Making husbandry easy and cost effective.

Hatchling care

6 quart sterlite

It all begins with a small 6 quart sterlite container and you are on your way to a quick affordable way to house your new hatchling! Super simple and super easy. All you need is paper towel for your substrate and a hide. I use cork bark or coconut hide. Lastly, use bottle caps for water and food and you are all set. * Very important to drill holes for proper ventilation* I use a drill with whole saw bit OR you could use a soldering Iron. You do not want too much humidity but enough to make your new addition happy. The enclosure should be able to dry out on its own, if not you need more air flow. These enclosures help maintain humidity but more importantly allows you to observe and record your new Geckos progress with eating and growing.

Custom build.

For your hatchling's setup, all you need is paper towels for substrate, some plant material (optional), and a hide. I recommend using cork bark or coconut hide, but adding fake foliage can provide extra hiding spaces and help your gecko feel more secure. Avoid using live plants, as they can be difficult to maintain. You can find fake foliage at stores like Michaels or other retail outlets.

For water and food, bottle caps or Gatorade caps work perfectly. Make sure to keep a close eye on your gecko's food intake, and promptly discard any leftover food. It's important to replace the paper towel as needed, as old food can attract fungus gnats and fruit flies, which can lay eggs and result in maggots within a short time.

I recommend cleaning the tubs before feeding to ensure a clean and healthy environment for your gecko. A clean setup is crucial for maintaining the health and happiness of your pet, so always prioritize keeping the enclosure tidy.

Grow your baby.

Now that you have your new hatchling, it's time to provide everything it needs to thrive: a hide, some foliage, and, of course, food and water. Hatchlings don’t require large spaces, and it’s a common mistake to place them in a large 18x18x18 enclosure. Doing so can cause stress and even lead to fatal results. Please follow these guidelines for hatchling care, and I assure you your new little Leachie will grow happy and healthy.

Hatchlings should be housed in a small, controllable space, where they can feel secure. Offer food every other day and ensure fresh water is available 24/7. Mist the enclosure once or twice near the water dish to maintain proper humidity levels.

I feed all my hatchlings a Pangea diet, supplemented with small pinhead crickets, small mealworms, and fresh fruits. As your gecko grows, you can adjust their food items accordingly. Occasionally, I dust their food with a calcium supplement to support their health.

With proper care, your hatchling will thrive. Best of luck with your new pet!

ENCLOSURES:

Hatchlings:

Caring for hatchlings is super simple and easy. All you need is a small 6-quart plastic tub, paper towels for substrate, and a hide. I use cork bark or coconut hide for their hiding spots. For water and food, bottle caps work perfectly, and that’s all you need to get started.

These small enclosures not only help maintain proper humidity levels but also provide a great opportunity to observe and track your gecko’s progress, including eating habits and defecation. This setup makes monitoring your hatchling’s health straightforward while ensuring they are comfortable and secure.

Sub-Adults

At The Barking Gecko, we use 18x18x18 Exo Terra enclosures for all of our sub-adult crested geckos, Leachianus geckos, Greater rough snouted geckos and Gargoyle geckos. Live plants, live moss, and natural eco earth substrate help break down excrement, maintain proper humidity, and provide steady environmental regulation for your animals.

In addition to Exo Terra enclosures, we also use plastic clear totes of all sizes for certain setups. These totes are a practical and affordable alternative while still providing a controlled environment.

Adding a "clean-up crew" of isopods and springtails, available online, is a great way to assist with maintaining a clean and healthy environment. Including plenty of branches in the enclosure will give your geckos ample climbing opportunities, encourage natural behaviors, and help them feel more at home. This comprehensive setup ensures a well-balanced habitat that supports the health and well-being of your geckos.

Adults.

At The Barking Gecko, we use 18x18x24 Exo Terra enclosures for all of our adult crested geckos, Leachianus geckos, and Gargoyle geckos, greater rough snouted geckos. Live plants, live moss, and natural eco earth substrate help break down excrement, maintain proper humidity, and ensure steady environmental regulation for your animals.

In addition to Exo Terra enclosures, we also use plastic clear totes of various sizes for certain setups. These totes provide an affordable and practical alternative while still maintaining a controlled environment.

