Description: From desert and semi-arid areas in the southwestern United States reaching into some subtropical habitats in northwestern Mexico. It can be found from below sea level up to about 6000 feet in elevation. Maximum size is 4" to 6", about half of which is the tail. Females are generally the larger of the two sexes. They have been known to live for more than 15 years in captivity. These geckos are members of the eublepharid clade (known as the eyelid geckos), which have worldwide distribution. With large cat-like eyes, movable eyelids and soft skin these terrestrial geckos do not look as though they are adapted to desert habitats. Being mostly nocturnal and hiding under various objects during the day allows them to survive this harsh environment. They hibernate underground during the winter and are most active in the spring. The tail, which is very easily lost, is often curved over the back when running, making it easy to mistake one for a scorpion. The little squeaks they make when bothered can be startling. Many people in Mexico believe them to be poisonous and dangerous but these gentle geckos are quite harmless and tame down easily to become great pets. Males are a bit territorial and should not be kept together in a small tank. Females get along better. Care for them similar to leopard geckos.

Typical adult color is off-white, light gray to yellowish with reddish to brown spots on the top of the head, reddish to brown bands and/or spots across the back.

C. v. fasciatus Black-banded gecko, C. v. peninsularis San Lucan banded gecko, C. v. slevini Santa Inez Island banded gecko, C. v. sonoriensis Sonoran banded gecko, C. v. utahensis Utah banded gecko.

C. v. bogerti Tucson banded gecko, found in the desert and arid areas of southeast Arizona to extreme southwest New Mexico and into northern Sonora, Mexico. It lives around rocky habitats and sandy areas. It has indistinct dark brown bands with light centers and lighter tannish bands between. Tail and head are spotted and they grow up to 5" in length.

C. v. variegatus Desert banded gecko, found in southern desert and arid areas south to Mexico where it is most common in sandy areas and washes. It is very similar and closely related to the Tucson banded gecko. The best way to tell them apart is to look at the male’s pre-anal pores, Desert’s have 7 or less, Tucson’s usually have 8 or more.

C. v. abbotti San Diego banded gecko, found in coastal desert and arid areas of southern California living around rocky habitats.

Temperature: Ideal 85 - 95°F, cooling down 5 - 10°F at night. A warm side should be provided along with a cooler area with hiding places where they can escape the heat. This provides a temperature gradient for proper thermo-regulation. Heat bulbs are the preferred heat source.

Humidity: Low, approximately 10 to 20%, occasional misting is beneficial. From mid July to early September raise the humidity up to 30 or 35%, simulating the summer rainy season.

Lighting: UV light is not needed. Bright lights and/or heat lamps should be used to simulate a desert environment. Seasonal day length fluctuations are needed and will help to stimulate breeding. A dim night light is required for viewing nocturnal activities.

Feeding: Appropriately sized crickets and mealworms are fine as a staple diet but a variety of other insects should be offered. A good vitamin/mineral supplement should be given twice a week for adults and more often for young, growing geckos. Be sure to give extra calcium to gravid females. Although most of their water is obtained from food, a water dish should be available along with occasional misting to allow them to lick up water droplets.

In the wild, banded geckos forage for spiders, beetles and other arthropods on the ground at night. Fat reserves are stored in their tails. They will often consume the skin when shedding.

Habitat: A 10-gallon tank can be used for a pair but a larger size would be better. A secure well-ventilated lid is needed to keep the food items from escaping. Set it up as a desert habitat. The enclosure may need to be heated; use an under tank heater or better yet, a heat lamp at one end and allow the other side to be cooler. Sand, coconut fiber or a mix of the two work well as a substrate, it should be deep enough for burrowing, 2 to 3" is good. Caves and hiding areas should be provided to help them feel secure. Rocks, branches, artificial and/or live plants can be added.

The enclosure should to misted occasionally and more often to simulate the summer rainy season. Spraying more water in one side of the tank (around the water dish) than the other will provide a humidity gradient for them to choose from. A moist burrow will aid with shedding.

Hibernation: A cooling period lasting several months is greatly beneficial to the adults.

Sexing: Females are often larger and heavier. Males have prominent spurs on each side of the base of the tail and clearly visible hemipenial bulges when in breeding condition.

Breeding: These geckos are easily bred as long as they have gone through a cooling/hibernation period and are in good condition. It is best to keep the females separated from the males when not breeding to reduce the stress on both sexes from his sexual advances. One or more females can be provided for each male. Be sure to feed them well and provide the females with extra calcium throughout breeding and egg laying. Provide a number of suitable nest sites. Mating takes place between April and May, females retain sperm and produce 2 or 3 clutches of 2 eggs each from May through September. The eggs are buried in the ground or under rocks and hatch in 30 to 45 days from July through November.

The babies can be kept in the same manor as adults but fed more often with smaller insects and extra vitamin/mineral supplements. They should be kept on paper towels until they are about 4 to 6 months old. As they get older the more aggressive individuals should be separated, as these are likely to be males. If they are not separated in time, the less dominant males could be harmed. Sexual maturity is reached within about a year.

ENJOY YOUR PET LIFE FORMS, Dave & Donna