New Caledonian common geckos
Nestled between Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, and New Guinea there is a place called New Caledonia; a small island nation in the South Pacific, inhabited by the Kanak people, renowned for its incredible nature, barrier reefs, and perfect climate year-round. It attracts a large tourism industry each year. The biodiversity of this area is of great interest among scientists, much like the Galapagos. Many types of varied terrain create an ideal environment for highly concentrated biodiversity to develop. Currently, the count is over 9,372 distinct species.
In this article we will see in detail the most common geckos native to the new Caledonian.
Their strength is the great adaptability to life in captivity; in fact, these species do not necessarily need heat sources if kept at home and follow a dietary eater, which allows you to vary insects with fruit and homogenized food.
Apparently the geckos belonging to the Diplodactylidae family, which populate the archipelago of New Caledonia, have developed similar lifestyle habits.
The same is true for their environmental needs: they are almost all geckos that populate primary and secondary forests, so much so that the continuous deforestation puts their existence at risk.
Of all, the most popular in captivity is certainly the Correlophus ciliatus, also known as the “crested gecko”; immediately following is the Rhacodactylus leachianus which, thanks to its size, has conquered all lovers of reptiles (it is the largest living gecko in the world); in third position we find Rhacodactylus auriculatus and then all the others.
But in reality few people know that the endemic species of geckos of New Caledonia are as many as 36, belonging to 8 different genera and all included in the Diplodactylidae family.
In this article I will not go into detail on the breeding of these geckos because objectively at a general level nothing changes. Instead, I will analyze the individual genera to give everyone the opportunity to know these interesting endemics of New Caledonia.

Leachianus Gecko
(Rhacodactylus leachianus leachianus, R. leachianus henkeli)
LIFESPAN
15-20 years
SIZE
20-38 cm
DIET
Primary frugivore, some insects
TEMPERATURE
Low 21-23 C°, High 26-29 C°
HUMIDITY
60-70%
HABITAT
Arboreal
(min 45x45x60 for most subspecies)
The Leachianus are the largest in the world and come in many visually striking patterns and colors. They have stout, thick bodies, large heads, and stocky legs. Also called “New Caledonian Giant Geckos”, the “leachie” has gained popularity in the exotic pet trade over the last couple of decades as captive bred animals have become more available. These geckos only lay clutches of 1 to 2 eggs per breeding season, which certainly contributes to their relative rarity among reptile keepers. These lizards are relatively easy keepers but can be flighty and even nippy as juveniles. Taming them must begin from a young age, using gentle methods and slow acclimation
Remind: Never grab any lizard by the tail, as all lizards are capable of tail autonomy (dropping the tail) when threatened. These geckos are nocturnal and are capable of making many different vocalizations — barks, growls, yips. The native peoples of the Grand Terre Island have called these geckos the “Devils in the Trees” because of just how loud they can be. Fortunately, if a loud pet is not what you’re looking for, you can rest easy knowing that they generally only vocalize if they are angry, threatened, or seeking a mate. The GT variants are said to be the loudest and most vocal of all the island subtypes.
These animals are not considered social and should be housed individually. Fights over territory can ensue, which can lead to severe injury and even death.
Juveniles will also compete for food, even if there is plenty available, which can lead to the most dominant gecko becoming larger and able to attack its cagemates. These animals should only be housed together if they are being bred, and only under the guidance of an experienced keeper.
The absolute minimum size for a single leachianus is 45x45x60, but bigger is always better. Juveniles can sometimes feel exposed in a cage that is very large, Simple setups may not be aesthetically pleasing, but they do allow for close monitoring of fecal and urate output and ease of cleaning, especially with young geckos or animals that are new to your collection in general. Reptile carpet, newspaper, butcher paper, or paper towel offer ease of cleaning and monitoring. Bioactive enclosures also work well with this species due to their relatively high humidity requirements.
SUBTYPES
One of the most fascinating aspects of the Leachianus is that they are so phenotypically varied, depending on which island they originate from. There are two known species, which inhabit two separate areas. New variants are being discovered and reclassified all the time, and it is nearly impossible to know which locality you have unless the breeder is certain about their animals’ genetics. The biggest differences are color and relative size, with the Nu Ana animals being the smallest (~20cm fully grown) and the Grand Terre animals being larger, the largest known being the Poindimie type (up to ~38cm).
GRAND TERRE (Mainland)
R. leachianus leachianus
- Poindimie
- Yate
- Mt. Humboldt
- Mt. Koghis
- Type C GT
ISLAND VARIANTS
R. lechianus henkeli
- Isle of Pines
- Bayonaisse (Isle C)
- Brosse (Isle D)
- Moro (Isle E)
- Nu Ana (Isle G)
- Nu Ami (Isle H)
- Canaawa (Isle K)

Gargoyle Gecko
(Rhacodactylus auriculatus)
QUICK FACTS
LIFESPAN
15-20 years
SIZE
15cm
DIET
Primary frugivore, some insects
TEMPERATURE
Low 21-23 C°, High 26-29 C°
HUMIDITY
60-70%
HABITAT
Semi-Arboreal/Terrestrial
(min 45x45x60)
Gargoyle Geckos are the most terrestrial of all of the New Caledonian geckos, maintaining a semi-terrestrial/arboreal lifestyle. As such, a more horizontal enclosure with some height for climbing is recommended. They have a relatively small natural range in their native island of Grand Terre, isolated to the lower third of the island. They spend more time under dense foliage cover to avoid predation by birds and terrestrial predators and are slightly more insectivorous than their cousins. They tend to be slightly more handleable than some of the other geckos from this region, being a bit less prone to jump out of your hands! Their footpads are less developed than that of the more arboreal species, so they are not able to climb vertical surfaces as easily as a Ciliatus and Leachianus. They come in beautiful shades of red, white, orange, gray, and black, with stunning patterns that change as they grow. They are relatively undemanding and easy to care for as pets, requiring very little on the part of the keeper. Feeding consists of offering a small bowl of meal replacement formula for frugivorous reptiles (Repashyand Pangea are the greatest brands ), replaced every other day. Small insects can also be offered, but do not be surprised if it takes some time for your gecko to learn that the insects are food. Dubia roaches are ideal, small crickets are also acceptable. Commercially available roach dishes can be purchased to prevent prey items from escaping into the enclosure. Remove all uneaten prey items from enclosure after 10 minutes.

