or careful seals: these dwarf geckos escape through the slightest gap.

Humidity

60–80 %

Daily misting (often morning and evening) to recreate droplets, with a good partial drying during the day thanks to ventilation. A more humid atmosphere at night. A constantly waterlogged and poorly ventilated terrarium promotes fungal and respiratory infections.

Substrate

Coco soil/coir fibre (bioactive mix)Drainage layer (clay balls/hydroton)Leaf litterSphagnum moss for the humid zones

A bioactive substrate is recommended, with a cleanup microfauna (springtails, isopods) and live plants. As the animal is almost exclusively arboreal, the substrate mainly serves to manage humidity and recycling rather than locomotion.

UVB

Recommended

Essential. A diurnal gecko exposed to the sun: provide UVB of Ferguson zone 3 (UVI of about 2-3 at the level of the high perch), for example a 5-6% T5 tube or a suitable UVB lamp, replaced every 6-12 months. Insufficient UVB rapidly causes metabolic bone disease in this fast-growing dwarf species.

Water source

Always available

These geckos drink the misting droplets off the leaves and glass rather than from a water dish. Provide a small shallow cup or a humid wall; regular misting for drinking and humidity.

Origin

Gekkonidae

Tanzania — the Kimboza forest and a few adjacent wooded fragments (an extremely restricted range), where it is tied to the screw pine Pandanus rabaiensis. PROTECTED SPECIES: listed on CITES Appendix I (since 2017) and classified as 'Critically Endangered' (CR) by the IUCN. Massive wild collection has devastated the populations: acquire ONLY captive-bred individuals with proper CITES/EU documents, and refuse any specimen of dubious origin.

Feeding & health

Diet

Insectivore / Nectarivore — Fruit flies (Drosophila melanogaster and hydei), micro-crickets (pinheads), springtails, small insects suited to the size of the head.

Supplement with nectar/fruit purée of the Repashy or Pangea type (2-3 times/week), which also provides pollen and sugars. Dust the prey with calcium without D3 at every meal and with a calcium+D3/vitamin complex 1-2 times/week; never overdose vitamin D. Excess nectar promotes obesity: keep an insect/nectar balance.

Breeding

Oviparous

Clutch 1–2 eggs/young. The female glues 1-2 eggs (tiny and fragile) onto the leaves, bamboo stems or corners of the terrarium, at close intervals (every ~4-6 weeks in season). This frequent laying heavily depletes the calcium reserves: impeccable supplementation is vital to avoid dystocia and MBD. Incubation of about 60-90 days at 24-28 °C; the juveniles, extremely small, require very fine prey (fruit flies, springtails).

Health watch points

Metabolic bone disease (MBD) from calcium/vitamin D3 deficiency or insufficient UVB
Egg retention (dystocia) and calcium depletion in frequently laying females
Dehydration and heatstroke (small volume, unsuitable misting or ventilation)
Stress, weight loss and injuries linked to territorial aggression or overcrowding
Internal parasitism and infections (especially in wild-caught specimens)

Morphs & genetics

Registry of 0 documented gene for Williams' Dwarf Gecko.

Frequently asked questions

Answers to the most common questions about keeping the williams' dwarf gecko.

Is it legal to keep the Williams' dwarf gecko?▾

This species has been listed on CITES Appendix I since 2017 and is classified as Critically Endangered by the IUCN, its natural range being limited to a handful of square kilometers in Tanzania. Only captive-bred individuals, accompanied by valid CITES/EU documentation, may legally be acquired; any specimen of dubious origin should be refused.

Is this gecko suitable for a beginner?▾

Keeping it is more of an intermediate-level undertaking: it requires a well-regulated humid tropical terrarium, rigorous UVB, and careful management of cohabitation between males. It is also an observation-only species, far too small, fast and fragile to be handled without risking tail autotomy.

Can several Williams' geckos be housed together?▾

Never two males in the same terrarium: they are highly territorial and will fight. Keeping a pair or a harem (one male to two females), on the other hand, is possible in a sufficiently large enclosure, provided it is densely planted and equipped with numerous hides to defuse tension.

How big is an adult Williams' dwarf gecko?▾

It's a dwarf species: total adult length, tail included, is between 6 and 9 cm. Males, recognizable by their electric-blue coloring, are slightly larger and bolder than females, which remain bronze or green throughout their lives.

What kind of terrarium and setup should be provided?▾

You need a vertical, planted, bioactive arboreal terrarium of at least 30 x 30 x 45 cm for a pair, with a volume of 45 x 45 x 60 cm strongly recommended to help partition territories for a pair or harem. Verticality takes precedence over floor space: provide plenty of perches, plants such as pandanus or bromeliads, and vines. The lid must be very fine-meshed or perfectly sealed, as these tiny geckos escape through the smallest gap.

How should temperature be set up?▾

This diurnal species genuinely uses a basking spot: provide an edge spotlight at 32-35 °C under the UVB zone, with a general ambient temperature of 24 to 30 °C and a nighttime drop to around 20 °C. Avoid overheating a small enclosure, as this quickly dehydrates the animal and can be fatal.

What humidity level should be maintained?▾

Humidity of 60 to 80% is needed, achieved through daily misting, morning and evening, that leaves droplets on the leaves. The daytime should allow for partial drying thanks to good cross-ventilation, otherwise a constantly waterlogged terrarium will promote fungal and respiratory infections.

How does this gecko drink?▾

It generally doesn't drink from a dish but laps up misting droplets from the leaves and terrarium walls. A small, shallow dish can be offered in addition, but regular misting remains the main way it stays hydrated.

What does the Williams' dwarf gecko eat?▾

It's an insectivorous and nectarivorous species: fruit flies, micro-crickets and springtails form the basis of the diet, supplemented two to three times a week with a Repashy- or Pangea-type nectar. Prey should be dusted with calcium without D3 at every meal, and with a calcium/D3 complex once or twice a week, never exceeding the recommended doses.

Is UVB lighting essential?▾

Yes, absolutely: this diurnal, sun-exposed species needs UVB of Ferguson zone 3, replaced every 6 to 12 months. Insufficient UVB quickly leads to metabolic bone disease in this fast-growing dwarf gecko.

Is reproduction demanding for the female?▾

The female glues one to two tiny, fragile eggs onto leaves or stems every four to six weeks during the season, which heavily depletes her calcium reserves. Impeccable supplementation is therefore vital to prevent egg retention and metabolic bone disease; incubation then takes 60 to 90 days at around 24-28 °C.

How long does this gecko live, and what are its main health risks?▾

Its longevity ranges from 5 to 10 years in captivity, but drops markedly in the case of calcium deficiency or unsuitable UVB, particularly in females that lay frequently. The most common issues are metabolic bone disease, dystocia, dehydration in an overly hot enclosure, and injuries linked to territorial aggression.

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