When you hear the name “eared banana eater,” your imagination conjures up something exotic and perhaps a little frightening. In reality, it is a small lizard whose lifestyle and appearance raise many questions for the uninitiated.
Some see it as a miniature dragon with a hood and a piercing gaze, others as a cute and funny pet. It is this duality that makes the earless banana eater so interesting.
In this article, we will explore the line between scary myths about reptiles and the reality of keeping them at home. We will find out what lies behind the frightening name and whether this lizard is really as terrible as it may seem at first glance.
Range, habitat, and living conditions
Eared banana geckos are found in a limited area – the island nation of New Caledonia. This contributed to the reptile's name.
The climate here is more suitable for unusual animals: tropical, characterized by high humidity, which is facilitated by a large area of “rain” evergreen forests.
Eared banana eater
There are savannas in New Caledonia, but the gecko prefers wooded areas. It is more common in the central and southern parts of the main island, but is not found on the adjacent islands. It usually prefers thickets of shrubs and trees. The gecko climbs to a considerable height – up to 3-4 m. But it also expands its habitat – it can climb fence posts and crawl under concrete slabs. This is facilitated by small body size. Reptiles sometimes crawl out onto roads.
Please note! The earless gecko thrives in hot climates, tolerating high temperatures (up to +35°C) and nighttime temperatures of up to +20°C.
The climate on the islands of New Caledonia is characterized by frequent tropical cyclones with heavy rainfall, so the animals react normally to similar weather conditions in artificial conditions. Geckos can also tolerate lower temperatures – down to 17°C. The corresponding weather conditions persist from May to September.
Rhacodactylus auriculatus
Eared banana-eating geckos are not always in the heat during the day; they can crawl into shelters: they hide under leaves and are very fond of hollow branches. Despite the fact that they spend a lot of time in trees, they do not crawl into hollows. At dusk, the animals go in search of food. Banana eaters are not aggressive., they are friendly creatures. Moreover, geckos react poorly to stressful situations – they may shed their tails. It takes several months for a new one to grow back.
Important! In most cases, geckos are obedient animals. However, they can behave in a specific way, exhibiting territorial behavior. During the day, you can observe the animal motionless in its terrarium. This is natural for it, but at dusk, the situation changes: the eared banana gecko becomes active and begins to move.
Appearance
The size of a gecko's body can vary depending on its stage of development and diet. The reptile is often 8.9-11.4 cm long. This size does not include the tail.
The total body length with the tail reaches 20 cm. The torso seems disproportionately large, but this is mainly a visual effect. The banana-eating gecko looks larger because its tail is thinner.
Other distinctive features:
- triangular head;
- large eyes.
- they have ear-like structures, but these are actually a physiological feature – bony growths on the top of the head.
- the color varies from light (cream) to dark (brown), and the coloration may also change under the influence of external factors.
- sometimes a longitudinal stripe can be seen on the back and sides, most often red or orange.
- geckos of this species have a distinctive pattern on their bodies: wavy, mesh-like.
Colouring is one of the characteristics that determines sexual dimorphism. Other characteristics: males have pronounced hemipenal pockets and preanal pores.
Housing conditions, care
The gecko is placed in a terrarium, most often using a cubic or vertical type of container. There must be branches inside, and they must be hard, with a diameter of 2 cm, to support the weight of the animal.
Greenery is not a prerequisite for the habitat of such geckos, but many add fresh or artificial foliage. This provides geckos with more opportunities to hide. The listed features of the terrarium design are due to the fact that these reptiles are semi-arboreal.
Close-up
The duration of the lighting period varies.: up to 4-6 hours in winter, no more than 10-12 hours in summer. Usually, this requirement is met without the need for additional lighting with artificial lighting devices. A source of ultraviolet light is also not a prerequisite for keeping them.
Temperature and humidity are parameters that determine the comfort of keeping geckos. These animals are accustomed to certain environmental conditions.
The temperature in the terrarium is maintained at +25°C, this is sufficient; there is no need to purchase additional heat sources. An increase to +28°C and a decrease to +22°C are acceptable. The humidity level is 50-70%. To maintain it within these limits, you need to use irrigation, for which a fog generator is used.
