My Collection

Geckos From Around the World

Geckos in my collection hail from areas throughout the world. I work with gecko species from Australia, New Caledonia, Africa, China, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and South America. The diversity of geckos throughout the world is truly astounding and with so many species that I find cool and interesting, I have no doubt that I will continue to add new species each year. The list  below shows geckos species that I am, or have worked with. I may not be keeping all of these currently.

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Geckonia (Tarentola) chazalia
Helmeted Gecko

The helmeted gecko is the favorite terrestrial species that I currently keep. The distinctive row of enlarged scales at the base of the skull give this gecko its unique look and common name. Alert, active, and fearless, these small geckos pace back and forth along the front of their tanks hoping for a handout when I enter the room.  Many nocturnal terrestrial species are shy and rarely seen- this is not the case with these active little geckos. They will aggressively take food items from tongs or my fingers. Once relatively common in the hobby, this species has become increasingly difficult to find. I have had good success breeding this species, hatching out 20+ babies in 2009 / 2010. Update... after working with this group for 6+ years, I decided to take on some new challenges with other species. These remain one of my all time favorites!

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Correlophus ciliatus
"Crested Gecko"

Easy to care for, widely available, and coming in many colors and patterns, crested geckos are often considered the ideal starter gecko. However, the genetic possibilities of this species appeal to even the most advanced keepers.  I work with a couple of breeding groups of crested geckos and have refined certain traits over several generations of selective breeding, and this is one of the species I am probably best known for.  I almost always have crested geckos available for sale. If I had to limit my gecko collection to a single species, the crested gecko would have to be my choice. I have 3 females producing in 2013 and am excited by the progress my selective breeding projects are showing.

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Mniarogecko chahoua
Mossy Prehensile-tailed Gecko

This slightly larger cousin of the crested gecko has a unique personality and a cryptic coloration of mossy greens, browns, and grays that afford this gecko wonderful camouflage amongst the bark and vegetation of its habitat. These geckos seem to always be in demand. I currently work with the Pine Island locale of this species. While I produce a very limited number of these geckos,  those that I have hatched have been very high quality.

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Correlophus sarasinorum
Sarasin's Giant Gecko

Another close cousin of the ever popular crested gecko, Rhacodactylus sarasinorum at first glance may appear very similar to a ciliatus without the crests. To me the sarasinorum have more of a "long and lean" look to them. Some selective breeding for specific traits has begun on a very limited basis, but most of these geckos still exhibit a "wild look". They tend to be a bit quicker than crested geckos, and perhaps a bit more nervous, but some report that they tame down quite easily with consistent handling. My pair comes from Allen Repashy. They bred for the first time in 2011.

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Eurydactylodes agricolae 
Chameleon Gecko

Another native of the island of New Caledonia, E. agricolae can be kept in much the same manner as crested geckos, but in smaller enclosures as they are a much smaller gecko than any of the Rhacodactylus. At first glance, these may appear to be a rather small, drab gecko, but it is upon closer inspection and observation that the unique nature of this gecko can be appreciated. This is a relatively slow moving gecko which likes to hug tightly to a vine, branch, or even your finger. Their coloration allows them to blend into their environment perfectly. I have hatched out a good number of these over the last few breeding seasons, and have 2 unrelated pairs producing.

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Underwoodisaurus milii
Australian Barking Gecko

While not as commonly available as such species as crested geckos or leopard geckos, U. milii are considered to be one of the best starter geckos for those who wish to work with members of the Australian "knobtail family".  I believe these are one of the most underrated geckos out there. Not quite as shy as some of the closely related Nephrurus geckos, the milii are an attractive and entertaining subjects to observe, and will even tolerate a small amount of handling. You've just got to love those big, dark eyes. I currently keep several pairs of milii and produce high quality young on a consistent basis.

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Nephrurus levis
Smooth Knobtail Gecko

Another one of my favorite Australian geckos are Nephrurus levis geckos. These are sometimes referred to as "smooth skinned" knobtails as opposed to the "rough skinned" knobtails such as Nephrurus wheeleri or Nephrurus amyae. These geckos are kept a bit moister than their rough skinned cousins, and often burrow into moist sand or kick sand to close the opening of their hide to help preserve moisture. Like all the Nephrurus geckos, the big dark eyes and perpetually "smiling" appearance make these a very visually appealing gecko.

