Gargoyle Gecko Complete Care Guide & Set Up | Diet, Temperature, Humidity and more

In this video we introduce The Gargoyle Gecko ( Rhacodactylus Auriculatus ). But don't be worried, the name sounds scarier than this Adorably Chunky New Caledonian Species! That's right, like the Crested Geckos, these too are from New Caledonia. So with that, they do have very similar care but also a few notable differences. We will discuss the unique features of the Gargoyle Gecko and how to create a basic set-up as well as overload you with plenty important Care information. So if your thinking about getting a Gargoyle as your next pet Reptile, grab a notepad and make sure to stay till the very end of the video. This is a longer video, but we felt like all the information in here was important to discuss. If you do have any questions feel free to comment below.
Remember, make sure you do plenty of research and already have their Enclosure set-up before the Gecko arrives. Never impulse buy any Reptile or pet for that matter. Having an enclosure ready to go will ensure a smooth stress free transition for the Gecko.
#GargoyleGecko #CareGuide #SetUp #PetReptile
Thank you for watching! Please Subscribe so you don't miss a future upload!
Shoutout to RhacHouse for allowing us to use a photo of their gorgeous Phantom Eyed Gargoyle Gecko. Visit them on Facebook at: / thegargoylewhisperer
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For up to date Gargoyle Gecko availability and official Guardians of the Geckos Merch, visit our website www.GuardiansoftheGeckos.com
Official Facebook Page: GuardiansoftheGeckos
Official Instagram Page: @Guardiansofthegeckos
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[@fanime1]

:) perfect timing. I decided to buy a reptile and after researching for a month, I decided to go with gargoyle gecko. This was very helpful.

[@Jonkopaus]

I got my gargoyle about 3 weeks ago now and it's the best decision of my life! :)

[@Guardiansofthegeckos]

Awesome!

[@Guardiansofthegeckos]

Thank you!!

[@franciscogonzales44]

I have two of them they are cool

[@AChicken-GOD]

What is a good place to get em?

[@wojtekmaj3200]

Finally a good video on gargoyles.

[@Guardiansofthegeckos]

😀thank you!

[@reptileinfo5785]

I know right

[@snkrhead215]

I know, i find myself sometimes on crested gecko videos because i’m so desperate for info cus gargoyle info is limited

[@mohammadalfonso6757]

i know Im asking the wrong place but does someone know of a way to get back into an instagram account?? I was stupid forgot the login password. I love any help you can offer me

[@isaacarmani783]

@Mohammad Alfonso Instablaster =)

[@michaelbowman3998]

I'm getting mine tomorrow and this was probably the most helpful video when I was researching so thank you!!! :)

[@MGclipsforu]

Thanks I been looking at geckos and I fell in love with the gargs so thanks

[@amysprenkle7425]

You did a great job with the care information. Mine would never just sit there for that long. They are beautiful gargs.

[@janievesdaKing]

This is the best gargoyle Gecko video that I’ve seen yet! 🔥🔥🔥

[@Guardiansofthegeckos]

Thanks dude!!

[@KevinG-xi6lv]

Great vid!! Trying to decide between the crested and gargoyle. This helped a lot!!

[@harmonystargazer]

Me and my husband just love ❤your channel, your graphics are amazing 👏. We are completely hooked, so you have two new subscribers for life. Thank you for putting out such wonderful content , You and your beautiful wife are so awesome.🥰🥰

[@dawnvz1021]

This really helped think about what kind of gecko I wanted, thank you I have been looking at this species for a bit

[@mariaeduardasilvaramos118]

Great video, I'm thinking of getting one for me as a first reptile and this video is going to help me a lot!!

[@rachelkunz611]

Great video! Gorgeous Gecko's!

[@Moon-kk9cm]

omg ur so underated- im doing this for my passion project in school and this is rlly belpful

[@lesliedyal9701]

This is excellent.

[@kristenhenry8346]

Great video it covers everything👍👍👍

[@WestBaltimore4Eva]

You get bonus points for mentioning the Gargoyles cartoon liked and subscribed lol

[@smithd2001]

I love and keep both, gargs and cresties 😁

[@brneyeqtpie]

Great video! Been trying to do research so I can buy a gargoyle gecko. I thought I was one of the only people who remembered the show! I loved it! Lol

[@GeekyGeckoCreations]

cool!

