Eastern thick-tailed gecko (Underwoodisaurus husbandi)

Short answers

Eastern thick-tailed gecko: How big does the enclosure need to be?

From 70×50×50 cm for one animal or a pair (ground-dwelling gecko, structured back and side walls).

Eastern thick-tailed gecko: What temperature does it need?

Daytime 22–28 °C, basking spot small basking spot of ~30–31 °C in one corner, at night 15–20 °C.

Eastern thick-tailed gecko: Does it need UVB lighting?

UVB: Optional (crepuscular/nocturnal).

Eastern thick-tailed gecko: How long do they live?

Life expectancy: 10–15 years (up to ~20).

Eastern thick-tailed gecko: Is it suitable for beginners?

Partly – manageable with some prior knowledge (difficulty: Beginner to intermediate).

Climate

Daytime temperature

22–28 °C

Night temperature

15–20 °C

Basking spot

small basking spot of ~30–31 °C in one corner

Humidity

40–60 %, plus a humid hide

UVB

Optional (crepuscular/nocturnal)

Enclosure

Minimum size

from 70×50×50 cm for one animal or a pair (ground-dwelling gecko, structured back and side walls)

Substrate

A sand-loam mix, bark, cork tubes, plant-pot shards

Feeding

Food

Insects (crickets, house crickets, roaches)

Feeding interval

2–3×/week

Key facts

Adult size

up to approx. 15 cm total length, up to about 35 g

Life expectancy

10–15 years (up to ~20)

Origin

Eastern Australia: New South Wales (type locality near Milbrodale, Hunter region); woodland and rocky areas

Protection status

No CITES; an Australian export ban → captive-bred animals only

Brumation

Winter rest of about 2 months at 10–16 °C (required for breeding; a faecal test beforehand is recommended)

Cohabitation

Kept singly or in pairs; according to breeders, breeding works best with animals kept singly. For breeding, introduce the male to the female after the winter rest. Never keep males together – they fight over territory and the warm spot. A pair kept together permanently needs several hides and separate warm spots.

Notes

Keep cooler than U. milii: constant warmth above 28 °C is stressful. The moist wet box (coco peat) is the main water source – the animals lick the condensation inside; spray occasionally.

Look for Eastern thick-tailed gecko (Underwoodisaurus husbandi) in the marketplace →

Related species

• Thick-tailed gecko (Underwoodisaurus milii) – Beginner to intermediate
• Broad-tailed gecko (Phyllurus platurus) – Intermediate
• Fat-tailed diplodactylus (Diplodactylus conspicillatus) – Intermediate
• Delean's knob-tailed gecko (Nephrurus deleani) – Intermediate
• Jewelled gecko (Strophurus elderi) – Intermediate
• Ranges stone gecko (Diplodactylus furcosus) – Beginner to intermediate
• Banded knob-tailed gecko (Nephrurus cinctus) – Intermediate
• Eastern stone gecko (Diplodactylus vittatus) – Intermediate

All species in the care wiki →

What you need to start

To keep Eastern thick-tailed gecko (Underwoodisaurus husbandi) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (from 70×50×50 cm for one animal or a pair (ground-dwelling gecko, structured back and side walls)), substrate (A sand-loam mix, bark, cork tubes, plant-pot shards), a heat source with a thermostat, UVB lighting, thermometer and hygrometer, a water dish and hides. You will find equipment in the Reptoria marketplace.