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402 EXOTICS Chahoua Gecko Care Guide
Mniarogekko chahoua — “Chewies”
Chahoua thrive with substantial climbing structure, secure retreats, appropriate environmental conditions, and consistent nutrition. This guide combines our general care approach with the particular needs of chahoua.
Care at a glance
| Topic | Recommended approach |
|---|---|
| Single adult minimum enclosure | 18 × 18 × 24 inches, fully furnished |
| Daytime temperature | 74–78°F |
| Nighttime temperature | Approximately 68–70°F |
| Humidity | Approximately 60–80%, with an evening rise and daytime drying |
| Water | Clean water bowl at all times, plus misting droplets |
| Lighting | Regular day and night cycle; suitable low-level UVB recommended |
| Staple diet | Pangea or BP Zoological complete gecko diet |
| Prepared-food schedule | 2–3 times per week |
| Insects | Regular supplemented insect meals; 2–3 times weekly as a starting schedule |
| Acclimation | Approximately two weeks with minimal disturbance |
Build a usable habitat
Provide thick branches, cork slabs and rounds, and sturdy resting surfaces. Chahoua need secure places to rest against or behind bark, with foliage adding cover around their climbing routes.
Arrange food and water near cover. Secure furnishings so they cannot shift under the gecko’s weight, and furnish the full enclosure rather than leaving most of its height empty.
Paper towel helps with initial monitoring. Established planted or bioactive setups can also work, provided the plants and structure tolerate the animal’s weight. Continue cleaning cups, bowls, glass, and accumulated waste.
Young animals can be raised individually. Breeding pairs require multiple retreats, observation of both animals, and a ready separation enclosure. Separate animals if aggression, persistent pursuit, feeding competition, or declining condition develops.
Temperature, humidity, and lighting
Maintain moderate temperatures with cooler retreats. High heat and powerful basking bulbs can quickly overheat the enclosure. Never use heat rocks.
Measure conditions where the gecko actually rests. Keep the enclosure out of direct sunlight and away from concentrated heating or cooling airflow.
Mist in the evening to provide drinking droplets and raise humidity. Allow exposed surfaces to dry during the day without drying the entire habitat excessively. Keep clean water available continuously.
We prefer suitable T5 UVB systems with shaded retreats and darkness at night. Lamp placement must account for screening, distance, and accessible climbing surfaces.
Feeding
Offer Pangea or BP Zoological complete diet 2–3 times per week. Start with the exact formula the gecko already eats, mixed to a smooth, pourable consistency. Never offer powder dry.
Include appropriately sized insects regularly. Begin with 2–3 insect meals weekly, adjusting portions to age, body condition, and reproductive activity. Crickets are a useful option for animals reluctant to accept other feeders.
Gut-load insects before feeding. We use Repashy Calcium Plus, lightly dusting insects at every insect feeding and offering them shortly afterward.
Keep prepared diet available as part of the routine even when the gecko enthusiastically accepts insects. Monitor growing animals and laying females particularly closely for changes in condition.
Bringing your gecko home
Allow approximately two weeks with minimal disturbance. Maintain a stable layout, familiar food, and predictable feeding locations.
A pea-sized diagnostic portion can make prepared-food intake easier to detect. Increase portions once intake is clear. If access is questionable, add another station near cover without moving the original.
Do not begin assist-feeding solely because you have not seen the animal eat.
Handling, monitoring, and support
Begin short handling sessions after reliable feeding is established. Support the whole body, allow voluntary movement, and never restrain the tail.
Watch appetite, droppings, body condition, shedding, movement, and grip. Use consistent weight measurements when they help resolve a concern. Change one husbandry variable at a time.
Contact us for husbandry help. Weakness, abnormal breathing, injury, or persistent deterioration requires a qualified reptile veterinarian.
Keep the full animal ID. Use our Animal ID Decoder for available ancestry and printable enclosure cards, and Animal Support & Updates for questions and progress photos.