Tripoli Gecko Care Sheet

Tripoli Gecko Care Sheet

Tropiocolotes tripolitanus
Category
Lizard
Average Size
1.5 - 2 inches long
Average Lifespan
3 - 5 years
Diet Type
Insectivore

Diet & Nutrition

Tripoli Geckos are strict insectivores. Offer a variety of live insects including crickets, fruit flies, small mealworms, and tiny cockroach nymphs.

Tripoli Geckos should be fed daily. Dust food with calcium powder daily & a multivitamin once a week. Feed them the amount they will eat in 10 minutes.

Worms can be left in the food bowl.

Housing & Habitat

Tripoli Geckos come from arid, rocky areas in North Africa. The environment should be kept hot and dry. Provide multiple hiding spots along with flat basking surfaces. Tripoli geckos also need access to a high humidity shedding box. This will allow them to properly shed their skin. Tripoli Geckos may be kept alone or in small groups. If housed together geckos should be of similar size to avoid injury. A male and female will likely breed if housed together.

Enclosure Size

An adult must have a minimum cage size of 20" Long x 10" Deep x 12" High, also known as a 10-gallon tank. A screen lid is recommended for safety.

Substrate

Acceptable substrates are ground walnut shell, sand, or cage carpet.

The main concern with walnut shell and sand is the possibility of impaction. If the gecko consumes large amounts of the substrate, it could cause intestinal blockage. Cage carpet is the safest option, however, it is difficult to clean easily.

Ground walnut is the preferred substrate of The Tye-Dyed Iguana.

Temperature & Lighting

Temperature

A Tripoli Gecko's basking spot should be 95°F. The cool end of the tank can be as cool as 70°F.

Lighting

Since this species tends to be constantly active and from desert regions it requires two light bulbs. One is the heat lamp which also emits UVA. The second is a UVB lamp. The UVB lamp will specifically say UVB on the box. If the box doesn't say UVB, it's not UVB.

Plant and Fish bulbs are not UVB bulbs.

Humidity & Watering

Humidity

Some keepers mist their geckos two to three times a week with a spray bottle in the evenings. Humidity levels should be between 20%-30%.

Watering

Provide a bowl of fresh drinking water at all times.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What do Tripoli Geckos eat?

Tripoli Geckos are strict insectivores. Offer a variety of live insects including crickets, fruit flies, small mealworms, and tiny cockroach nymphs. Tripoli Geckos should be fed daily. Dust food with calcium powder daily & a multivitamin once a week. Feed them the amount they will eat in 10 minutes. Worms can be left in the food bowl.

What size enclosure does a Tripoli Gecko need?

Tripoli Geckos come from arid, rocky areas in North Africa. The environment should be kept hot and dry. Provide multiple hiding spots along with flat basking surfaces. Tripoli geckos also need access to a high humidity shedding box. This will allow them to properly shed their skin. Tripoli Geckos may be kept alone or in small groups. If housed together geckos should be of similar size to avoid injury. A male and female will likely breed if housed together. An adult must have a minimum cage si...

What temperature and lighting does a Tripoli Gecko need?

A Tripoli Gecko's basking spot should be 95°F. The cool end of the tank can be as cool as 70°F. Since this species tends to be constantly active and from desert regions it requires two light bulbs. One is the heat lamp which also emits UVA. The second is a UVB lamp. The UVB lamp will specifically say UVB on the box. If the box doesn't say UVB, it's not UVB. Plant and Fish bulbs are not UVB bulbs. Humidity: Some keepers mist their geckos two to three times a week with a spray bottle in the eve...