Cyrtodactylus Louisiadensis — Ring Tailed Gecko

The Cyrtodactylus Louisiadensis is a native species to Far North Queensland is the only species in Australia under the Cyrtodactylus genus, with most species of the genus being found throughout the greater Asian region and Papua New Guinea.

The Cyrtodactylus Louisiadensis has special requirements and in most cases there is no relevant information recorded on courtship and mating, but I have successfully research and visually documented photographs of their behaviour that many may find quite amazing.

This species is sometimes confused with the aggressive “wife basher”, so to speak, Pseudothecadactylus Lindneri. However this is far from the truth, in retrospect their behaviour is quite the opposite. Cyrtodactylus Louisiadensis is a relatively social species, and a very affectionate species to its partner. In most cases the male is very vocal during the breeding season and is also seen to lick the females face quite frequently to which she responds. Mating has been observed out in the open on a branch or log to which they can be bonded for a good 1 hour period. Gestation period is generally 3–4 weeks depending on many variables (i.e. feeding frequency; temperatures and humidity; calcium and UVA/UVB requirements).

As the Cyrtodactylus Louisiadensis is a hard shelled egg layer it is imperative that calcium is offered constantly during the breeding season whether on dusted insects or moist rolled up calcium balls so not to cause any undue harm to the female and to prevent calcium deficiency and non viable eggs.

It is also imperative that regular UVA/UVB in the form of fluorescent or globes are offered during the day as a basking spot.

The female will generally dig a small hole to lay her clutch of eggs, generally within a hidden dark area of the enclosure.

This species incubation period is rather long and it is believed that more research is required into “Temperature Sex Based Determination” as I have found from hatching out a total of 15 juveniles that the average incubation period is between 140–150 days at a steady 27 degrees with a low humidity requirement in the hatching container compared to soft shelled eggs.

Cyrtodactylus Louisiadensis is the second largest gecko that is naturally found in Australia by length, while Nephrurus Amyae is the largest by weight.