Chachouas Gecko
(Rhacodactylus Chahoua)
QUICK FACTS
LIFESPAN
15-20 years
SIZE
Up to 18cm
DIET
Primary frugivore, some insects
TEMPERATURE
Low 21-23 C°, High 26-29 C°
HUMIDITY
60-75%
HABITAT
Semi-Arboreal (min 60x60x45)
These geckos, often referred to as Chahouas or “Chewies” by their keepers, are more recent additions to the pet trade. Until recently, Chahouas were classified in the same genus as Leachianus. The “prehensile” part of their name refers to their ability to hold on to branches and twigs with their highly tactile tail, much like a chameleon or opossum! They are also semi-arboreal/terrestrial, much like the Gargoyle gecko discussed above. Thus, a more horizontal enclosure with some height for climbing and decorations is preferred. Their coloration tends to be more brown, green, and gray, which gives them excellent camouflage against trees and foliage. New morphs are seemingly constantly available, with yellow and red pigments also seen in captive bred animals. They are also nocturnal, so do not be surprised if you do not see much of your new friend during the day. Chewies are more likely than some of the other geckos to enjoy a feast of insects, so ensure your gecko is getting insect protein! Dubia roaches and crickets are both acceptable, dusted with calcium + D3. Also offer meal replacement diet for frugivores (Repashy and pangea are also recomended for this gecko) and replace every other day. Juveniles actively growing can be offered Repashy daily with small insects 3-4 times per week They will need the extra protein to ensure they grow appropriately. As they age, they will require fewer insect proteins, but most Chewies do still enjoy their bugs through adulthood! Offer insects 2-3 times per week.

Crested Gecko
(Correlophus ciliatus)
QUICK FACTS
LIFESPAN
10-20 years
SIZE
14cm
DIET
Primary frugivore, some insects
TEMPERATURE
Low 21-23 C°, High 26-29 C°
HUMIDITY
60-70%
HABITAT
Arboreal
Crested geckos are native to the southern aspect of New Caledonia, and among their terrain there are three distinct populations. They were originally discovered in the late 1800s and were thought to be extinct in the wild until 1994. Ciliatus live around 10-20 years and reach an average length of 14cm long making them a small lizard ideal for apartment living. Crested geckos are excellent climbers due to the lamellae on their toes and the tip of their tail. Lamellae are hair like structures which allows the crestie to adhere to nearly any surface, including the hand of a keeper. Ciliatus do not have a fully prehensile tail like a chameleon, but they are capable of autonomy (“tail dropping”) much like a leopard gecko, however, there is no regrowth of lost tails. The most regrowth noted on crested gecko tails is a small point affectionately known as a “duck butt” by some keepers. When this species was originally discovered in 1866 it was thought that crested geckos did not have long tails since nearly all the adults in the wild have lost their tails. Crested geckos have an excellent sense of taste which can be frustrating to owners trying to convert their pets to a different diet. These interesting and popular little geckos are also nicknamed “Eyelashed geckos”. They are known to leap out of their owner’s hands, so always ensure you are handling your gecko over a solid surface to prevent falls. They are available in many different colors and patterns, with most being shades of yellow, orange, red, brown, and cream. There are also “dalmatian” geckos with and black spots. Because of their unique look and relative ease of care, they are one of the most popular reptiles kept.
Sexing
The older a crested gecko is, the easier it is to definitely determine the sex of the gecko. Males develop a large bulge under the vent on the tail. This bulge is called a hemipenal bulge. Generally, the earliest most people can sex crested geckos is six months of age although some breeders can sex with fair certainty as early as four or five months old. The hemipenal bulge of males is usually wider than the tail base.
Reproduction
Copulation occurs at night generally. The male will subdue the female by holding her neck in his mouth and may bite hard enough to leave marks. These marks are generally minor and removed with the next shedding cycle. Females lay two eggs every three weeks during breeding.
A plastic lidded container with an access hole and several ventilation holes is ideal for nest boxes and allows the crested gecko to feel secure during egg laying. Vermiculite or sphagnum moss is used as substrates in the nesting boxes to promote nest digging and decrease stress on the female by offering a natural feeling medium. The vermiculite should be medium grade and mixed one part water to two parts vermiculite by weight. Properly mixed substrate will clump when squeezed together without water dripping out of it. This should be a few inches deep to allow digging. If sphagnum moss is preferred, the moss should be soaked in water until completely saturated and excess removed by squeezing. Lightly pack this substrate a few inches deep. Incubation is between 75 and 78 degrees Fahrenheit for 60-120 days. It is recommended to transfer the eggs, being incredibly careful not to alter the eggs position, to a Gladware or Ziploc container with vermiculite and holes drilled in the top for ventilation.
Handling
All geckos new to a collection typically require a few days to acclimate before handling is attempted. This acclimation period also helps to preserve the tail which may be dropped during handling if the gecko perceives itself to be in danger. Generally, crested geckos will tolerate handling for around 5 minutes a day when they are fully acclimated.