RecoveryGeckos
Chahoua gecko care guide
Mniarogekko chahoua
A heavy-bodied New Caledonian arboreal gecko. They want girthy cork to grip, high humidity at night and cool room temperatures — never a basking lamp.
Arboreal — vertical height first
Chahoua gecko enclosure size
Arboreal — vertical height first. An adult chahoua gecko should live in at least 18" L × 18" W × 24" H; we build toward 24" L × 24" W × 36" H (2 × 2 × 3 ft, roughly 4 sq ft of floor and about a 90-gallon glass equivalent).
Chahoua are bulkier than crested geckos and use wide cork rounds more than thin vines.
- Hatchling / baby
- 12" L × 12" W × 18" H recommended · min 8" L × 8" W × 12" H
- Juvenile
- 18" L × 18" W × 24" H recommended · min 12" L × 12" W × 18" H
- Adult
- 24" L × 24" W × 36" H recommended · min 18" L × 18" W × 24" H
Temperature and heating
Room temperature is ideal. Sustained temps above 80–82°F cause heat stress; if the room runs hot, cool it rather than adding heat.
- Basking / warm surface
- None — chahoua do not use a basking lamp
- Warm side (ambient)
- 72–78°F ambient
- Cool side (ambient)
- 68–74°F ambient
- Night
- 65–72°F night drop is beneficial
Lighting and UVB
UVB: T5 UVB 5–6% at a distance (UVI 1–2 in the upper branches). Run lights on a 12 hours photoperiod, on a timer, and replace UVB bulbs on the manufacturer's schedule even while they still emit visible light.
Humidity
Target 70–80% at night, drying to 50–60% by day. Heavy evening misting or an automated system, with airflow so the enclosure dries between cycles.
Substrate and depth
Bioactive soil / coco fibre with leaf litter. Depth: 3–4 in.
Enclosure tips and furnishing
- Thick cork rounds and slabs to grip
- Broad-leaved plants for cover
- Ledges at several heights
- Feeding ledge for CGD
- Shallow water dish
Build list
- Vertical 18x18x24 or 24x24x36 front-opening terrarium — Height plus width — chahoua are bulky climbers.
- Low-output T5 UVB — Improves calcium metabolism even in a nocturnal species.
- Digital thermostat — Every heat source must run through a thermostat — unregulated heat burns animals.
- Two digital probe thermometers + hygrometer — Read the warm side, cool side and humidity directly — stick-on dials are inaccurate.
- Bioactive soil / coco fibre — Holds the night humidity spike.
- Wide cork tubes and foliage — Girthy perches suit their grip better than thin vines.
Chahoua gecko FAQ
How big should an adult Chahoua gecko enclosure be?
At least 18" L × 18" W × 24" H, and we recommend building to 24" L × 24" W × 36" H — about 2 × 2 × 3 ft, or a 90-gallon glass equivalent. Arboreal — vertical height first.
What temperatures does a Chahoua gecko need?
Basking or warm surface None — chahoua do not use a basking lamp, warm side 72–78°F ambient, cool side 68–74°F ambient, night 65–72°F night drop is beneficial. Room temperature is ideal. Sustained temps above 80–82°F cause heat stress; if the room runs hot, cool it rather than adding heat.
Does a Chahoua gecko need UVB?
T5 UVB 5–6% at a distance (UVI 1–2 in the upper branches). Photoperiod: 12 hours.
What humidity does a Chahoua gecko need?
70–80% at night, drying to 50–60% by day. Heavy evening misting or an automated system, with airflow so the enclosure dries between cycles.
What substrate is best for a Chahoua gecko?
Bioactive soil / coco fibre with leaf litter, at a depth of 3–4 in.
How big does a Chahoua gecko enclosure need to be for a hatchling?
Hatchling / baby: 12" L × 12" W × 18" H recommended, minimum 8" L × 8" W × 12" H. Scale up to the adult footprint as the animal grows.
Sources
Put this guide to work
Apply these targets to your own chahoua gecko record, then log feedings, sheds and weights against them.