Orchids and Day Geckos?

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

I've kept Phelsuma laticauda. They're not that demanding as far as Day Geckos are concerned.

Day Geckos are adept at climbing on branches and such.

In my opinion you shouldn't have too many problems with Phelsuma laticauda (Golden Day Gecko).

With the orchids, however...

There are a few you could try. Go for the Jewel Orchids like Ludisia discolor or Macodes petola. They're terrestrial and they take high humidity pretty well.

I would steer clear of the epiphytes for now. Ferns are fine. If your vivarium is big enough to accomdate a Bird's Nest Fern, I'd grow that, or any big leafed plant for the Gecko to rest on besides sticks.

[~Nature Girl~]

Originally Posted by Cassia

I'm a little confused about the crested & gargoyle gecko suggestion. You said . However, both the crested and the gargoyle gecko get considerably larger than the P. laticauda I mentioned; P. laticauda only gets to about 5.1" max.

Also, from what I can find, it appears that neither the crested nor the gargoyle can take the humidity that the orchids would need, while P. laticauda needs a tropical environment. Maybe I don't understand what the orchids need as well as I thought? What humidity do they need?

oh my gosh, i am so sorry! i was in a hurry but i saw 'day gecko' and thought big(and messy, i hear) 'geico gecko'. i must has gotten it mixed up with something else or another day gecko or something!
again, so sorry(those guys are really cute, though!)!

[Cassia]

No problem! I am relieved to hear that you didn't catch it, as I was worried that I was misunderstanding what I was reading, or it was out-of-date, or something . . . I am trying to be really careful in my planning, because I want both animals & plants to thrive!

Thanks!

[Paul]

Many orchids aren't all that delicate. You're biggest challenge would be providing sufficient light for flowering but even that should be do-able.

Jewel orchids can be planted in a layer of sphag moss and as they are grown more for their foliage can serve as 'understory' plants (where branches for the geckos to climb on might block some of the light.

There are other small orchids that could be mounted on branches or cork. Many of these will need to be placed higher up in the viv.

Being as day geckos, if memory serves, are agile and dislike disturbances, you might want to look into utilizing a misting system for watering the viv and providing drinks for the geks.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Well...~Nature Girl~. There is a Giant Day Gecko (Phelsuma madagascariensis) that gets to be about 12 inches in length. Then there's also the Standing's Day Gecko (Phelsuma standingi) which is about the same length.

I've never kept these but they're the more popularly thought of Day Geckos.

Also, Day Geckos are not messy animals at all. They're omnivorous. They eat small insects, nectar, and soft fruits like bananas, and guavas.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

I re-read my posting, and I'd like to clarify why I suggested not to try the epiphytes yet.

Depending on how your conditions end up being like in that vivarium, there could be a few problems you might encounter. One being proper air circulation. The other is the possibility of growing the orchids too wet. Ferns can grow wetter and humid, as can Jewel Orchids compared to epiphytical orchids or bromeliads. You can always add the epiphytes later.

[~Nature Girl~]

Originally Posted by King_of_orchid_growing:)

Well...~Nature Girl~. There is a Giant Day Gecko (Phelsuma madagascariensis) that gets to be about 12 inches in length. Then there's also the Standing's Day Gecko (Phelsuma standingi) which is about the same length.

I've never kept these but they're the more popularly thought of Day Geckos.

Also, Day Geckos are not messy animals at all. They're omnivorous. They eat small insects, nectar, and soft fruits like bananas, and guavas.

ah, thanks! good to know i wasn't totally off the mark

[Cassia]

you might want to look into utilizing a misting system for watering the viv and providing drinks for the geks.

I wondered about that. You've sealed it--it's definitely on the list now.

From the book I'm reading about the geckos, P. laticauda need:

basking area of 88-92 deg F
mid-80s ambient temp during the day
nighttime temp of low 70s
75% to 85% humidity

substrate should be pebbles topped with perlite-free soil topped with orchid bark.

Very good lighting with CRI of 85-100, 4100 to 5000 K range (higher end of the range is apparently better), tri-phosphor coated (80 or 800 series) bulbs--T8, T5, or compact fluorescent, plus a basking light providing the low 90s temp (low voltage halogens--puck lights--recommended for basking lights)

So the plants will need to be able to tolerate those conditions. Doing well under those conditions, and particularly that lighting, would be even better, of course!