Caresheets

Tarentola Mauritanica Caresheet (Moorish/Crocodile Gecko)

Overview

Also know as the Moorish Gecko or Crocodile gecko these lizards can make excellent pets. They are quite well built for their size (around 6.5″) and relatively strong. They range in colour from a light gray to brown mottled look. One of the most interesting features of these geckos are the scales along their back and tail as shown in the picture; along with their large pointed head they are an impressive animal. They have short limbs and adhesive toe pads.These lizards can live to between 6 and 10 years old.

We hope you find this Tarentola Mauritanica Care Sheet useful, please leave us a comment with your thoughts at the end.

Terrarium

Only one male should be kept in an enclosure; two males will fight to the death. Tarentola Mauritanica are climbers and can climb glass; you should have a vertical/Tall terrarium with plenty of rocks, plants and branches for them to cling on to and hide in. Make sure any tank decoration, especially rocks, are well secured to avoid injury to your gecko.

Make sure there are places for your geckos to hide away in; either purchased hides or create your own using secured rocks.

A 15 Gallon tall is suitable for a pair of adults but bigger is generally better.

Substrate

A cheap and effective substrate is newspaper which is often the favorite choice when housing juvenile’s. For Adults  a few inches of dry sand, you should use either play sand or specially purchased sand to ensure it is clean. An alternative is leave litter.

Heating and Lighting

These geckos require a day time temperature of 85F with a drop at night to 75F.

These geckos should have a 12 hour cycle of daylight; some advise that you should use a low UV Tube such as the Reptisun 5.0.

Diet

You can either provide a water dish for your crocodile geckos or mist the plants/branches daily to provide moisture (ensure you do not spray the gecko directly). It may be good idea to have a water dish and mist.

Food wise Tarentola Mauritanica eat insects such as crickets, locusts, beetle and moth larvae, mealworms and earthworms. You should ensure that and feeder insects are properly gutloaded and dusted with a calcium and Phosphorous supplement before feeding to sure the gecko receives the right amount of minerals.

Tags: Beginner, caresheet, crocodile gecko, Dry Terrarium, geckos, Lizards, moorish gecko, Rock Dwellers, Tarentola mauritanica