SpeciesNew Caledonian giant gecko
New Caledonian giant gecko
Rhacodactylus leachianus
The largest gecko in the world, heavy, slow and surprisingly vocal. An animal for decades: Females live over twenty years.
- Group
- Gecko
- Level
- Intermediate
- Origin
- New Caledonia
Where the species comes from
- World region
- New Caledonia
- Countries
- Grande Terre and the offshore islands
- Habitat
- Humid forests, tree hollows high up
The app does not yet hold an origin entry for this species. The distribution given here comes from the specialist literature.
The natural habitat is the yardstick for how you furnish an enclosure. Knowing where an animal comes from is knowing why it needs heat zones, hides and a particular humidity.
Husbandry at a glance
The same details appear in the animal’s profile inside the app.
- Enclosure
- Tall and sturdy, with strong branches. The Animal Welfare Ordinance sets no minimum size for New Caledonian giant geckos. The reference is the German 1997 expert report on reptile keeping: for a pair at least 6 × 6 × 8 snout-vent lengths, i.e. 132 × 132 × 176 cm at 22 cm.
- Temperature
- 22–27 °C, 19–21 °C at night. Above 30 °C it becomes critical.
- Humidity
- 60–75 %, mist in the evening, let it dry during the day.
- Lighting
- Weak UV-B is beneficial.
- Substrate
- Coco humus with leaf litter.
- Furnishings
- Thick vertical cork tubes as a daytime retreat, sturdy branches. The animals are heavy and need load-bearing structure.
- Water
- A dish and droplets on leaves.
- Feeding
- Ready-made fruit gecko diet twice a week, plus insects and rarely a small mouse.
- Behaviour
- Nocturnal, calm, site-faithful. Makes growling sounds.
- Handling
- Possible, but the bite is strong. Proceed calmly and slowly.
- Cohabitation
- Alone. Pairs only in a very large enclosure and under constant observation; conflicts end bloodily.
- Health
- Very long-lived and robust, sensitive to heat.
- Seasonal cycle
- A cooler phase in winter at 19–20 °C.
- Safety
- No permit required.
Legal position in Switzerland
No permit foreseen
No permit required. The species does not belong to any of the groups listed in Art. 89 of the Swiss Animal Welfare Ordinance
No certificate of competence foreseen
No proof of competence required. It is only demanded for the animals named in Art. 89 of the Ordinance
No CITES listing
Not listed in the CITES appendices: Import and transfer require no species-protection papers. Keep the proof of purchase nonetheless
Minimum enclosure dimensions
Annex 2, table 5 of the Animal Welfare Ordinance does not list this species. Among snakes the table names only giant snakes (pythons and boas), elapids, vipers and pit vipers, and a few venomous or dangerous colubrids; for the rest no figure appears there.
The general rule in Annex 2 (letter K) then applies: the enclosure must be large enough for everything the species needs (hides, basking spot, climbing branches) to be arranged sensibly. As a yardstick, the ordinance points to expert opinions on a scientific basis. There is therefore no binding figure. The guide values in the calculator come from the 1997 expert report. Binding information comes from the cantonal veterinary office.
What the enclosure must provide
Provide species-appropriate heat and light zones, UV-B where needed, suitable substrate, retreats, climbing or digging options, water and natural rest periods.
Paperwork
Keep the purchase contract and proof of origin. Use the scientific name to check CITES and import status reliably.
These details are a guide, not legal advice. Binding information comes from the cantonal veterinary office; the text of the ordinance is what counts. More on the legal position
