The Pine Island chahoua is a large, mossy-looking arboreal gecko prized by keepers who want something bigger and more substantial than a crested gecko. It's a locality form of the mossy New Caledonian gecko (Mniarogekko chahoua), named for the Isle of Pines where its ancestors come from.
This post covers where it comes from, how it differs from the mainland form, and what to look for when buying.
Origins and appearance
Chahoua are native to New Caledonia, and captive animals trace back to two places: the main island, Grande Terre, and the small Isle of Pines (Île des Pins) to its south. The Pine Island form is the one most keepers mean when they use that name.
Pine Island animals are generally larger and a bit more slender than Grande Terre geckos. They're often described as having a longer snout and smaller, less bulbous eyes. Adults typically weigh 50 grams or more, and some reach about 100 grams and 12 inches including the tail.
Color runs from rusty red and brown to green and gray, with a moss- or lichen-like pattern that gives the species its common name. Geckos from the outer islands tend to show the lighter gray tones.
One caveat: a 2012 taxonomic study noted that herpetoculturalists say captive Isle of Pines stock differs from Grande Terre animals, but the authors hadn't examined Isle of Pines specimens and couldn't judge their status. Pine Island is a hobby label rather than a formally described subspecies.
White collar
The white collar is one of the most sought-after traits in Pine Island chahoua. It's a band of white markings across the neck and shoulders, and it sits on a spectrum:
- White shoulder (white wings): white splotches around the neck and shoulders that are broken up or inconsistent, essentially a white collar with large gaps.
- White collar: a more complete band of white across the neck.
- High white: white that extends past the neck to the hips, sides and base of the tail. These traits are described as polygenic, so results vary between animals.
- Super high white or whiteout: an animal with most of its body covered in white, including the neck, back, tail base, hips and parts of the head.
In general, the more complete and brighter the white, the more buyers want it, and prices tend to rise with it. Breeders have leaned into these traits, and demand for standout colors and patterns, especially high whites, has pushed values up. A solid, unbroken collar usually commands more than a broken one, and a high white or whiteout more than either.
I didn't find hard pricing data tying each level of collar whiteness to a specific price, so treat that as the general pattern rather than a rule. Because these traits are polygenic, breeding two white-collared geckos doesn't guarantee white-collared babies, and a gecko's collar can look different from one photo to the next, so ask for current photos and the parents' photos before paying a premium.
Pine Island chahoua at Gecko Pantry
Apex Predator Geckos keeps Pine Island chahoua sourced from trusted breeders in the USA, and they are part of the Gecko Pantry family. If you're looking to add one of these impressive geckos to your collection, browse our available animals.
Shop Chahoua Supplies at Gecko Pantry
Whether you're setting up for your first chahoua or adding to your collection, Gecko Pantry stocks everything you need:
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