Wonder Gecko, Teratoscincus scincus

Do Wonder geckos make good pets?

Wonder geckos are terrestrial, medium-sized geckos endemic to the arid desert habitats of Asia. Their large eyes and short noses make them incredibly cute to behold and giving them their other common name - the Frog-eyed gecko. This species loves to burrow and will spend most of its time under the surface, but they are a spectacle when they come out to hunt, making them great pets.

At Swell Reptiles, all of the Wonder geckos for sale are captive bred in the UK, reducing the negative impacts on the environment, whilst assuring you that your new gecko will be healthy and free of parasites or diseases that could spread to your other pets.

If you are looking for an alternative to Wonder geckos, we recommend looking at Leopard geckos and reading our Leopard gecko care sheet. 

What type of enclosure does a Wonder gecko need?

To provide them with enough space for enrichment and activity, an adult Wonder gecko should be kept in an enclosure of at least 90cm (3ft) long, with 90 x 60 x 60cm (3 x 2 x 2ft) being perfect. This makes a wooden vivarium a good option, or the Exo Terra Glass Terrarium 90x45x45cm could also work.

Do Wonder geckos need to be heated?

As with all reptiles, Wonder geckos are ectothermic and rely on outside sources to regulate their internal body temperature. They, therefore, need to be provided with a thermogradient that runs from warm to cool from one end of the enclosure to the other. The ideal basking temperature for this species is 30-32°C (86-89°F), with a cool end temperature between 22-25°C (71-77°F).

This should be achieved using an overhead heating system, such as a basking lamp or ceramic heat emitter. All heating equipment should be connected to a compatible thermostat to ensure their safety, for example, a dimming thermostat for a basking lamp or a pulse thermostat for a ceramic heater.

Do Wonder geckos need UV?

To enable them to metabolise vitamin D3 and properly make use of the calcium provided in their diet, Wonder geckos should be provided with a low-level UVB within the UVI range of 2-3. This can either be using an Arcadia ProT5 Kit - Forest 6% placed 25-40cm (10-15”) above the basking area, or an Arcadia ProT5 Kit - Desert 12% placed 40-45cm (15-18”) above the basking area.

What substrate do I need for my Wonder gecko?

Due to their burrowing behaviours, Wonder geckos should be provided with a deep layer of loose, sandy substrate, with a good option being Lucky Reptile Desert Bedding. If you would like to add live plants to the enclosure, a substrate tailored to this should be chosen, such as ProRep Bio Life Desert.

How do I decorate a Wonder gecko’s vivarium?

Your Wonder geckos vivarium should be littered with hiding areas, created either using generic hiding caves, or pieces of natural decor such as logs and cork bark, all of which will help your gecko to feel safe whilst providing stimulation and enrichment. Foliage in the form of live or artificial plants will further enhance this along with the overall look of the enclosure.

What do Wonder geckos eat?

Wonder geckos are insectivores and should be fed on a varied diet of livefoods such as crickets, locusts, cockroaches and so on. To ensure all of the required nutrients are provided, livefood should be supplemented according to a strict schedule.

We recommend using a calcium-rich multivitamin on every feed, such as Arcadia EarthPro-A, a calcium plus magnesium supplement on every fourth feed, such as Arcadia CalciumPro Mg and finally, a vitamin D3 supplement on every eighth feed such as Arcadia EarthPro RevitaliseD3.

How do I buy a Wonder gecko?

If you would like to purchase one of our UK captive bred Wonder geckos, please come in and see us. We will ask a few quick questions and also to see some images of a suitable set-up completely ready for the gecko to move into. We reserve the right to refuse adoption to anyone we feel is unprepared to adopt.

For more detailed husbandry information, please see our dedicated Wonder Gecko Care Sheet.