CARE SHEET - Strophurus (Spiny-tailed Geckos)
Strophurus are a genus of small to medium sized geckos comprised of 20 species that are native to Australia. At Jecko's Geckos LLC, we are currently working with 10 Strophurus species.
Habitat:
These geckos typically live in/ around small branches or spinifex grasses. Inside the cage we recommend manzanita sticks, Fluker’s Bend a Branch, Zoo Med Flexible Hanging Vine, and Pangea’s Ultimate Reptile Vine (assorted vines and foliage can be found here:
https://www.pangeareptile.com/store/vines.html). Cage size should be appropriate for the age of the gecko. For a single baby/ juvenile we use 8x8x12 Exo Terra tanks (or equivalent size from other companies, i.e. https://dwgeckos.com/). For larger species, such as S. ciliaris, we use 18x18x18 Exo Terra tanks for groups. A single adult will do well in a 12x12x18 Exo Terra tank.
Lighting:
We supply UVB and a heat source to all our Strophurus breeders. We recommend a gradient of temperatures from 70-85° F. We use Arcadia 12-14% bulbs for our adult Strophurus, 6% on our juveniles (on smaller tanks).
Diet:
Strophurus feed on live insects and do not consume powdered fruit mixes. We feed each individual 2-4 food items per feeding. Make sure the food item is an appropriate size for your gecko. Feeding occurs every other day. Be aware that too much food can result in the gecko regurgitating its food.
Misting:
We lightly mist our geckos daily.
Pictured is a Strophurus ciliaris
Substrates:
Either paper towel or sand can be used as a substrate. We use paper towel at Jecko’s Geckos and swap it out every other week or sooner if it appears to be dirty.
Babies and Juveniles:
We recommend smaller cages with paper towel and small sticks for them to grasp. We recommend manzanita sticks, Fluker’s Bend a Branch, Zoo Med Flexible Hanging Vine, and Pangea’s Ultimate Reptile Vine.
Pictured is a Strophurus elderi
Breeding:
Species tend to start laying eggs in the spring (February-April). Depending on conditions, they can lay eggs for a while in winter (December). October-December is typically when laying begins to slow down. No eggs are laid during the cooler months/ brumation period. During the brumation period, we keep the conditions the same and feed the same amounts. The temperature drops only a few degrees from the house naturally being cooler in the winter. We keep adults are kept together year round. Other breeders significantly cool their animals and greatly reduce or forego feeding during brumation.
When to pair:
We typically wait at least 2 years to pair our Strophurus for males and after duds are laid for females. Waiting seems to be better for these species as females very easily become egg bound if paired too early.
Life Expectancy:
The life expectancy of these geckos are unknown. Best guess based on the time to sexually mature (2 - 3 years), would be 10-15 years. Individuals have been known to live more than 10 years in captivity.
Other information: In general, there is little information on the genus as a whole. However, here is a link to one of my favorite sources http://www.arod.com.au/arod/reptilia/Squamata/Gekkonidae/Strophurus/
These are our general guidelines that we adhere to at Jecko’s Geckos LLC. In general there is little information on this genus for captive care. We are happy to advise, but our care comes from experience and other advice from other veteran hobbyists. For additional questions please email us at jon@jeckosgeckos.com.