Alluaud's leaf-tailed gecko (Uroplatus alluaudi)

Short answers

Alluaud's leaf-tailed gecko: How big does the enclosure need to be?

From 45×45×60 cm for one animal; for a pair from 45×45×60 cm (1997 expert report, at 7,25 cm SVL).

Alluaud's leaf-tailed gecko: What temperature does it need?

Daytime 20–25 °C (COOL), basking spot No basking spot, at night 17–21 °C.

Alluaud's leaf-tailed gecko: Does it need UVB lighting?

UVB: Recommended (UVB 2–5 %).

Alluaud's leaf-tailed gecko: How long do they live?

Life expectancy: 8–12 years.

Alluaud's leaf-tailed gecko: Is it suitable for beginners?

No – better suited to experienced keepers (difficulty: Expert).

Climate

Daytime temperature

20–25 °C (COOL)

Night temperature

17–21 °C

Basking spot

No basking spot

Humidity

Day 60–80 %, at night up to nearly 100 % by misting — let it dry out in between

UVB

Recommended (UVB 2–5 %)

Enclosure

Minimum size

from 45×45×60 cm for one animal; for a pair from 45×45×60 cm (1997 expert report, at 7,25 cm SVL)

Substrate

Coco humus, cork bark, moss, dense planting

Feeding

Food

House crickets, crickets, roaches

Feeding interval

2–3×/week

Key facts

Adult size

10–12 cm total length (snout–vent 6.5–8 cm, tail 3.5–4 cm)

Life expectancy

8–12 years

Origin

Northern Madagascar — montane rainforest at 650–950 m altitude, mainly in Montagne d'Ambre National Park

Protection status

CITES II; very rarely kept

Brumation

A cooler spell of 8–10 weeks

Cohabitation

Solitary or as a pair. Two males should never be housed together. Each animal needs its own sleeping spot on cork or a branch and enough visual cover to be able to avoid the other; feed separately if there is a size difference. Single housing is explicitly fine for this species — a breeding pair is a decision made by the keeper, not a need of the animal.

Notes

A slender montane forest species with reddish-brown colouration. Barely established in Europe – experience is thin, so only for keepers with Uroplatus experience.

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Related species

• Ebenau's leaf-tailed gecko (Uroplatus ebenaui) – Intermediate to expert
• Finiavana leaf-tailed gecko (Uroplatus finiavana) – Intermediate
• Common flat-tail gecko (Uroplatus fimbriatus) – Intermediate to expert
• Günther's leaf-tailed gecko (Uroplatus guentheri) – Expert
• Henkel's leaf-tailed gecko (Uroplatus henkeli) – Expert
• Pietschmann's leaf-tailed gecko (Uroplatus pietschmanni) – Expert
• Lined leaf-tailed gecko (Uroplatus lineatus) – Expert
• Mossy leaf-tailed gecko (Uroplatus sikorae) – Expert

All species in the care wiki →

What you need to start

To keep Alluaud's leaf-tailed gecko (Uroplatus alluaudi) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (from 45×45×60 cm for one animal; for a pair from 45×45×60 cm (1997 expert report, at 7,25 cm SVL)), substrate (Coco humus, cork bark, moss, dense planting), a heat source with a thermostat, UVB lighting, thermometer and hygrometer, a water dish and hides. You will find equipment in the Reptoria marketplace.