Chameleon Gecko's

Defining Characteristics:

• Nocturnal
• Arboreal
• Similar care to other New Caledonian geckos

Name: Eurydactylodes Vieillardi. Bavay’s Gecko or Vieillard’s Chameleon Gecko, The name Vieillardi specifically comes from a French botanist in honor of his name, Eugene Vieillard.

Recommended Enclosure Size & Setup: A single animal or pair can be kept in a 12x12x18. A bioactive setup with live plants is strongly recommended for this species.  BioBedding Tropical is recommended to maintain live plants, springtails, and isopods.

Provide plenty of climbing material in the form of cork bark and branches for this arboreal species.

Temperature (°F): Keep chameleon geckos geckos between 72-78°. A basking spot is not required and not recommended unless this species is kept at very cool temperatures. The ambient and basking temperature should never exceed 85°. Temperature should be monitored with a digital thermometer. 

Night temperatures should not fall below 68°. These nocturnal geckos do not require UVB, although we do keep our breeders under a 5.0 UVB light.

Humidity: Chameleon geckos should be provided a humid but well-ventilated setup, between 60 and 75%. Live plants can be added to help stabilize higher humidity as well as provide humid microclimates. Ambient humidity should be monitored with a digital hygrometer. 

Mist chameleon geckos daily to provide dew on enclosure walls and cage items from which they can drink. A water dish can be provided but is not necessary with regular misting; a water dish will not replace the need to regularly mist the enclosure.

Size: Chameleon geckos are about 1 inch at the time of hatching. They reach 4.5 - 5.5 inches as adults.

Age: Vieilardi’s chameleon geckos are at least 4 weeks old when sold, at which time they are well established.

Average lifespan in captivity is not well documented at this time.

Feeding: Chameleon geckos are omnivores, eating both insects and fruit in the wild. In captivity, they will thrive on a diet of gecko diet mix and feeder insects. 

Hatchlings and juveniles should be offered ⅛ inch crickets or fruit flies until they are large enough to eat ¼ inch crickets. Providing mounted feeding cups for this arboreal species is recommended. 

Other appropriately sized feeder insects, like dubia roaches and black soldier fly larvae, can also be offered but need to be provided in a food dish to be accessible. 

Waxworms, butterworms, and small hornworms make excellent treats, but should only be offered occasionally. Feeder insects should be gut loaded and dusted with a calcium and multivitamin supplement. 

Sexing: Sexing chameleon geckos is fairly easy when mature, as males will exhibit hemipenal bulges whereas females will not. They reach maturity at around 2 years of age.

Color/Pattern: Chameleon geckos are most notable for their unique scalation, giving them a very textured appearance. They exhibit a range of olive or mossy green colors, with conspicuous yellow flanking their mouth and hind and forelimbs. Dark green bands may adorn the back and tail.

Social Behavior: House individually or as a pair when using a smaller enclousre. Males should never be housed together.

Breeding: Vieillardi’s chameleon geckos lay 2 eggs every 3-4 weeks during the breeding season. Eggs are usually found buried in the substrate.

Around 5-7 clutches are laid per year.

Natural Range: Chameleon geckos are found on New Caledonia, the same island chain as crested geckos, gargoyle geckos, and other Rhacodactylus species!

History in the Hobby: Chameleon geckos are not as common in the trade as other New Caledonian geckos, but their extremely unique appearance, docile and slow nature, and robustness in captivity makes them an excellent gecko for beginners and experienced hobbyists alike!