[@geckomorphsusa4032]

Hi ,Thank you for such an informative care video of gargoyles I will surely be subscribing to this channel!Looking forward to the next video😃

[@Skiszy]

Thanks this is great I’m hoping to get a gargoyle in a couple of months so this really helped

[@MGclipsforu]

Same

[@giovannialvarado2603]

Beautiful ❤

[@kylamulvanity7706]

Awesome video I like watching your videos. I just got a baby crested gecko I do want to get a gargoyle gecko one day I’ve learned a lot from your videos

[@Guardiansofthegeckos]

Thank you!

[@pecktec]

I’m setting up a bio active terrarium and getting it dialed in before I add anything more than isopods and spring tails. So I have this grow light (aquarium led light) inside the enclosure (it’s a vision cage). At the peek of the day (it ramps up and down) very close to the light it gets to 83F but at the bottom of the enclosure it never gets more than 75 and about 77-79 in the middle. So I understand a gradient like that lets them thermo modulate as they move to an ideal spot. But is it dangerous to have it at 82-83 anywhere inside? I turned the intensity down a bit hoping it will cool it a little more. But I wanted to see if I’m over thinking it.

[@bowendodson1873]

I liked and subscribed just for the gargoyles reference

[@mariahmoosymoose470]

So glad I found you! Thinking of getting a GG and would love to know how many crickets a baby, juvenile, and adult eat on top of the smoothie they eat?? And can they eat other insects besides stinky crickets

[@reptile_whisperer]

👏👏👏Very nice Video! So glad that you recommend a big enclosure for these guys.... a lot of people keep them in very small tanks 🙄. I have one last question : which size has a baby gargoyle Gecko and whats his weight? 3 weeks ago I bought my first and I want to know how old He is. He weighs only 4 gramm 🙈

[@Guardiansofthegeckos]

ya hes still a baby at 4 grams.

[@Guardiansofthegeckos]

thank you!

[@vealcutlet86]

You suggested feeding the mixture once every 2 days (fresh). When you feed insects, how many and does this replace the mixed food for the 2 days? or an add on?

[@someonewhodoesstuffandthin3715]

This is the best I’ve seen so far. Thank you. Question: i started my baby Gargoyle in a bigger enclosure. Should i down grade him to a smaller one? Or should i keep him where he is at? I have his food dish on the ground but i do have substrate not paper towels.

[@dm2836]

How is your baby doing now?? I want one so badly…

[@feltysaquaria819]

Gargoyles the animated was fire

[@Guardiansofthegeckos]

for real!!

[@feltysaquaria819]

@@Guardiansofthegeckos thanks for all the content. I'm about to build my first gecko enclosure. For gargoyles. Well just one.

[@feltysaquaria819]

@@Guardiansofthegeckos Do you think a 20 long set up tall is sufficient for a gargoyle gecko?

[@Guardiansofthegeckos]

yes if you convert it right, should be perfect.

[@feltysaquaria819]

@@Guardiansofthegeckos hey thanks alot man. I was kinda getting mixed messages on that. I'm pretty experienced with fish but this is my first reptile. Thank you again for the content and the answer!

[@TheSuperhuman622]

I really wanted a tokay lol but i was advised i get something less chaotic until i got a little more experienced handling them lol

[@kingananas]

Any input would be appreciated. Not sure if he mentioned this in the video but do you recommend UVB lights for them? I keep reading contradicting guides.

[@AChicken-GOD]

Where is a good place to get gargoyle geckos??? 😅please let me know

[@jer_chiu]

Will losing 2 finger tips affect its movement or well-being? As my friend's Gargoyle Gecko loses some, and he's quite worried, hope you can help, much thanks!

[@thatsamood]

I'm going to get a gargoyle gecko soon, hopefully...great guide! Also--gargoyle geckos actually lick their eyes?

