News from Tynemouth
BABY FOOD ON THE MENU FOR GIANT LIZARDS
A pair of endangered giant Madagascan day geckos are being fed baby food as part of their diet at Tynemouth's Blue Reef Aquarium.
The male and female geckos, both of which are captive bred, are settling in well to their new home at the award-winning aquarium which they share with a colony of tree frogs.
Originally from northern Madagascar and the neighbouring island of Nosy Be they can reach lengths in excess of 30cms; significantly larger than any other species of gecko.
Blue Reef's Head of Displays Zahra d'Aronville said: "In the wild they feed mostly on insects, other invertebrates, sweet plant foods such as bananas and other fruits, the nectar of flowers, and occasionally small vertebrates.
"In order to replicate their wild diet as much as possible we feed them on a mix of insects, chopped fruit such as melon and apricots and we've also discovered that they're particularly partial to Cow & Gate apricot breakfast.
"It may seem like a bizarre choice but it provides them with an excellent mix of proteins and vitamins with no artificial colourings or flavourings," she added.
Often known as 'living jewels' the geckos are brilliant emerald green or turquoise in colour with vivid red stripes on their head and neck.
Unlike most other geckos they are diurnal, which means they are active during the day, and are often found living near humans; sometimes actually within houses.
Females usually lay two eggs which they then stick together and attach to the underside of leaves or other suitable hiding places.
The species is listed under Appendix II of the CITES protected species status meaning no specimens can be taken from the wild.
