Dune Gecko

Dune Gecko

Scientific name: Stenodactylus spp.
Common names: Dune Gecko, Desert Gecko
Adult size: Around 12–15 cm
Lifespan: Around 8–12+ years

📏 Size

• Small, nocturnal desert gecko.
• Compact body with large eyes and excellent camouflage.

🏡 Housing

• Terrestrial, nocturnal species requiring a dry, well-ventilated vivarium.
• Minimum around 60 × 30 × 30 cm for an adult pair.
• Provide 8–12 cm of sandy/digging substrate.
• Include several hides, cork, rocks and open areas for foraging.

🌡️ Temperature

• Basking area: 32–35°C
• Warm end: 27–30°C
• Cool end: 22–25°C
• Night: 18–22°C
• Use thermostatically controlled heating.

💡 Lighting

• Low-level UVB around 2–5% is beneficial.
• Provide a natural 10–12 hour day/night cycle.
• As a nocturnal species, provide plenty of shaded areas.

💧 Humidity

• Generally 30–40%.
• Avoid keeping the enclosure constantly damp.
• A slightly more humid hide can be provided, particularly during shedding.

🦗 Food

• Feed appropriately sized live insects such as crickets, locusts, roaches and mealworms.
• Juveniles require more frequent feeding than adults.
• Dust prey with calcium and provide suitable vitamin supplementation.

💧 Water

• Provide a shallow dish of fresh water.
• Light misting can occasionally provide drinking droplets without making the enclosure wet.

🐍 Shedding

• Provide a humid hide to assist with difficult sheds.
• Rough surfaces such as cork and rocks can help remove loose skin.
• Never pull retained shed from toes or the tail.

🤲 Handling

• Can become accustomed to gentle handling but may be nervous and fast-moving.
• Handle close to the ground and support the whole body.
• Avoid grabbing the tail.

❤️ Health

• Monitor appetite, weight, activity and shedding.
• Watch for dehydration, parasites, retained shed and metabolic bone disease.
• Correct UVB and calcium supplementation are important even for nocturnal species.

🧽 Cleaning

• Spot-clean waste regularly.
• Remove uneaten insects.
• Keep the water dish clean and replace contaminated substrate as required.

🏠 Before You Bring Your Gecko Home

• Set up and temperature-test the enclosure beforehand.
• Have suitable digging substrate, hides, heating, UVB and live food ready.
• Ensure the enclosure is secure and escape-proof.

⚠️ Important Bits

• Dune Geckos are nocturnal desert animals and may spend much of the day hidden.
• Provide deep, dry substrate for natural digging behaviour.
• Avoid excessive humidity and poor ventilation.
• They are delicate and best kept as a look-but-don't-touch species.