[@spicedapples3283]

Don’t got eyelids, so they gotta. I’m pretty sure all new cals lick their eyes due to not having eye lids

[@BeefLoverMan]

How long does it take for a new gecko to get acclimated? I just got one and he's very shy and not very enthusiastic about food. He'll eat crickets if I dangle them in front of his face or lick diet of a skewer, but I've never seen him eat from his bowl. He also seems to like sleeping in the bottom on the substrate during the day... Not exactly sure about age, but he's about 1/3 to 1/2 of the size of a grownup. I think he's about 8 months old. Though judging by the trampled plants he's partying overnight :D Otherwise, temp gradient of 24 (bottom) - 28 (right under the light), 50 (day) -80 (night) % humidity. Also have a 5.0 UVB bulb that I turn on in the afternoon. Bioactive enclosure with substrate stuck to the walls - though I noticed he's been crumbling that off, so it's all over the plants now. I should have rinsed better...

[@squid4399]

What age/size would you consider a baby garg compared to a juvenile or adult?

[@deadmilkman7777]

Very interested in getting one of these amazing reptiles Can’t find any locally Any recommendations for a CB bread one online Or should I keep waiting for a local CB I’m in Ohio Columbus area if anyone has a recommendation

[@clowningaround5341]

Is a 10 gallon too big for the young gargoyle? I have recently got one, and he is in a 10 gallon, I don't think I have anything else besides the smaller cage usually meant for bugs. Should I move him or is he fine in the 10 gallon?

[@jessebond562]

I was actually thinking gargoyle statue from hunchback of notre dame

[@desireemassey2890]

What types of insects other than crickets are best for these types of geckos??

[@mystictempt763]

Is there an explanation for why they fire up or down? Is it based on mood like chameleons?

[@geebaleeba6861]

does anyone know how much calcium and d3 they should be getting? if i feed insects once or twice a week and just dust them, along with the Pangea is that enough? (also wondering if i should use multivitamins)

[@pruebj3553]

Can a 6 month old gargoyle gecko go into the Exo Terra Nano Tall, till it gets bigger?

[@gargoylegeckoman7887]

🙌🏽👍🏽🤜🏽

[@Fakahany00]

If it okay if feed them meal worm ??

[@atticusandwinifred3274]

The cool side of the tank is 73-76 degrees and the basking area is 80-82. Is the basking area too hot?

[@rachatathomas2693]

I know this is 8 months ago but if someone can explain misting a bit better do i mist at night and than let it dry there for how long? And when should the next time I mist be

[@jeffreynosa9542]

Chahouas next if u can?🙏

[@Guardiansofthegeckos]

definitely on the list... its a big list though lol

[@kimmiek0]

why do you have to add the calcium powder to the insects if your mostly feeding them the "complete" nutritional mix?

[@NicolasTapias-ok3dr]

How big should a baby gargoyles tank be?

[@marin9129]

I had a question that would really help me if answered xD My room regularly in the winter goes down to around 60 fahrenheit. How do I keep them at 70 ish? I'm afraid a heater will make it too hot. And in the summer it sometimes goes above 86 so how do I keep it cool then? I'd love to know how to do this because I really want one! And this would help a lot :)

[@beccab2151]

Heat mat connected to a thermostat. The thermostat controls it based of how hot or cold it is.

[@synthesizer8026]

The first time I saw my male Garg fully fired down, I was scared, he is nice and red, brown, black but one day I looked in and he was almost fully white. I was worried I under misted him and he dried out, I mean I have seen him fired down but never like that.

[@8bitcarni410]

I've wanted a gargoyle for a long time and done lots of research, the main thing I seem to see different opinions on is if heat is needed? I live in the UK and my ambient room temperatures are between 18 celcius and 27 celcius (winter to summer). I'm happy to provide a bulb/heat mat if it is needed I just wanted to make sure.