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Nephrurus wheeleri
Rough Knob Tail Gecko

Only a few short years ago, Nephrurus wheeleri were very hard to come by and demanded top dollar. Today, availability has increased and the price has dropped to a level that shouldn't be too daunting to the serious hobbyist. This prehistoric looking gecko from the arid deserts of Australia is relatively easy to keep and can be quite prolific. The roughly scaled skin sets this group apart from the smooth skinned knobtails. Hatchling wheeleri are robust and very easy to work with.

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Goniurosaurus hainanensis
Chinese Cave Gecko

The Goniurosaurus genus contains some truly stunning species. The deep red eyes are a distinctive feature. The hainanensis are relatively easy to keep and breed as long as proper care conditions are met, but don't let the sometimes used common name "Chinese leopard gecko" fool you into thinking these can be kept the same way as the "leopard gecko" which is found in almost every pet store.  Goniurosaurus are a very shy and reclusive group of geckos, and can be stressed by excessive handling and human activity. I see mine less than any of my other species, but when I do, I still marvel at the beauty of this species. I am not currently breeding this species.

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Goniurosaurus luii
Chinese Cave Gecko

A couple of years ago, I saw some young G. luii available at a reptile show and they really grabbed my attention. The orange coloration was almost electric! After a quick look around the show to see what else might be available, I decided to buy them, but found that they had quickly sold out. Since that time I have been on the lookout for some and finally picked up a juvie pair at Tinley. This is a strikingly colored member of the Goniurosaurus genus, and somewhat hard to find compared to the more common G. hainanensis. Like all Goniurosaurus, they are a shy species, but I find my luii to be more visible and not quite as shy as my hainanensis. I bred this species for the first time in 2011.

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Palmatogecko rangei
Web-footed Gecko

Web-footed geckos are uniquely adapted to the sandy environment of the Namibian desert of Southern Africa. The webbed feet of this species are unique in the gecko world and allow this gecko to easily traverse the soft sands of its native habitat. This small gecko may appear somewhat fragile, but is surprisingly tough. In their native habitat, they have been observed active at temperatures barely above freezing! They have recently been reclassified as members of the Pachydactylus genus, but the old moniker of Palmatogecko still seems to be more widely used. In addition to the unique toes, the eyes of this species are spectacular. Finally, after some setback with this project, I should produce some offspring in 2012.

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Eublepharis macularius
Leopard Gecko

The leopard gecko is the most widely available and  captive bred gecko in the world. The number of different genetic morphs that have been created within this species is truly incredible, and hard to keep up with, as they change so rapidly. I kept leopard geckos back in the late 1990's and am amazed at how much change has occurred in the last 10 years. I have a single pair of leopard geckos which I keep in my high school science classroom at the school where I teach. The students enjoy observing the animals each day.  Along with crested geckos, leopard geckos are usually recommended as the ideal "starter gecko" for those buying their first animal.  One of these days, I may put this pair together, but it's not a high priority.

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Chondrodactylus angulifer
Namibian Giant Ground Gecko

Male

A new addition in 2010. I have been looking for this species for a couple of years. This is another gecko adapted to the harsh desert environment of Namibia. They have powerful jaws which are said to be capable of delivering a painful bite. There's something about big "blockheaded" geckos that I like. This species is also interesting in that the males are easily distinguished from the females by a row of white spots which the females lack. I have a very diverse and high quality breeding group. They have become one of my favorite species!

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Pristurus carteri
Scorpion Gecko

Female

Another new addition in 2010, these unique geckos have been on my watchlist for a while now. These small, diurnal geckos are alert and watch my every move when I enter the gecko room. The common name "scorpion gecko" comes from the interesting way these geckos arch their tails over there backs. It is said that the tails play a role in communication. This pair will be put together for breeding in 2012. I would be very pleased if I succeeded in breeding this uncommon species.

