Chahoua gecko — Care Sheet & Morphs

Husbandry requirements

Chahoua gecko — origin: New Caledonia: Grande Terre (south) and the Isle of Pines. Two main geographic lineages in captivity ('Grande Terre' and 'Isle of Pines')..

Terrarium temperature gradient

Night min18 °C

Cool side20–24 °C

Warm side24–27 °C

Cool-climate forest species: NO hot spot or basking lamp. General ambient 22-26 °C. Temperatures sustained above 28-29 °C are dangerous (heat stress, mortality): ventilate and cool down in summer. A nighttime drop is beneficial (18-20 °C, briefly tolerates 16-18 °C).

Enclosure (adult)

45 × 45 × 60 cm

Vertical (arboreal) terrarium, planted and preferably bioactive

Minimum dimensions for ONE adult; bigger is always better (60x45x90 cm ideal). Dense vertical layout: cork branches, vines, sturdy plants and elevated hides for a semi-shy animal. Good ventilation essential (all-glass terrarium with high/low airflow) to avoid stagnant air. Raise juveniles in smaller volumes so they can find their food.

Humidity

50–80 %

Moderate to high humidity with wet/dry cycles. Mist in the evening (rising to 70-90 % at night) then partial drying during the day (back to around 50-60 %). Constantly saturated humidity without ventilation promotes fungal and respiratory infections.

Substrate

Coco fiberSphagnum mossOrchid bark / bioactive soilLeaf litter (oak, magnolia)

A draining bioactive substrate (soil/coco/sphagnum mix + leaf litter + microfauna) is recommended to retain humidity and recycle waste. For quarantine or young animals, paper towel is safer. Avoid any fine, dry substrate that could be ingested with prey (risk of impaction).

UVB

Optional

Not strictly essential if D3 is provided through the diet, but low UVB is beneficial. Use a low-intensity tube/UVB (Ferguson zone 1, UVI ~2-3 in the basking area, T5 5-6 % filtered by foliage). Always provide shaded areas.

Water source

Always available

Drinks mainly the droplets left on foliage and the glass after misting. Also provide a small dish of clean water changed daily.

Origin

Diplodactylidae

New Caledonia: Grande Terre (south) and the Isle of Pines. Two main geographic lineages in captivity ('Grande Terre' and 'Isle of Pines').

Feeding & health

Diet

Omnivore / frugivore — Frugivorous gecko powder (CGD such as Repashy/Pangea) + live insects: crickets, Dubia roaches, black soldier fly larvae (calciworms)

Base: reconstituted powder mix (CGD) 2-3 times/week, supplemented with insects 1-2 times/week dusted with calcium. Gut-load insects beforehand. Regular calcium + vitamin D3 supplementation is crucial; breeding females have a VERY high calcium requirement for forming heavily calcified eggs.

Breeding

Oviparous

Clutch 2–2 eggs/young. Clutches of 2 eggs, a species peculiarity: HARD, heavily calcified shells (unlike the soft eggs of other Rhacodactylus/Correlophus). Several clutches per season (every 4-6 weeks). Incubation at cool temperature (~21-24 °C) for about 60-90 days; eggs can be left in situ in a moist substrate. A humid lay box (sphagnum/coco) is essential. Provide a winter rest/cooling period and increased calcium intake for the female.

Health watch points

Metabolic bone disease (MBD) and calcium deficiency, especially in breeding females
Egg retention / dystocia (deficient females or lacking a suitable lay site)
Respiratory infections linked to overly humid, stagnant air (insufficient ventilation)
Heat stress / hyperthermia above ~29-30 °C
Internal parasites and skin fungal infections (hygiene, stressed animals)

Morphs & genetics

Registry of 0 documented gene for Chahoua gecko.

Frequently asked questions

Answers to the most common questions about keeping the chahoua gecko.

How big does an adult chahoua gecko get?▾

It reaches 20 to 27 cm in total length (tail included), with a typical adult weight of 35 to 75 g. It is the second largest New Caledonian gecko after the giant gecko Rhacodactylus leachianus.

What kind of terrarium does it need, and why does height matter so much?▾

Being an arboreal species, it needs a vertical, planted, preferably bioactive terrarium of at least 45 x 45 x 60 cm for an adult, with 60 x 45 x 90 cm being closer to ideal. The layout needs to be densely furnished vertically, with cork branches, vines, sturdy plants and elevated hides for this semi-shy animal, along with good ventilation to avoid stagnant air.

Does it need a hot spot or a basking lamp?▾

No, and this is essential to understand: the chahoua comes from a cool-climate forest and does entirely without a hot spot or basking lamp. The overall ambient temperature should stay around 22-26°C (warm side 24-27°C, cool side 20-24°C), since temperatures sustained above 28-29°C become dangerous and can cause heat stress and death.

What humidity level should be maintained in the terrarium?▾

Humidity should sit between 50 and 80%, alternating between wet and dry cycles: evening misting raises it to around 70-90% overnight, followed by a slight drying-out during the day down to around 50-60%. Constantly saturated humidity without ventilation, on the other hand, promotes fungal and respiratory infections.

Is UVB lighting necessary?▾

It is not strictly essential if vitamin D3 is already supplied through the diet, but low-intensity UVB remains beneficial (Ferguson zone 1, UVI around 2-3, filtered through foliage). Shaded areas should always be provided so the animal can retreat from it if it wants to.

What does a chahoua gecko eat day to day?▾

Its omnivorous-frugivorous diet is based on a reconstituted powdered mix for frugivorous geckos, served 2 to 3 times a week, supplemented with insects such as crickets or Dubia roaches 1 to 2 times a week, dusted with calcium. Calcium and vitamin D3 supplementation is crucial, especially for breeding females, whose calcium needs are very high.

How does it get water in the terrarium?▾

It mainly drinks droplets left on the foliage and glass after the evening misting. A small dish of clean water, changed daily, should still be provided as a supplement.

Is the chahoua gecko easy to handle?▾

It is generally docile, curious and far less of a 'jumper' than the crested gecko, which makes it pleasant to observe and approach. Its grip, however, is very powerful and can pinch the skin when it clings on, and it can be territorial: it's best kept singly or in a supervised pair/harem, never two males together.

How long does this species live, and how fast does it grow?▾

Its lifespan is 15 to 20 years in captivity, with some individuals even exceeding that. Growth is slow, with maturity reached around 18 to 24 months, sometimes not until 3 years, which makes it a commitment that needs to be thought through for the long haul.

How does its reproduction work?▾

It's an oviparous species that lays only 2 eggs per clutch, but with a hard, heavily calcified shell — a distinctive trait compared to the soft eggs of other Rhacodactylus. Several clutches per season are possible, every 4 to 6 weeks, with a cool incubation of around 60 to 90 days and increased calcium needs for the female.

What health problems should be watched for in the chahoua?▾

The main risk remains metabolic bone disease linked to calcium deficiency, particularly in breeding females, with an associated risk of egg-binding. Respiratory infections caused by air that is too humid and stagnant should also be watched for, along with heat stress above 29-30°C.

Where does this species come from, and is it suitable for a first exotic terrarium?▾

The chahoua gecko is native to New Caledonia, from Grande Terre and the Isle of Pines, where two geographic lineages are distinguished in captivity. Classed as beginner-to-intermediate, it suits a motivated keeper ready to respect its precise cool-temperature and humidity requirements, rather than being a good very first reptile without guidance.

Track your chahoua gecko on ReptiNode

Create a free tracking log: weight, meals, sheds, health record, QR codes and breeding projects — with the built-in genetics calculator for over 200 species.

Create a free account