Provenance and Characteristics

Gargoyle geckos (Rhacodactylus auriculatus) stem from New Caledonia, a group of islands between Fiji and Australia, and are a medium- to large-sized semi-arboreal member of the Rhacodactylus genus. They reach a moderate size of 4 to 4.5 inches snout-to-vent length, and 8 inches total, and are usually quite chubby and robust in appearance. Gargoyle geckos are sexually mature at 15 to 18 months of age and approximately 35 grams. With good husbandry, they can live 15 to 20 years. They are very docile and tolerate handling very well, being slow moving and less jumpy than many other geckos.

Housing

Gargoyle Geckos can be housed and maintained almost the same way as crested geckos. Since they are ectotherm (body temperature varies with environmental temperature), it is important to provide the proper temperature range for activity and feeding. They like temperatures of 78 to 82 degrees Fahrenheit during the day, which can drop to the low 70s at night, and in winter even to the 60s. Thus, in Southern Illinois, they can be kept at room temperature with no additional heating or lighting. Gargoyle geckos spend most of their time above ground. As substrate, a peat moss-based soil mix that doesn’t contain perlite will work well. Since they feel comfortable resting in foliage and like to climb wood, cork bark and branches should be added, as well as artificial or live plants, such as small ficus benjamina, dracaena, and pothos. Gargoyles are unable to climb smooth surfaces, such as glass. Gargoyle geckos enjoy moderate humidity and an occasional misting. LZRDGRL uses distilled water to avoid stains on the plexi glass enclosures. For breeding purposes, adult gargoyle geckos can be housed in groups of one male to three females. Overly aggressive animals have to be removed, since they tend to nip or eat each others’ tails.

Food

Gargoyle geckos can be reluctant to feed on insects; however, they can be coaxed into eating large sized insects.  Baby gargoyles can already consume ¾-inch crickets, and adults extra large crickets. LZRDGRL raises her gargoyles on powdered meal replacement fruit mixes from Repashy, the Crested Gecko Diet (CGD). Gut-loaded crickets are given once every other week.

Breeding

Gargoyle geckos are not as prolific as crested geckos. Each female can produce 4-8 clutches of eggs per year. The babies hatch out stocky and robust. The incubation is the same as for crested geckos; however, there is some evidence that eggs incubated at 70-74 produce more females, and eggs incubated at 78-79 degrees produce more males. 

Tail Loss

In the wild, gargoyle geckos tend to lose their tails and have tiny pointed tail nubs. They are notorious for plucking off each others’ tails if kept in groups; however, they will readily regenerate tails, which – besides a difference in scalation – end up looking like the originals.

Gargoyle Geckos
#1 ID: YG-?-2011 Name: Tchaikovsky  Gender: unsexed Date of Birth: 2011 Morph: Richard Quick's High Yellow Line Origin: Richard Quick from New Mexico Photo from Richard Quick
#2 ID: YG-?-2011 Name: Prokoviev Gender: unsexed Date of Birth: 2011 Morph: Richard Quick's High Yellow Line (slight tail kink) Origin: Richard Quick from New Mexico Photo from Richard Quick
#3 ID: YG-?-08-2011 Name: Shostakovich Gender: unsexed Date of Birth: approx. 08/2011 Morph: Yellow Stripe Origin: Cindy McDannell Photo from Cindy McDannell
#4 ID: YG-?-1-1-2012 Name: Rachmaninov Gender: unsexed Date of Birth: 01/01/2012 Morph: Golden Stripe Origin: Undergroundreptiles Photo from Undergroundreptiles