[@SW-zt5mw]

Did you get a gargoyle in the end? Just got one and seems my room isn't warm enough. Like you, UK based so weather is naff this time of year. Heat mat not good for ambient heat so looking at ceramic heat emitter or deep heat but not finding much on which is more suitable

[@8bitcarni410]

I did end up getting a gargoyle in the end and I've had mine for just over a year. In the summer my room gets fairly hot so I use things like ice packs, more misting etc to keep the temps down. In the winter I've been using more insulation around the outside of the tank and a heat mat. My room has been staying at a consistent 16-18c and the tank stays at 20-22c. Where my tank is located there isn't enough room above for a heat lamp but mine does have a uv bulb on a timer. I learned along the way and adjusted to my gargs needs along with plenty of online research. Best of luck with your gargy!@@SW-zt5mw

[@SW-zt5mw]

@@8bitcarni410 oh cool! Congrats on your garg. We got ours yesterday, already had some supplies but unfortunately due to new year, other bits haven't arrived just yet and worried tank isn't going to be warm enough. Good to know you've managed things well though. Happy new year!

[@krystalannawilliams2653]

I have a parrot egg coming

[@dragonlady3278]

My gargoyle gecko loooovvvveeeessss climbing and jumping around. He hides during the day but at night he’s tearing that tank up 🤣 I hear him allllll night long making all sorts of noise. He climbs upside down across the top of the tank and jumps around and in the morning all his stuff is moved around 🤣. Is mine weird?

[@tiegan7333]

nah he’s just having a good time 😂 as long as there is nothing in the tank that they can hurt themselves on you are all good!

[@kagome5968]

I just got a 6 month old a week ago. He is in a 29 gallon tank. I have plants and driftwood in the tank. I haven't noticed him eating. I was wondering if I should add a tube of cork bark to make him more comfortable in the tank? Could it be something else?

[@smefantamor3677]

I think the tank is too big for a essentially baby gecko

[@jxdynsbugs]

i’d move him to a 10-20 gallon tank for how young he is, if not a tub like the creator recommends. too much space can stress them out and make them not eat

[@Paradisepower75]

Do you have crested and gargoyle babies for sale? Thanks. Great videos

[@MGclipsforu]

I’m not sure if they do, but I would check out morph of market and Tiki’s geckos if you’re really interested in cresties and gargoyles

[@EunFox]

I just rescued a gargoyle my friend was getting rid of, and I am realizing her care ideas...weren't the best. So i was wondering: how often should Gargoyles shed, and how many crickets should I put in a week? I have had him since Nov 3 2020, and so far have not seen him shed at all >

[@WisdomCalls]

You likely will never see them shed since they eat it. Mostly use the pre packaged food. The insects can be given for a treat a couple times a week if they eat them.

[@Guardiansofthegeckos]

correct. Gargoyles do eat their shed so you may rarely see it. Great job with the rescue. Make sure to feed the gecko diet and gutloaded crickets a couple times a week should be great!

[@GhostKid0201]

Trying to get my first Gecko. Never had any pets except dogs. Where do I get one of these and what is a good price range?

[@jxdynsbugs]

price is hard to say. they can be anywhere from $50 to over $1-2000. it all depends on the morph (color pattern/genetics) and age. if your town does exotic pet expos, research then vendors they host and find a reputable breeder. if not there’s a site called morph market, the sellers on there are typically trustworthy

[@melissameadows4503]

Not sure if it was mentioned, but what should the humidity level be for these guys?

[@geebaleeba6861]

he said about 50% most of the day then a mist at night should be 80%,

[@amandaoshita]

Can they eat dried worms or only live?

[@aprilrose2781]

what would u suggest to use if I keep my house at 68 degrees? and if its a baby and in the plastic container wont a heat lamp melt the plastic?

[@jxdynsbugs]

you can put the heat emitter over a screen section if your worried about the plastic. i’ve seen people measure out how large the heat emitter is and then make a screened hole slightly larger than that. you can keep the heat emitter hooked up to a thermostat (find plenty on amazon) and that will keep the temps where you want them for you regardless of your house temp

[@user-sk7of5yc3l]

