Chahoua Gecko

📌 Description

The chahoua gecko (Mniarogekko chahoua) is a nocturnal, arboreal gecko from New Caledonia. It is also called the mossy New Caledonian gecko because its mottled pattern can blend beautifully with bark, moss, and lichen.

Adults usually reach 23-28 cm and are heavier than crested geckos. They have a broad head, strong grip, prehensile tail, soft-looking camouflage, and a slower, deliberate way of moving. They can jump, but they often rely on climbing and gripping rather than frantic movement.

With good care, chahoua geckos can live 15-20 years or more. They are intelligent and often food-motivated, but they should still be handled gently and kept primarily as display animals.

🌍 Distribution

Mniarogekko chahoua is endemic to New Caledonia, including parts of Grande Terre and nearby islands such as Île des Pins. Different localities can look and behave somewhat differently, so locality information should be preserved when known.

Important habitat features include:

• Humid forest and dense vegetation
• Tree trunks, bark hollows, and branches
• Moderate temperatures
• Humid nights and drier daytime periods
• Fruit, nectar, pollen, and insects

In captivity, the enclosure should be tall, secure, humid but ventilated, and full of thick branches, cork, plants, and shaded retreats.

🌡 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 in April 2026, Mniarogekko chahoua was not found in the CITES Appendices or in the local EU Wildlife Trade Annex text check used for this project. However, the species is listed as Vulnerable by IUCN and is endemic to New Caledonia, where export of native wildlife is restricted.

National and local rules may still apply to keeping, transport, sale, breeding, and proof of origin. Keep invoices, breeder information, locality data, and transfer records.

Buy captive-bred animals only. Wild-caught or unclear-origin chahoua geckos are ethically risky and undermine responsible captive breeding.

The Bern Convention is not usually relevant unless a species is native to Europe or covered by local conservation rules; check current national guidance for the country where the animal is kept.

🤌 Husbandry

An adult chahoua gecko needs a vertical enclosure. A practical minimum for one adult is 45 × 45 × 90 cm, and larger is better, especially for large island-line animals.

The enclosure should have:

• Thick branches and cork tubes
• Bark flats, hollows, and shaded retreats
• Dense foliage at several heights
• A stable feeding ledge or bowl holder
• A shallow water dish
• Good ventilation with humidity retention

Solitary housing is the safest default. Males should not be kept together, and mixed pairs can cause stress, fighting, and repeated breeding. Even compatible breeding pairs may need separation.

💡 Lighting

Chahoua geckos are nocturnal and crepuscular, but they benefit from a clear day-night cycle. Provide 10-14 hours of light depending on season, or a simple 12-hour cycle.

Low-output UVB can be beneficial when installed over part of the enclosure. The gecko must have shaded retreats and the ability to avoid direct UVB completely.

If UVB is not used, use a complete gecko diet and supplements that provide vitamin D3 safely. If UVB is used, avoid excessive extra D3.

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

Chahoua geckos need moderate temperatures and should not be overheated. Many homes provide acceptable ambient temperatures, but a gentle warm zone can help digestion and activity.

Useful ranges:

• Gentle warm area: 26-28°C
• General daytime range: 21-25°C
• Night: 18-22°C
• Avoid sustained temperatures above 28-29°C

Use a thermostat for any heat source. Low-wattage overhead heat or a deep heat projector can work if it creates a gentle gradient. Do not use heat rocks.

Measure the top, middle, and lower parts of the enclosure. During summer, cooling and airflow can be more important than heating.

💧 Humidity and water

Chahoua geckos need a humidity cycle. A practical target is about 50-60% during the drier part of the day, rising to 70-90% after misting.

Mist in the evening and lightly in the morning if needed. The enclosure should dry partially between mistings; constant wetness can cause mold, skin irritation, and respiratory problems.

Chahoua geckos often drink droplets from leaves, bark, and glass, but a clean water dish should still be available. Hydration is especially important for shedding, egg-laying females, and growing juveniles.

🌿 Enclosure and decoration

The enclosure should be sturdy and dense. Chahoua geckos are heavier than crested geckos and need strong branches, cork, and ledges that will not shift under their weight.

Suitable substrate options include:

• Coconut fiber mixed with organic topsoil
• Tropical forest reptile substrate
• Sphagnum moss in selected humid areas
• Leaf litter for cover
• Paper towel for quarantine or medical monitoring

Bioactive setups can work well if drainage, plants, clean-up organisms, and airflow are established. Use durable plants such as pothos, philodendron, schefflera, ficus, and sturdy bromeliads.

Secure heavy decor. A falling cork tube or branch can injure a gecko, especially in a tall enclosure.

🪳 Feeding

Chahoua geckos are omnivorous. In captivity, the staple should be a high-quality complete gecko diet formulated for New Caledonian species, mixed with water according to the instructions.

Offer fresh prepared diet two or three times per week for adults, and more often for juveniles. Remove old food before it spoils.

Live insects add enrichment and protein:

• Crickets
• Dubia or discoid roach nymphs
• Black soldier fly larvae
• Silkworms
• Small locusts where legal

Insects should be gut-loaded and dusted with calcium and vitamins as needed. Chahoua geckos can be enthusiastic eaters, so monitor weight and avoid overfeeding.

🥚 Breeding

Breeding chahoua geckos should be planned carefully. They are valuable, locality-sensitive animals, and poor pairing decisions can blur locality lines or stress the animals.

Mature males usually have visible hemipenal bulges at the tail base and more obvious preanal pores. Females lack strong bulges and have less visible pores. Juvenile sexing is uncertain.

Sexual maturity often occurs around 18-24 months, but females should not be bred until fully grown, well-conditioned, and usually at least about 55-65 g depending on locality and body type. Body condition matters more than one number.

Prepare laying sites, incubation, hatchling enclosures, tiny insects, complete diet, records, locality documentation, and responsible homes before pairing animals. Separate pairs if there is aggression, weight loss, or repeated unwanted breeding.

🩺 Common problems

Common problems usually come from overheating, dehydration, poor ventilation, constant wetness, poor diet, falls, stress, or overbreeding females.

Watch for:

• Stuck shed on toes, eyes, or tail
• Wrinkled skin or sunken eyes
• Weight loss or refusal to eat
• Obesity or fat deposits
• Soft jaw, tremors, or weak grip
• Tail injuries or bite wounds
• Burns from unguarded heat sources
• Egg binding in females

Check temperatures, humidity cycle, diet, supplements, and enclosure security first. Persistent symptoms, injuries, swelling, egg-laying trouble, or neurological signs require a reptile veterinarian.

📌 Conclusion

The chahoua gecko is a remarkable New Caledonian gecko for keepers who enjoy natural behavior, camouflage, and patient observation. It needs height, sturdy climbing structure, moderate temperatures, humidity cycling, clean water, complete diet, and careful record keeping.

It is not difficult when set up correctly, but it deserves more respect than a casual “room temperature gecko” label. Stable care and captive-bred sourcing are the foundation of keeping this species well.

📚 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