Correlophus sarasinorum

🔤 Taxonomy

Correlophus sarasinorum is the currently accepted scientific name. In older literature and in older hobby material, the species is often encountered as Rhacodactylus sarasinorum.

English common names used in the hobby:

• Sarasin’s giant gecko
• Sarasin giant gecko

German common names used in the hobby:

• Sarasin-Riesengecko

📌 Description

Correlophus sarasinorum is a large New Caledonian gecko kept mainly as a display species. It has a sturdy body, large adhesive toe pads, and a prehensile tail, and adults commonly reach about 22-27 cm total length.

This species is usually calmer than many very fast arboreal geckos, but it is still a fragile climbing lizard rather than a handling pet. It needs vertical space, stable moderate temperatures, and regular humidity cycles without stale air.

🌍 Distribution

Correlophus sarasinorum is native to New Caledonia, where it occurs in humid forest habitats with plant cover, bark, branches, and regular night moisture.

In captivity, this usually means:

• A tall, well-ventilated enclosure
• Plenty of branches and cork
• Leaf cover and visual security
• Moderate temperatures rather than intense heat
• Regular humidity with drying periods between mistings

🌡 Climate across the native range

Monthly climate normals from reviewed GBIF occurrence locations:

Weather data by Open-Meteo.com · CC BY 4.0 · Monthly normals calculated by Herpeton Academy from daily archive values.

Location references use GBIF.org occurrence data where available; original occurrence records retain their source dataset licenses.

⚖️ Legal status

As checked against current official sources in April 2026, no current CITES listing or specific EU wildlife trade Annex listing was found for Correlophus sarasinorum. The species is not relevant to the Bern Convention because it is not native to Europe.

Local rules on import, sale, transport, breeding, and proof of legal origin may still apply. Captive-bred animals from reliable sources remain the safest choice.

🤌 Husbandry

This species should be kept alone or as a carefully managed breeding project, not as casual cohabitation. A practical adult enclosure is often around 45 x 45 x 60 cm or larger, with more height being useful.

Useful basics include:

• Vertical cork and branches
• Dense planting or artificial cover
• Secure hides in the upper half of the enclosure
• Good ventilation
• A drainage-safe setup for regular misting

💡 Lighting

No extreme lighting is required, but a clear day-night cycle is important. Low-level UVB is useful, especially when paired with sensible calcium supplementation.

Practical principles:

• 10-12 hours of light daily
• Bright but not overheating enclosure lighting
• Low to moderate UVB mounted at a safe distance

For UV planning, treat this species as Ferguson Zone 1. Aim for about UVI 0.5-1.0 in the upper exposed area, while leaving retreats and a gradient down to shaded areas near zero UVI. This usually points to a low-output UVB tube such as a ShadeDweller-style or 2-7% T5, chosen for the enclosure height; measure with a Solarmeter 6.5 when possible, because reflector, mesh, distance, and lamp age change the real exposure.

🌡 Heating and temperature

Correlophus sarasinorum does best at moderate temperatures:

• Daytime ambient range: around 22-26°C
• Warm upper area: about 26-28°C
• Night: around 18-22°C

Prolonged overheating is a common risk. Temperatures around or above 30°C should generally be avoided.

💧 Humidity and water

This species benefits from regular misting and access to droplets on leaves and decor.

Practical targets:

• Moderate daytime humidity
• Higher humidity after evening misting
• Time for surfaces to dry between wetter periods
• Fresh water available as backup

Constantly wet, stagnant conditions are riskier than a simple humid-dry cycle with good airflow.

🌿 Enclosure and decoration

The enclosure should be structured for climbing and hiding, not left as an empty glass box.

Useful elements include:

• Cork tubes and bark slabs
• Horizontal and diagonal branches
• Live plants such as pothos or ficus
• Leafy cover near the upper levels
• A substrate that tolerates misting and is easy to keep clean

🪳 Feeding

This species is omnivorous and usually does well on a mix of prepared gecko diet and live insects.

Suitable foods include:

• Quality crested-gecko-style complete diet
• Crickets
• Roaches
• Occasional soft-bodied insects

Juveniles are usually fed more often than adults. Insects should be gut-loaded, and calcium supplementation should match the lighting setup.

🩺 Common problems

Most problems come from overheating, dehydration, weak ventilation, falls, poor supplementation, or stress from excessive handling.

Warning signs include:

• Weight loss
• Stuck shed
• Sunken eyes
• Weak grip
• Poor appetite
• Persistent hiding combined with decline

If problems appear, first check temperatures, humidity rhythm, airflow, diet quality, and perch security. Serious weakness, injury, or prolonged refusal to eat should be assessed by a reptile veterinarian.

📌 Conclusion

Correlophus sarasinorum is a rewarding New Caledonian gecko when kept in a tall, secure enclosure with moderate temperatures, regular misting, good ventilation, and a varied diet. It is much less forgiving of overheating than many beginners expect.

📚 Sources and further reading

• CITES Appendices and Species+ trade database, checked April 2026
• EU wildlife trade regulations and annex references, checked April 2026
• GBIF species backbone and occurrence data for taxonomy and distribution context
• IUCN Red List and specialist husbandry references where applicable