Keeper timer setting
T5 UVB: one hour later on, one hour earlier off
During active care — ON: 1 hour after daylight starts.
OFF: 1 hour before daylight ends.
During hibernation / full brumation: T5 UVB OFF (0 hours). In transition months, keep UVB off while dormant and use the active timer only once the animal is warmed and active.
October: daylight 12.0 h; T5 UVB 10 h.
The active T5 duration is the photoperiod minus two hours. Example: daylight 08:00–20:00 means UVB 09:00–19:00. Follow the monthly UVI strength measured beneath the tube and provide access to shade. This timing rule does not introduce hibernation for species whose schedule has only a mild or active winter rest. If an older combined heat / UV column is present, the new T5 UVB duration column governs UVB timing; existing heat settings are preserved.
UVI beneath the optional T5 tube
Working exposure targetOctober target at normal back height
UVI 1-2directly under the tube when it is on
The retained range remains a provisional captive working target. No new species-specific result was found that clearly requires a numerical change. Retaining it is not certification of an experimentally established optimum.
Your measuring point
Measure at the animal's normal back height directly beneath the brightest accessible part of the T5 strip, positioned toward the middle/back. The animal can enter and leave this area freely.
Keep a lower-UVI gradient and fully covered refuges near UVI 0. This is the optional exposure area, not the average across the cage.
Use a UV Index meter, such as a Solarmeter 6.5/6.5R. Warm the tube for about 30 minutes; keep reflector, guards and mesh in place. Raise or lower the fixture within its manufacturer's minimum-distance guidance, then recheck the reading and every higher accessible surface.
Evidence level: Provisional retention. These are working recommendations, often inferred; exact species optima and seasonal UV dose usually have not been measured. Log lamp-on time and animal behaviour as well as UVI.
Baines et al. (2016), UV-Tool · Muryn, Baines and Dishman (2026), Reptile Lighting Guide V10
October management
Selected automatically using the Netherlands date
Warmest period; prevent overheating in upper canopy
Praslin, Seychelles; mature coco-de-mer forest and high canopy
27-30 CDay air
24-26 CNight
31-33 CWarm perch
1-2T5 UVI*
12.0 hPhotoperiod
10 hT5 UVB duration
75-85 / 86-94%RH day / night*
Warm humid; daily mist, good ventilationRain / mist
6-7Food days/week
Annual schedule
Scroll sideways on smaller screens
| Month | Day air | Night | Warm perch | T5 UVI* | Photoperiod | T5 UVB duration | RH day / night* | Rain / mist | Food days/week | Seasonal management |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 25-28 C | 22-24 C | 29-31 C | 1-2 | 11.9 h | 9 h 54 m | 72-82 / 84-93% | Driest relative phase; mist 5-6x/week | 5-6 | No brumation; modest seasonal reduction only |
| February | 25-28 C | 22-24 C | 29-31 C | 1-2 | 11.9 h | 9 h 54 m | 72-82 / 84-93% | Drier keeper phase; mist 5-6x/week | 5-6 | Maintain humidity refuges and canopy cover |
| March | 25-29 C | 23-25 C | 30-32 C | 1-2 | 12.0 h | 10 h | 73-83 / 85-94% | Rain begins increasing; daily light mist | 6 | Transition upward in hydration and food |
| April | 26-29 C | 23-25 C | 30-32 C | 1-2 | 12.1 h | 10 h 6 m | 74-85 / 86-94% | More frequent showers; daily mist/rain | 6 | Pre-wet-season conditioning; no forced breeding trigger |
| May | 26-29 C | 24-26 C | 30-32 C | 1-2 | 12.2 h | 10 h 12 m | 76-86 / 87-95% | Wet season builds; daily rain/mist | 6-7 | High food/hydration availability; observe reproductive behaviour |
| June | 26-29 C | 24-26 C | 30-32 C | 1-2 | 12.3 h | 10 h 18 m | 78-88 / 88-96% | Wet peak; 1-2 rain/mist pulses daily | 6-7 | Wet peak; maintain strong ventilation and canopy complexity |
| July | 26-29 C | 24-26 C | 30-32 C | 1-2 | 12.2 h | 10 h 12 m | 78-88 / 88-96% | Wet peak; 1-2 rain/mist pulses daily, strong airflow | 6-7 | Wet season; high nectar/fruit availability; no cooling |
| August | 26-29 C | 24-26 C | 30-32 C | 1-2 | 12.1 h | 10 h 6 m | 77-87 / 87-95% | Wet; daily mist/rain with partial daytime drying | 6-7 | Stable warm-wet canopy; monitor pair tolerance |
| September | 27-30 C | 24-26 C | 31-33 C | 1-2 | 12.1 h | 10 h 6 m | 76-86 / 86-95% | Warm humid; daily mist/rain | 6-7 | Warm phase; maintain abundant flowering/fruit analog foods |
| October | 27-30 C | 24-26 C | 31-33 C | 1-2 | 12.0 h | 10 h | 75-85 / 86-94% | Warm humid; daily mist, good ventilation | 6-7 | Warmest period; prevent overheating in upper canopy |
| November | 26-29 C | 23-25 C | 30-32 C | 1-2 | 11.9 h | 9 h 54 m | 74-84 / 85-94% | Rain easing; mist daily or 6x/week | 6 | Transition to slightly cooler/drier keeper phase |
| December | 25-28 C | 23-25 C | 29-31 C | 1-2 | 11.9 h | 9 h 54 m | 72-82 / 84-93% | Lower-rain phase; mist 5-6x/week | 5-6 | Slightly cooler phase; retain drinking droplets |
Keeper notes
Use measured gradients and animal behaviour, not single thermostat readings
T5 UVI measurement
Measure UVI at normal back height directly beneath the brightest accessible part of the optional T5 strip. Place the strip toward the middle/back with free access to and away from it; preserve a gradient into fully covered refuges near UVI 0. These numbers describe the exposure area, not the whole enclosure or a daily average.
UVI review
The retained range remains a provisional captive working target. No new species-specific result was found that clearly requires a numerical change. Retaining it is not certification of an experimentally established optimum.
Northern Hemisphere calendar
For the Netherlands facility, all monthly climate and management cues are shifted six months: wetter May-Oct, peak Jun-Jul; slightly cooler/drier Dec-Mar, then rain/food increase during Mar-Apr. Natural Praslin dates are wetter Nov-Apr and cooler/drier Jun-Sep. No brumation or forced breeding season.
Range
Current 2025-2026 evidence supports Praslin only; older Silhouette records are considered unconfirmed/questionable.
Natural diet
Coco-de-mer nectar and pollen are key foods; jackfruit feeding has also been observed.
Reproduction
Published reproductive biology remains largely unknown. Glued eggs under palm fronds are currently inferred from related Ailuronyx, not directly proven in the wild.
Incubation warning
No validated A. trachygaster incubation temperature or duration is published. Do not copy hot day-gecko values or present related-species data as proven trachygaster biology.
Conservation
Critically Endangered; Ailuronyx spp. are CITES Appendix III at the request of Seychelles. Maintain complete legal-origin and parentage records.
Activity
Predominantly nocturnal but frequently active by day; provide both dark refuges and safe daytime light/low-moderate UV exposure.