Hi! I recently adopted a baby gargoyle, not sure of the gender yet but I have a question about their sleeping habits. They seemed to acclimate quickly to their tank yesterday, (keeping them in an arboreal 5 gallon, juvenile weight of about 5-6 grams), and they slept out in the open for three hours a couple hours after I brought them home. They seem to have been active during the night, (normal for gargs), and I now cannot seem to find them with the flashlight on my phone. I know they are very good at hiding and are likely doing so from me, but their behavior does not entirely match yesterdays, so I was just wondering how long I could expect them to hide for? I have Repashy grubs & fruit out for them in an arboreal feeding bowl and I saw some scale peeling yesterday so I believe they are in the brink of a shed, so I added extra humidity because of that. Wet peat moss is on the bottom of their tank, just in case they need extra moisture but most of the bottom is covered by leaf litter. I have a hanging fake plant and a large piece of cork bark that stretches throughout the tank and provides and excellent hide, which I can just see behind by sticking my head around the side. Any help would be appreciated, thanks so much

[@jxdynsbugs]

as with any reptile they need several weeks to properly acclimate. we waited 3 weeks before handling ours to ensure she was comfortable, but some may take longer or shorter depending on your husbandry and just the gecko itself

[@user-sk7of5yc3l]

@@jxdynsbugs thanks so much for the advice! I started handling him only a week in because he was already eating and pooping well. It has only taken him three days, and he is already as docile as most adults! He jumps and explores from hand to hand, and stops when there is not another hand in front of him. He is doing really well, overall. I did find him later that day behind a plant on the rock background, so he hides really well. But since then, he has begun sleeping repeatedly on the right side of a piece of cork bark, and is acclimating really well to the rest of his tank, has even taken to sleeping on the floor. He comes out when I turn the light of, just as nocturnals do, and I wait until then to handle him. I take him out on a piece of cork bark, and try not to handle him if isn’t on it that night. I have only had to skip one night, because I believe he was in shed and was reluctant to come out from behind the cork bark. Thanks again, if you have Instagram you can see some photos of him at instagram.com/therinsonofthedwarfkings?r=nametag therinsonofthedwarfkings

[@boibred1002]

is it stressful to take care of a lizard?

[@albinopawz]

A few questions: 1. Can I keep an enclosure on the floor? 2. What if I can’t feed insects is the Pangea with insects just as good?

[@MGclipsforu]

Yep Pangea with insects is fine as long as you think that your gecko is getting the right nutrients and energy

[@MGclipsforu]

And of course you can keep the enclosure on the floor

[@MGclipsforu]

Gargle geckos and Christie do vertical enclosures but as long as you fit all the requirements for the new Caledonian geckos, it should be fine

[@poppyclare8620]

Can someone please help me? I'm looking into getting a Gargoyle Gecko and I've already bought a large Vivarium for him. I've also bought a 40w light heat bulb and I was wondering, do I keep this on overnight? If not, how I help him stay warm enough? Any replies appreciated because I want what's best for my gecko :)

[@jxdynsbugs]

i don’t provide heat overnight because as long as the room temperature doesn’t go below 60-65 they will be fine. with a large tank, how many gallons are you talking? you don’t want something too much bigger than an 18x18x24 for one adult. using a light emitting bulb can mess with their nocturnal clocks so i personally just use a chi and i connect it to a thermostat to regulate the temperatures

[@jaclynns.jungle]

My gargoyle is afraid of crickets 😅 what should I give him?

[@diegokerr3253]

Same! Mine is afraid of crickets and won’t eat horn worms! It’s hilarious!

[@stumpz1063]

i have a blue tongue skink called dart and a gargoyle called gargy

[@Guardiansofthegeckos]

awesome!

[@EberhardtTheReindeer]

Carnage trying to stowaway with the new females.😂

[@isabelklug821]

Would you recommend cohabing a gargoyle gecko pair/trio? I've been thinking about keeping a pair or a trio in a 18x18x24. Some people say you should never cohab gargoyles, for others like you it seems to work fine. If enough space and hiding spots are provided is there still fighting or aggression?

[@Guardiansofthegeckos]

yes thats fine. Correct, make sure there are plenty of visual barriers, they are similar in size, never cohab males together, and keep an eye to make sure none of them are being picked on. If so then seperate.

[@jandlizard8278]

Hey so I got a gargoyle gecko from the reptile expo last sunday from you and she's getting a bit thin, what should I do?