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Gonatodes vittatus
Wiegmann's Striped Gecko

Officially the smallest gecko in my current collection, I picked up a couple of young, unsexed Gonatodes vittatus in the spring of 2010. The males of this genus often exhibit strikingly beautiful colors and patterns, while the females are much less flashy. I believe the two I picked up are both males, as both are now starting to exhibit the bright white dorsal line and bits of bright yellow around the head and throat that are commonly seen in males of this species. I may be looking for a female or two in the future if I choose to start a breeding group of these brightly colored little "mini-geckos".

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Oedura castelnaui
Northern Velvet Gecko

I have a single, unsexed, amelanistic Oedura castelnaui which I picked up in the spring of 2010. While this gecko was picked up as an afterthought addition in a package deal, I have often considered adding an Oedura to my collection. This was a chance to "get my feet wet" with this genus so-to-speak without investing too much in a project. While many have focused on producing amelanistic castelnaui, I find the "normal" color phase quite attractive as well.

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Diplodactylus galeatus
Australian helmeted gecko

This species has been on my wanted list for a few years. I've always thought they were one of the nicest looking of the Diplodactylus group. I have a 1.2 group that should start producing in 2012

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Pachydactylus caraculicus

I'm dipping my toes into the Pachydactylus pool a bit here. This is a very diverse group with some really unique individuals. Often the babies are born with amazing colors and patterns that break up into a more diffuse pattern as the geckos mature. The yellow and orange bands on the tails of these young ones are just electric! It will be interesting to see how they change over time. I hatched out half a dozen of these brightly colored little geckos in 2012.

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Haemodracon trachyrhinus
Pigmy Socotran Leaf-toed Gecko

Photo by Roberto Sindaco. Used with permission.

This gecko's genus name Haemodracon means "dragons blood" - named for the Dragon's Blood Trees found in their unique environment. The species name of trachyrhinus refers to the rough scaled snout of this gecko. The island of Socotra in the Indian Ocean has many very unique forms of life found nowhere else in the world. Unfortunately it lies in the pirate infested waters between Somalia and Yemen, making it highly unlikely that any other animals will come out of that area. I am lucky to be working with these small, unique geckos that are just now becoming available outside of their remote native habitat.

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Coleonyx elegans
Yucatan Banded Gecko

Of the various species and forms of Coleonyx, I've always liked the looks of Coleonyx elegans the best. The babies can be very striking in appearance with bright reddish coloration and highly contrasted bands or stripes. As adults the colors become much more muted and the animals have a more speckled appearance with indistinct bands. I have a single pair which should be ready to breed in 2013.

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Rhoptropus biporosus
Namib Day Gecko

I picked up a subadult pair of Rhoptropus geckos at Tinley this year. I could hardly travel all that way and not come home with something interesting now could I? I always have my eyes open for uncommon and unique species, and this gecko fits both bills. Namibia has already supplied a couple of my favorite gecko species, so one more from this region couldn't hurt. They are a diurnal (day active) gecko like my Pristurus geckos which I very much enjoy. At first these geckos disappeared in a flash if I came close to their tank, but as they have gotten used to me, they have become much bolder and often stay out in the open, following my movements. I think they've figured out that the guy who brings food isn't so scary. I'll have to see if I can get some pictures. Taking pics of small, fast (and expensive) geckos which can climb the sides of their tanks makes me a bit nervous.

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Cyrtodactylus peguensis
Thai Bow-fingered Gecko

I have 2 female Cyrtodactylus peguensis that should be ready to breed in the spring of 2013, but I need to find a male before that can happen. These geckos are known for producing bird-like chirps when courting. They are from Thailand / Malaysia and require fairly mild temperatures and high humidity. They are a small, but very attractive gecko. If I can find a male for my group, I hope to have some breeding success in the future.

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Paroedura androyensis
Grandidier's Ground Gecko

Here's my new species addition for 2013 (for now). This species has been on my watchlist for a number of years now. A few years ago I was actively searching for them and they almost seemed to have disappeared from the hobby. I wasn't really looking for them right now, but a group came along at the right price and I couldn't pass them up. This is a small, ground dwelling gecko from Madagascar. One of the unique characteristics of this species is the way they curl and wave their tails when stalking prey. Their coloration makes it easy for them to blend into their environment. The day after I put them in their new home, I began looking for them and didn't see any. As I stared into the tank, I suddenly noticed one in plain sight. Right next to it was another. I had looked right at them and failed to see them.

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