Well, you’ve certainly picked a troublesome group to focus on! The animal usually sold in the trade as the Halmahera Giant Gecko is most commonly Gehyra vorax, which actually does not occur on the Indonesian Island of Halmahera. It instead inhabits Papua New Guinea, Vanatua, Fiji, Tonga and the Society Islands. Its local name is the “Voracious Dtella”.

A similar species does inhabit Halmahera (and the Moluccas), but it is difficult to determine if this animal is making it into the trade. Both lizards vary in appearance naturally, and might interbreed in captivity. The most common species on Halmahera (there are also others in the genus, I believe, on this island) is G. marginata. Some dealers label this animal as the “Moluccan gecko”, but I honestly cannot be sure as to the actual ID from the photos I have seen.

Even the taxonomic notes of the American Museum of Natural History, which are usually quite detailed and lacking in generalities, state that both of the above species may be allied to or encompassed by G. oceania!

So you have your work cut out for you! Gecko enthusiasts are a quite intense lot in general…perhaps you can find out some locality info. If so, please feel free to send in some details and I’ll help if possible.

Good luck and please keep me posted.

Best regards, Frank Indiviglio.

Wondering if you have any experience with the Halmahera Giant Gecko? I’m wondering if there is a difference between that species and the G. Marginata? I always see people advertising them as one or the other.

Very confusing.. I actually can’t seem to find much information on either of the two. Are they a large gecko? Thanks for any information!

Regards,

-Dave

It’s very difficult to diagnose a lump as they can arise from such a wide variety of causes and each may require a different treatment. I think a visit to the veterinarian for a radiograph or perhaps biopsy would be your best bet.

Good luck and please keep me posted.

Best regards, Frank Indiviglio.

Unfortunately, Frank’s away right now on emergency surgery. We hope to have him back this week, at which time he’ll address your question. Sorry for the delay.

Question for you regarding one of my leo’s, I just noticed over the past couple days that his jaw is starting to get a small lump on it. Almost looks like a pea size ball on the right side, I’m hoping this is not Stomatitis.

I have them all on sand, and I’m hoping this is not the culprit. Feel bad as this is truly the issue I’ve never had with my leopard geckos. Thanks!

-Dave

Thanks for your feedback…I’m interested to hear if the geckos take the roaches, please let me know.

Best regards, Frank Indiviglio.

-Dave

Thanks for your note. Orange spotted roaches are, as you say, also great for spiders. I’ve used them for local spiders as well, and mantids, centipedes, scorpions, fish and all sorts of insectivorous herps. Soft bodied so more widely accepted than hissers and some others, and less likely to escape than some. They take a variety of foods so it’s very easy to nutrient-load them, thereby providing your collection with a more nutritious food item. I gave a colony to the Brooklyn Children’s Museum last year and they now use them as a staple, in place of crickets.

I’ve found that roaches often spark reluctant feeders. Makes sense, in a way – there are about 4,500 roach species described so far, and in many tropical habitats they are one of the dominant insect species, and comprise the bulk of the diet of many insectivorous animals, especially those which are nocturnal.

Please let me know how you make out.

Best regards, Frank Indiviglio.

Must not be to bad as I’ve seen many now start to do it. I’ve feed one before to my T. blondi
and it took without hesitation, same for my C. crawshayi.

Had never tried with my geckos though, will give it a shot.

Thanks!

-Dave

Thanks for the feedback, you’re very welcome.

You might want to try providing more security by covering the back and 1 side of the terrarium with a dark cloth or solid aquarium background. Most animals settle in much more quickly when not exposed on all 4 sides…this is an old zookeeper’s trick, not used much today but very effective. Until he’s feeding well I wouldn’t suggest putting your hand in the terrarium unless necessary…the lizard climbing onto it could be for any number of reasons, but best to treat him as a display animal. Avoid turning on bright room lights at night if possible…a night-viewing bulb will help you to observe him during his normal activity period, and will provide night-time heat if needed. Bear in mind that stress is not always easy to notice in this species, but is a real concern.

Any novel insect that you can offer would be worthwhile, including silkworms. You might wish to order a few soft-bodied roaches as well…orange spotted roaches are ideal, and less likely to escape than others (please see my article on Orange Spotted Roaches for more information).

Enjoy and good luck,

Best regards, Frank Indiviglio.