The Golden Gecko is a species of lizard that is native to Vietnam. They are also commonly called the Baden’s Pacific gecko or the Ba Den Golden Gecko.
This is an average sized gecko that gets its name from its gold-colored appearance. They typically grow to 5-8 inches in length including the tail.
Golden Gecko Taxonomy
The Golden Gecko belongs to a family of lizards called Gekkonidae. This is a group of lizards that fall under the Infraorder Gekkota, meaning they are a sub-group of Geckos.
The Gekkonidae family of geckos are referred to as common geckos and they are the largest group of geckos in the world.
There are around 65 recognised genera and approximately 1,000 different species that fall under this family, making it one of the largest families of reptiles in the world.
Many common and well-known geckos are part of this family including House Geckos, Tokay Geckos, Mourning Geckos and Day Geckos.
The genus that the Golden Gecko belongs to is called Gekko. The species in this genus are often referred to as ‘True Geckos’ or ‘Calling Geckos’.
The species in this genus are native to South-East Asia. Some species have a very large geographical distribution while others only occupy small niche habitats.
The scientific name for the Golden Gecko is Gekko badenii and there are no recognised sub-species.
Golden Gecko Description
The Golden Gecko is similar in length to the Crested Gecko, with males reaching lengths of up to 8 inches including their tail. Females are typically smaller, growing to around 5-6 inches in length.
These lizards have a relatively uniform gold coloration along their back which is where they get their common name from.
However, this golden coloration can often fade in patches which results in lighter colored blotching along the lizards back.
The legs, sides and head of the Golden Gecko are typically lighter in color. This usually presents as a light shade of brown or an off-white color.
The have many of the common ‘gecko characteristics’ such as a slender body, long tail that makes up around half its length and a large triangular shaped head that is very pronounced from the neck.
The have short skinny legs with large toe-pads that help them climb. This is very common in arboreal geckos.
Natural Habitat and Distribution
The Golden Gecko is native to South-East Asia where they can be found in Vietnam. Their distribution is limited to a small area in the Southern part of Vietnam.
It is reported that their range extends from the Tay Ninh Province up to the Kon Tum Province. Their range is very close to the border of Cambodia so it is possible that these lizards may also be found in parts of Southern Cambodia.
These lizards like to live in rocky terrain and can often be found around low-lying rainforests. They are particularly fond of the granite rock regions of their range.
These lizards can be found from sea level up to elevations exceeding 3,000 feet.
They share some of their range with species such as the Elongated Tortoise and Sunbeam Snake.
Golden Gecko Housing
As the Golden Gecko is an arboreal species that loves to climb, height is the most important factor to consider when choosing an enclosure.
For a single gecko, you will need an enclosure measuring at least 18″ x 18″ x 24″. If you are keeping a pair or trio of these lizards, the enclosure will need to be even bigger to provide them with enough space.
You can use a glass, wooden or PVC enclosure to house your Golden Gecko. However, it will need to provide adequate air circulation to keep the air fresh.
You will want to add plenty of climbing branches, rocks, vines and live or artificial plants. The more your gecko has to climb on the better. It will also help the lizard feel secure if the foliage is dense.
Substrate
As these lizards are often found in lowland rainforest, you will want a substrate that can hold humidity well. Good options include Coco Fibre or a mixture of organic soil and sand.
Daily misting will help to keep the humidity levels high. However, it is important not to saturate the substrate. You don’t want stagnant water building up on the floor as this will create swampy conditions that are a breeding ground for bacteria.
Light and Heat
You will need to provide your Golden Gecko with a thermal gradient inside their enclosure so that they can regulate their body temperature.
Overhead heat is preferred as these lizards will spend most of their time off the ground so they won’t benefit as much from an under tank heat source.
You should aim for a hot spot at the top of the enclosure of around 90F. The temperature will decrease as the lizard descends further from the source of the heat.
The cool end, or bottom of the enclosure should be around 75F. This will allow the lizard to efficiently regulate its body temperature.
As the Golden Gecko is a nocturnal species, you do not need to provide any special lighting such as UVB. However, you can have a UV light present if you wish.
These lizards should be subjected to an adequate day/night cycle so ensure that all lights are turned off at night.
Water and Humidity
The Golden Gecko will get most of its water requirements by drinking the droplets that form on the cage walls and furnishings after you mist the enclosure.
However, these lizards are also known to drink from a small water bowl so fresh water should always be available in their enclosure.
These lizards like high levels of humidity which can be achieved by spraying down the enclosure 2-3 times a day.
You should aim for humidity levels of 60-80%. Humidity can fluctuate a bit, especially before and after misting but aim for as close to these numbers as possible.
Golden Gecko Diet
The bulk of a Golden Gecko diet is made up of insects so you will need to provide them with a variety of different insects to eat.
You can feed them things like Cricket, Roaches, Mealworms, Super Worms and small Locusts. The more varied their diet is, the more nutrients they will get.
While mealworms are perfectly fine as part of a varied diet, avoid the bulk of their food coming from them as these insects have a very low nutritional value.
A general rule when feeding insects to geckos is to offer prey no larger than the width of the lizard’s head.
You can feed your lizard as many insects they will consume in a single feed. Keep an eye their body tone and adjust servings accordingly if you think they are putting on weight.
Juveniles will need to be fed daily but adults can be fed an appropriate amount of insects 5-6 days a week, with one or 2 days of fasting. These two days should be spread a couple of days apart.
A Golden Gecko may occasionally eat fruit such as bananas or mango. If your gecko likes fruit, you can try them with a Crested Gecko Powder.
Once a week, dust their food with a vitamin and mineral powder to ensure they are getting all the nutrition they need.
