The Madagascar giant day gekko lives in the north-east part of Madagascar and is one of the three largest of the Phelsuma genus. They will get as big as 23-25cm (females tend to lean more towards the 23cm). They are really curious animals but also a little skittish. Don't handle your phelsuma as this isen't healthy for their skin. Like most gekkonidae they can drop their tail when feeling stressed.

The minimum size of the enclosure for one or two animals is 60x40x80cm (lxwxh), but I suggest to get a bigger one. Mine is 65x65x95cm and from what I experience this a good size. They can climb on any surface so you can really go wild on the decoration with lots of bamboo and vines to increase the climable surface. 

 

Humidity should be somewhere between 60% - 80%. This is maintained by misting or spraying regularly. 

Lighting and heating.

 

This gekko is day active so provide an adequat UvB source. Where they live they get about 12 hours light a day year round, try to mimic this in their enclosure. I use a 50 watt Uvb bulb with ballast. I wouldn't suggest to use the fluorescent UvB bulbs as they don't provide enough UvB in my opinion. The bulb I use also provides sufficient heat for the vivarium. I keep the overal temparture at 25-27 °C and 30-34°C underneath the hotspot. I also have a TL bar for the life plants in the vivarium to grow. At night I use no extra heating source as the temprature in the room doesn't drop below 18°C. 
 

Food.

First of all don't overfeed your day gekko, they have the tendency to eat more than they need so don't offer them to much. I offer one cup of gekko nectar once a week (you can find it on www.beastshop.be) and 2 or 3 times a week I offer insects (anything from waxworms, crickets to grashoppers). Occasionally I skip a meal. I see to many fat day gekko's on the internet so be carefull on this. If a female had copulation or has layed her eggs (even when they're infertile) you can feed her a little more to restore her nutrients. My specimen mostly drinks drops of water from misting or licks the wet soil from the waterfall. I don't know if they will drink from a waterbowl but I don't think it is natural for these animals.