Description

Male guimbeaui are beautiful with a bright turquoise blue across the shoulders, with large red spots well defined spots. Females are smaller and more subtly coloured.

This is a hard Phelsuma to keep, the main requirements being high humidity and a quality diet. They are restricted to the humid forests of Mauritius and do poorly outside of primary jungle. They cannot usually colonise agricultural areas without access to trees that flower or bear fruit throughout the seasons.

Mauritius is a fairly mountainous island and cepediana are found at quite high elevations – there are two subspecies resident between upland (P.guimbeaui rosegularis) and sea level (P.guimbeaui guimbeaui). Depending on the original habitat, therefore, I would err slightly on the cooler side with this species – they seem to fare best with a daytime ambient temperature in the mid-70’s. A night drop is desirable and will naturally occur when the lights turn off. (Ambient night temperatures can best be maintained with thermostatically-controlled low wattage infra red bulb mounted in a reflector above the top mesh).

Zonal lighting (areas of light and shade) allows heliocentric (sun-seeking) thermoregulation. In captivity this is best provided by full spectrum metal halide lighting mounted in a reflector above the top mesh of the vivarium, providing a deep column of light to the vivarium floor for animals and plants.

No thermostat is required for such lights (though a specific ballast unit is), and the animals will shuttle in and out of the light as they would in nature (UV tubes diffuse light and work against this behaviour; they also have poor light penetration, leading to Phelsuma clustering just around the top of the viv craving light – see also lighting recommendations in ‘General Care’).

In captivity guimbeaui definitely need a heavily planted glass viv with good cross-flow ventilation. They are shy – males more outgoing than females – plants give them security and cover, along with boosting the air humidity through transpiration. Use a damp, mould-resistant substrate like ‘Eco Earth’ and spray frequently.

guimbeaui favour pollen and nectar, but should have fruit and a few small dusted crickets offered twice weekly. ‘Phelsumin’ is the best pollen & nectar substitute captive diet we’ve found and is critical to their well-being:

https://www.daygeckos.co.uk/?product=phelsumin-nectar-powder

Calcium requirements for females of this species are also extremely high – they are ‘egg gluers’. Powdered cuttlebone is ideal. This can be mixed with ‘Phelsumin’ when offered every other day.

These beautiful geckos are hard to breed and are in great demand – especially males. They naturally live in large loose groups, but are definitely best housed in pairs in captivity. Pairing these animals can prove problematic, so when males are available it is as a pair; single females are slightly cheaper.

Regrettably, both subspecies are verging on extinction in the wild.

© Phelsuma Farm, 2012; edited 2015