[@MGclipsforu]

What are you feeding the gecko I mean, depending on the age and fine and small insects but if you’re getting worried, I would take it to a gecko doctor

[@AlphaOmegaKnight77658]

I was gonna go for a leapord gecko but I think my mom would be more convinced to let me keep a gecko if I don't bring live feeders in the house lol. But I can only find them being sold online. Any reputable online sellers anyone can reccomend?

[@MGclipsforu]

Tikki geckos I would definitely definitely recommend also morph market certified seller’s

[@calista910]

can i let him wnader around the hosue all da y then put him back in the humidity tank?

[@jxdynsbugs]

they don’t get any bigger than the palm of your hand so i definitely would not let them roam. if you take them out of the tank they must be supervised because they can jump off of structures and get injured or stepped on if your not actively looking around. they also run very fast and can hide in small spaces. generally, keep them in the tank

[@KiddKlutch3420]

So only house multiples In one cage for breeding purposes? Or can they live fine all together permanently outside of breeding?

[@MGclipsforu]

Definitely never keep babies together, but maybe when they’re more you can keep one male and two females or male never have more than one male in the same tank

[@visualskills6656]

I just found I love geckos I already have a crested gecko and a Leopard this is my next gecko 🐊❤️

[@saraellman7844]

Your video is extremely informative. You just need to brighten your lighting.

[@Guardiansofthegeckos]

thank you and ya, working on it!

[@gabrielcomeau3518]

i heard that the correct temp is 78 to 82°f

[@nickwright4079]

In the summer, highs of 82-87 are ok, with lows of 72-77

[@harleytrue5118]

Thank you! I’m rescuing a gargoyle from a lady who isn’t a good pet owner. And I’ve never had one before but I wasn’t going to let her keep an animal she’s killing

[@mattie318]

What sized tank should i get mine??

[@MGclipsforu]

Depends how many gargoyle geckos you are getting if your one gecko I would recommend 60 x 60 x 24. You’re getting to breed one one female recommend 24 x 24 x 36 for three bigger than the last option I would also recommend vertical they love

[@jovialjesss]

Is uvb a requirement for them? How many bugs would you reccomend feeding per week? Thanks! My house stays around 69-72°F. Should I provide heat since it's a little under the reccomended temps?

[@jxdynsbugs]

as long as it doesn’t consistently hang around mid-low 60s you don’t have to provide heat. if you want to, get a heat emitter and connect it to a thermostat. the thermostat will regulate the temps for you and keep it at the desired temperature and i’ve never seen people provide UVB for a gargoyle

[@gabrielcomeau3518]

is it bad if i only feed mine repashy because all my local pet stores dont sell live food

[@devonstewart2967]

Mine took pin crickets as a baby, then after maybe 6 months totally stopped and only gets repashy and is doing great

[@devonstewart2967]

Pangea sorry, she won’t touch repashy

[@gabrielcomeau3518]

@@devonstewart2967 mine eats repashy

[@WisdomCalls]

Mine doesn’t prefer live food, but you can order meal worms online and keep them in the fridge. Most pet stores also sell meal worms.

[@Guardiansofthegeckos]

there are a few online live insect sources but if still not an option try at least Repashys Grubs & Fruit or Pangeas Growth and breeding formula. but have added insect protein in the diets

[@jianbrack9096]

Ahhh I’m so nervous he’ll put his elbow down on the gecko

[@isabel-be4vy]

i’m soooo torn between crestie and gargoyle

[@geckocove]

Get a Garg!

[@kichi555]

I just got a crestie and a gargoyle lmao

[@jaykrizzle]

Gargoyles are no where near as arboreal as Crested Geckos in the wild (as their adaptations or lack thereof indicate). They inhabit shrubbery, eat more insects, and need water dish / food close to a hide or cover, they are not as comfortable venturing out in the open.

[@jaykrizzle]

Mine dont drink enough from misting like my more arboreal cresties do, so I've opted for supplementary water dishes.

[@sdlock83]

They look so creepy because their eyes are always open.

[@emptycinema]

Did this guy really said that gargoyle statues are from Middle Ages...

[@EE-bg2sd]

Yo calm down on the hand movements lmao. I can guarantee you the geckos would appreciate it