Klemmer's day gecko — Care Sheet & Morphs

Husbandry requirements

Klemmer's day gecko — origin: Madagascar (north-west), endemic to a tiny, fragmented range (Ampasindava peninsula, Nosy Faly region), tied to bamboo. WARNING: a species listed on CITES Appendix II (like all Phelsuma) and considered threatened in the wild; only acquire captive-bred (CB) animals, never wild-caught specimens, and keep the proof of provenance..

Terrarium temperature gradient

Night min20 °C

Cool side22–25 °C

Warm side26–28 °C

Basking spot30–32 °C

A thermophilic species but VERY sensitive to overheating due to its small size: the small basking spot (a low-power spot) must never turn the terrarium into a heat trap. Maintain a genuine gradient and monitor the maximum temperature with a thermometer. A night-time drop to around 20-22 °C is beneficial.

Enclosure (adult)

30 × 30 × 45 cm

Vertical arboreal terrarium, planted/bioactive, with sections of hollow bamboo

Minimum dimensions for a pair or a trio (1 male max); increase the volume for a group. A vertical orientation is preferred. Provide several lengths of hollow bamboo (hides and egg-laying sites) and dense foliage. ESCAPE-PROOFING IS IMPERATIVE: fine mesh, perfectly flush seals and a double airlock at the opening, as this tiny animal escapes through the slightest gap. Good ventilation to avoid stagnant air.

Humidity

60–80 %

Tropical ambience: daily misting (morning and/or evening) to reach the top of the range, with partial drying in between to avoid stagnation and mould. Good humidity governs hydration and shed quality.

Substrate

Coconut fibreSphagnum mossFertiliser- and pesticide-free tropical soilLeaf litter / mulch (bioactive setup)

An almost exclusively arboreal species that rarely touches the ground; the substrate mainly serves to manage humidity and to support a planted bioactive setup (live plants, isopods, springtails).

UVB

Recommended

Essential for this diurnal basker: low- to medium-intensity UVB (T5 tube 5-6% or a target UVI of ~2-3 in the upper zone, under the basking spot), replaced according to the manufacturer's recommendations. Provide shade zones for self-regulation. A UVB/D3 deficit quickly leads to metabolic bone disease.

Water source

Always available

Does not drink from a bowl: it drinks the droplets deposited by misting on leaves, bamboo and walls. Ensure regular fine misting; a small, shallow dish can supplement but remains secondary.

Origin

Gekkonidae

Madagascar (north-west), endemic to a tiny, fragmented range (Ampasindava peninsula, Nosy Faly region), tied to bamboo. WARNING: a species listed on CITES Appendix II (like all Phelsuma) and considered threatened in the wild; only acquire captive-bred (CB) animals, never wild-caught specimens, and keep the proof of provenance.

Feeding & health

Diet

Omnivore / nectarivore (insectivorous + nectar/fruit) — Live micro-prey dusted with calcium: fruit flies (Drosophila), micro-crickets/pinheads, springtails; supplemented with fruit purée and nectar/day-gecko diet.

Match prey size to the very small mouth (mainly fruit flies). Dust with a D3-free calcium supplement at every meal and calcium+vitamins (with D3) 1 to 2 times a week. Offer the fruit/nectar diet 2-3 times a week, without excess sugar to avoid obesity.

Breeding

Oviparous

Clutch 2–2 eggs/young. Typical clutch of 2 eggs (sometimes 1), laid in cracks/bamboo and not glued to the support, so retrievable for artificial incubation. Incubation of about 40 to 55 days at around 26-28 °C. Very productive females: high calcium needs (endolymphatic sacs) and a risk of egg binding if deficient — space out clutches if the female's condition deteriorates.

