Naultinus Naultinus elegans & Naultinus grayii Biology, Husbandry and Breeding

Gecko keepers and breeders in New Zealand sometimes feel a little isolated, as legal export of our gecko species has been very difficult since the 1980s. So it's great to read that successful breeding of Naultinus geckos has been achieved over many years in Europe. New Zealand keepers have had captive breeding success using outdoor caging in the geckos' country of origin, and have generally been somewhat skeptical of attempts to deviate from the methods that have always been used locally. The authors have had to adapt husbandry practices to encompass the climatic differences between New Zealand and Europe, and have made remarkable achievements in this regard. I think this book is not only vital reading for those aspiring to keep and breed these beautiful species outside of their native country, it is also equally valuable to New Zealand keepers in providing a fresh perspective. There have always been difficulties in achieving sustainable captive breeding of some New Zealand species outside of their home range, i.e. South Island species do not do well in the North Island. I am sure that the approach taken by the authors of this book could prove to be a starting point in overcoming this issue.

Many of the brilliant photos in the book have been provided by people well-known in the New Zealand herpetological community, and it is great to see this degree of cooperation across the miles, in producing a book which I am sure will prove to be a landmark publication.