Male
Female
William’s dwarf gecko (Lygodactylus williamsi), A.K.A. the ‘electric blue day gecko’ or ‘turquoise dwarf gecko’, is a little gem of a lizard that is fascinating to watch and averages just 3 inches in length! So, it’s ideal for hobbyists who haven’t got the space for a large enclosure at home.
In the wild their whereabouts is confined to the Kimboza forest in Tanzania, and until recently was very rarely seen in the trade due to dwindling numbers in the wild and little knowledge about the captive bred requirements. Things have changed for the better and through research and human intervention to help save the numbers caring for one has become easier.
Owning an arboreal reptile that comes from such high humidity areas means that you can have great fun setting up their enclosure. A bioactive setup with live plants would not only be aesthetically pleasing but also be greatly appreciated by them. Incorporating lots of vertical climbing places and installing a small water fall would not be impossible – if you really want to get creative!
Despite their small size these little geckos require a lot of light and UV. A basking area of around 28 degrees Celsius is required, and a 5% UVB bulb should be provided during daytime hours as well. Humidity is also a big factor with these geckos, coming from a sub-tropical area, it needs to be between 60-80% which can be achieved by either spraying daily or by installing a misting system to do the job for you.
In the wild the Williams gecko would eat a wide array of insects, so therefore it is necessary in captivity that we do our best to keep their diet as varied as possible. Items commonly available to purchase include small crickets, fruit fries, small mealworms and bean weavels which should be fed daily, and in addition to these a meal replacement powder such as repashy should be offered weekly. All live foods should be dusted with a calcium/mineral supplement to ensure they are getting everything they need.