Phelsuma klemmeri

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.

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.

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).

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

• 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