Adding a "clean-up crew" of isopods and springtails (available online) is a great way to keep the enclosure clean and healthy. These small creatures assist with waste breakdown and help create a balanced ecosystem. This combination of elements ensures a natural and thriving habitat for your geckos.

BARKING GECKO Acrylic ENCLOSURES!

Hatchlings/Juvies

Here is an example of a starter for any new Gecko owner. The enclosure is all acrylic and vented for good croos air exchange. They are customed fitted for new caledonian geckos, bioactive substrate, small clean up crew, moss, piece of cork bark, decorated leaf litter, water dish and food dish. The enclosure is everything you need to start your Gecko journey, Dimensions are 12”Hx8”Wx8”L

Sub-Adults

Here is an example of a starter for any sub adults medium sized geckos. The enclosure is all acrylic and vented for good croos air exchange. They are customed fitted for new caledonian geckos, bioactive substrate, small clean up crew, moss, piece of cork bark, decorated leaf litter, water dish and food dish. The enclosure is everything you need to start your Gecko journey, Dimensions are 18”Hx12”Wx18”L

Adults.

Here is an example of a adult enclosure, all acrylic and vented for good croos air exchange. They are customed fitted for new caledonian geckos, bioactive substrate, small clean up crew, moss, piece of cork bark, decorated leaf litter, water dish and food dish. The enclosure is everything you need to start your Gecko journey, Dimensions are 22”Hx18”Wx22”L .

Important Info:

Rhacodactylus leachianus, also known as the New Caledonian Giant Gecko, were once considered extremely rare due to their limited availability. However, due to significant advances in successful captive breeding and growing interest among gecko enthusiasts, these geckos are now more commonly found in the reptile trade. Despite this, they remain relatively more expensive than other gecko species due to their slower maturation process and the challenges of finding a compatible mate. Their breeding season produces a limited number of offspring—typically two to five clutches of two eggs each year.

In the 1990s, R. leachianus were exported from New Caledonia to the United States. However, following conservation efforts, these geckos are no longer exported from New Caledonia, further limiting their availability.

Hatchlings and young juveniles can be housed in smaller enclosures, such as a 6-quart plastic tub with air holes or a 1½-gallon Critter Keeper. They can become stressed in enclosures that are too large, so it's important to start with a simple setup. A small hide, such as cork bark, a shallow water dish, and a food dish are all that’s needed. As juveniles grow, they can be moved to a larger enclosure, such as an upright screen enclosure or a 10-gallon aquarium with a screen top.

New Caledonian giant geckos are nocturnal and do not require special lighting, though UVB supplementation can be used to simulate day and night cycles. Daytime temperatures should remain in the upper 70s to low 80s°F, with a slight drop to the low 70s°F at night. Ensure lights are turned off at night to maintain a natural environment.

For substrate, use a jungle mix, peat moss, or coco fiber. Keep the substrate moist, but not wet. It should be misted daily to maintain appropriate humidity levels (between 50 and 75 percent), but avoid excessive moisture to prevent skin infections.

Fresh water should always be available in the enclosure. Bottle caps are ideal for hatchlings and juveniles, while larger dishes can be used for adults. Mist the enclosure regularly to maintain the correct humidity without making the space overly wet—remember, these geckos are not amphibians.

Handling can vary between individual geckos. Generally, I avoid frequent handling but have not encountered issues with mine. Hatchlings, however, should be handled with caution. It’s best to wait until they are 2 to 3 months old before attempting to handle them, as they need time to acclimate. When handling, be gentle and brief—hatchlings are very flighty and may jump. If you do handle them, allow them to move from hand to hand rather than grasping them tightly. Larger Leachianus geckos require a more confident approach; carefully grasp them behind the neck and support their body when removing them from the enclosure.

Leachianus geckos are known to be vocal and may exhibit defensive postures when they feel threatened. They may hiss, bark, whistle, or even bite as a form of defense. If a gecko displays these behaviors, it’s best to leave it alone and try handling again later. A bite from a Leachie can be painful and may draw blood, so always exercise caution. Once the gecko feels secure and comfortable, it will usually calm down.