Lybian dwarven geckos Tropiocolotes tripolitanus care

Tropiocolotes (Peters,1880)

The genus Tropiocolotes consists of 4 species which are at home in North Africa and Southwest Asia.They live mainly in dry sandy regions.

Tropiocolotes tripolitanus (Peters,1880)

Distribution :North Africa

Habitat : :This species lives amongst the sand dunes where there is only very sparse vegetation .It is also found on cliffs and in other rocky areas.The daylight hours are usually spent below rocks.

Size : 100 mm (= 4 inches)

Characteristics : Tropiocolotes tripolitanus is a small terrestrial species the scalation of which consists of large tubercular scales .The ground colour is usually yellowish with scattered dark spots.The tail has dark transverse rings ,becoming wider towards the middle.The lower half of the tail is completely dark .The irregular stripe on the head is particularly noticeable .It begins at the tip of the snout, runs through the eyes and ends behind the forelegs .

Vivarium : Type I (ground-dwelling desertic species type,wider than it is high,small size i.e. 5-10 gallons).The substrate should be a 1-3 cm layer of sand upon which flat rocks and pieces of cork bark are scattered .

Husbandry and reproduction : This is a very sociable species which is best kept in small groups .The breeding season stretches from May to October .During this time the females lay up to six clutches of eggs at approximatively 4-weeks intervals .Each clutch consists of one hard-shelled egg.For incubation they may be left in the vivarium or transfered to an incubator with a temperature of 25-28°C.The young hatch after 58-64 days and should be reared separatedly in small vivaria.A short winter rest period will have a stimulating effect on future mating.

Food : Small field crickets ,house crickets ,waxmoth larvae,grain beetles,and other small insects.

Similar species: All other Tropiocolotes species.

Taken from F.W. HENKEL & W. SCHMIDT ,Geckoes ,Krieger Publ.,Malabar,FL,USA,1995.

I add from other sources that temps should be 24-29°C in the cool end of the viv and there must be a basking spot with temps of 35-40°C,esp. if gravid females are in the viv.UV light is not absolutely necessary but I would go for a 5.0 UVB neon.

http://www.kingsnake.com/gcsreptiles/images/tropiocolotes%20sp..jpg
picture here.