Photo of a gecko
Note! Soil at the bottom of the terrarium is a prerequisite for keeping them. Coconut substrate, peat, soil, crushed bark, and gravel are used. The components can be mixed. Young individuals should be kept on a paper substrate. It is also important to ensure the safety of the animals. For example, if an additional heat source is installed in the terrarium, it must be well protected, otherwise the banana eater will get burned.
Diet
Geckos can be fed insects – purchased:
- feed cockroaches;
- crickets;
- butterflies;
- locusts;
- insect larvae, etc.
It is recommended to feed them this food no more than once a week. But it is better to use special mixtures. The diet is supplemented with soft fruits. This is why geckos are called banana geckos, as bananas are one of the most suitable fruits in terms of structure. It is important to give them overripe, rotting bananas. The sweetness and softness of such fruits is greatly increased. Feeding frequency – 1 to 3 times a week.
For young animals, the recommendations are different – the frequency of meals is twice a week. It is also recommended to use vitamin and mineral supplements. This will provide young individuals with the necessary amount of nutrients, since various beneficial elements are often deficient in artificial conditions.
Gargoyle Gecko
Such dietary deficiencies can lead to stunted growth and a weakened body.
The banana-eating gecko sounds like a monster from the jungle, but in reality it is just a harmless lizard with large “ears” on the sides of its head and a taste for fruit. It lives in New Guinea, is not aggressive, is not poisonous, and can even be tamed. Many people keep it at home as an exotic pet because it looks unusual but behaves calmly. So there's no need to be afraid — the banana gecko is more like a funny pet than a scary reptile.
Reproduction
The urge to reproduce arises in geckos of this species when there are climatic changes. For example, in animals that breed in the European region, mating begins in January.
The egg-laying process continues until mid-summer, less often – until the end of autumn. The male fixes the female in a certain position during mating, holding her by the neck fold with his jaw.
Eared banana eater
Females lay eggs, with an average of 1-2 eggs. The interval between egg-laying is 1.5 weeks. Under various conditions, the interval can increase to 79 days. Factors that influence this:
- age;
- body size;
- fatness.
Please note! A female lays eggs 4-5 times per season.
Pregnant individuals often require an additional source of heat. When the eggs appear, they are still in a soft shell and mature in a warm substrate — the female buries them. Young individuals also need special conditions – increased temperature, but they should not be overheated.
Diseases and health maintenance
Under certain conditions, it is recommended to expose the animals to ultraviolet light (2% active rays). Due to various mistakes in care, health problems arise in geckos.
In particular, these are::
- renal failure;
- abscesses;
- dystocia;
- dermatophytosis;
- exhaustion, which is possible due to refusal to eat;
- prolapse of the cloaca;
- inflammation of the femoral pores;
- cryptosporidiosis, etc.
Rhacodactylus auriculatus
Note! Most diseases are the result of temperature fluctuations and poor nutrition (nutrient deficiencies have a significant impact).
Interesting facts
You can buy a banana-eating gecko in specialized stores, as well as online. The average cost is 11,500 rubles, but the price can be as high as 33,500 rubles.
Interesting facts about these animals:
- in the wild, they may eat members of their own species, aided by their pronounced teeth and large head—traits that enable them to hunt vertebrates.
- it is better to keep geckos alone, the reason being their aggressive behavior, which is especially pronounced in males; they cannot live together, but it is not prohibited to pair individuals of opposite sexes, and even harem keeping is possible (when there are several females in the terrarium), but it is better to add them for breeding;
- it is recommended to place the eggs in an incubator so that they are kept at a temperature of up to +28°C;
- young individuals that have been raised at high temperatures are more susceptible to rickets.
Eared banana eaters do not tend to shake their food before swallowing it, as other species do. they crush their prey by squeezing their jaws..
As we can see, the banana gecko is a creature of contradictions. On the one hand, its appearance, reminiscent of a tiny dragon, and its swift movements can cause alarm. On the other hand, it is completely harmless to humans and poses no threat.
The decision to get such a pet must be carefully considered. These geckos require special conditions: precise temperature, humidity, and specific nutrition. This is not a pet that you can just pet; it is more for observation.
Therefore, calling it a “terrible reptile” is a clear exaggeration. It is an amazing animal, albeit one that requires responsibility. In the skilled hands of a caring owner, it becomes not a scary monster, but a living piece of the tropical forest in a terrarium.
