Giant Bent Toed Gecko
- COMMON GROUP: Geckos
- COMMON NAME: Giant Bent Toed Gecko
- SCIENTIFIC NAME: Cyrtodactylus irianjayaensis
- DISTRIBUTION: Papua New Guinea, West Papua
- SIZE: 10"-13"
NATURAL HISTORY: Commonly known as 'Giant Bent Toed Geckos' or 'Ring tailed Geckos' the Cyrtodactylus Irianjayaensis are indigenous to Papua New Guinea, Papua, West Papua and the surrounding islands. Most notably, they have been observed and recorded on Salawati island. Unfortunately very little is known about the C. Irianjayaensis as a species. However, in recent years more information has become available as they become more commonly observed in captivity. The Cyrtodactylus is one of the most diverse genus with over 300 described species making them the largest of all gecko genera! These asian geckos live in high humidity forests. In the wild they are found throughout the southeastern hemisphere. The C. irianjayaensis is commonly confused with the C. lousiadensis, an Australian species. The Irianjayaensis has a pattern with jagged stripes, whereas the lousiadensis has stripes with smooth edges marking its back.
BEHAVIOR: Naturally residing in lowland forests - the giant bent toed gecko tends to be shy and loves to stay hidden in cool, humid, and dark environments. The C. Irianjayaensis is a nocturnal species of gecko and highly arboreal. In the wild, many species of Cyrtodactylus are observed low to the ground in addition to being found in trees. It is assumed males are territorial and should not be housed together. These geckos may bite but can become tame with regular handling. SIZE AND LONGEVITY: Being the one of the largest species of geckos, adult C. Irianjayaensis can reach sizes of 10-13 inches! The females tend to be a little larger than the males. Although relatively little is known about long term care in captivity, the giant bent toed gecko should live 10+ years with proper care and possibly much longer. HOUSING: As the name implies, the giant bent toed gecko is a relatively large gecko - therefore, they will require lots of space to feel comfortable. The more space that can be provided the better, as they will thrive with many places to hide at various heights. A minimum enclosure size of 18x18x36 for an adult would be recommended. A Zoo Med Large Repti Breeze Aluminum Screen Cage would be a great option. If you live somewhere that is difficult to maintain humidity, a glass enclosure may be recommended instead. In addition to having many places to hide, providing ranging microclimates in the enclosure would greatly benefit the reptile. It is encouraged to fill the enclosure with cork rounds/flats, wood, moss, and plants.
HEATING AND LIGHTING: Although the giant bent toed gecko is nocturnal and tends to live in dense forestry, a source of UVB would be recommended. The Cyrtodactylus irianjayaensis are not known for basking at high temperatures, so a low wattage "moon" bulb would be perfect. Zoo Meds 25W Moonlite Reptile Bulb is an option. SUBSTRATE AND FURNISHINGS: Keeping in mind the C. irianjayaensis does well with relatively high humidity, it would be recommended to select a substrate suitable enough to retain moisture. Zoo Med's Eco Earth and/or reptisoil are both excellent options. Recommendation: these geckos would enjoy living in a bioactive enclosure! Large cork rounds and cork flats would do a great job providing hiding places. Be sure to provide many options, both high and low! A combination of caves and tree branches with lots of plants would be ideal.
HUMIDITY:In terms of replicating the natural environment for the giant bent toed gecko, an ideal humidity of about 50-60% with daily spikes of up to 90-100% would be recommended. They will need to be misted 1-2 times a day. The Zoo Med Reptifogger or Reptirain are both options to maintain humidity without having to spray manually.
NUTRITION: C. irianjayaensis are voracious predators and will consume various prey items not limited to large insects and baby mice. In the wild they will eat snails as a regular source of calcium.
HANDLING: The C. irianjayaensis are able to be handled fairly easily as they are relatively slow moving. The males tend to be a little more docile by comparison. They tend to be skittish but with regular handling and good husbandry can become comfortable with human interaction. However, over-handling may cause them stress. They are an ideal pet for limited interaction.