Health watch points

Metabolic bone disease (MBD) from calcium/vitamin D3 deficiency or insufficient UVB
Egg binding (dystocia) in females, often linked to a calcium deficiency
Shedding difficulties (dysecdysis) and dehydration from too-low humidity
Thermal stress / heatstroke due to overheating (high sensitivity of this tiny species)
Digestive parasitosis and cachexia, especially in wild-caught or stressed individuals

Morphs & genetics

Registry of 0 documented gene for Klemmer's day gecko.

Frequently asked questions

Answers to the most common questions about keeping the klemmer's day gecko.

Is Klemmer's day gecko a species you can obtain freely?▾

No: it is a species listed in CITES Appendix II and considered threatened in its native range, a tiny, fragmented area of north-western Madagascar tied to bamboo forests. You must turn to captive-bred (CB) animals and keep proof of origin, never wild-caught specimens.

What size does an adult Phelsuma klemmeri reach?▾

It is one of the smallest Phelsuma: between 8 and 10 cm total length (snout-vent plus tail), with a very slender body flattened dorso-ventrally that allows it to slip into the crevices of hollow bamboo.

What terrarium should be provided for this small gecko?▾

A vertical arboreal terrarium of at least 30 x 30 x 45 cm for a pair or a trio (a single male), planted and ideally bioactive, with several sections of hollow bamboo serving both as hiding spots and as egg-laying sites. The vertical orientation should be favoured and the foliage dense.

How do you prevent the gecko from escaping the terrarium?▾

This is a critical point with this tiny species that is particularly gifted at escaping: fine mesh, perfectly flush seals and a double airlock at the opening are essential, otherwise the animal slips through the slightest gap. Good ventilation must nonetheless be maintained.

What temperatures should be maintained in the terrarium?▾

A hot spot of 30-32°C, a general warm zone of 26-28°C, a cool side of 22-25°C and a nighttime temperature that does not drop below 20°C. Be careful, however: despite its taste for warmth, this gecko is very sensitive to overheating because of its small size, so the hot spot must remain of low power and never turn the terrarium into a thermal trap.

What humidity level and what daily maintenance?▾

A tropical humidity of 60 to 80 %, achieved by daily misting in the morning and/or evening, followed by a slight drying between two sprays to avoid stagnation and mould. This humidity directly determines the quality of the sheds.

What does Klemmer's day gecko eat?▾

It is an omnivorous and nectarivorous species: live micro-prey such as fruit flies, micro-crickets or pinheads and springtails, dusted with calcium without D3 at every meal and with calcium plus vitamins once or twice a week, supplemented by a fruit puree or a day gecko diet two to three times a week, without excess to avoid obesity.

Does it need UVB?▾

Yes, it is essential for this diurnal gecko that basks: a T5 UVB tube of 5-6 % or a target UVI of 2 to 3 in the upper zone, under the hot spot, while providing shaded areas so it can self-regulate. A deficiency in UVB or D3 quickly leads to metabolic bone disease.

How does it stay hydrated, is a water bowl needed?▾

It does not drink from a basin but laps up the droplets deposited by misting on leaves, bamboo stems and the terrarium walls. Fine, regular misting is therefore essential; a small, shallow dish can supplement this but remains secondary.

Can it be handled like any other gecko?▾

It is better to avoid direct handling: its skin is fragile, it practises caudal autotomy when stressed and it is a true escape athlete. It remains curious and lively to watch, but is above all suited to contemplation from outside the terrarium rather than close contact.

How long does this gecko live and what attention should be paid to breeding females?▾

Its lifespan is 8 to 12 years in captivity under good conditions. Highly productive females, however, have high calcium needs linked to their frequent clutches, and their life expectancy can be reduced in the event of deficiency or egg retention — clutches must then be spaced out.

Is this species suitable for a beginner in terrarium keeping?▾

It is rather rated as intermediate difficulty: its very small size, its sensitivity to overheating, its precise calcium and UVB requirements and its talent for escaping call for a careful setup and a minimum of experience, even if its curious temperament makes it very rewarding to observe.

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