European leaf-toed gecko (Euleptes europaea)

Short answers

European leaf-toed gecko: How big does the enclosure need to be?

45×30×40 cm.

European leaf-toed gecko: What temperature does it need?

Daytime 22–28 °C, basking spot 30 °C, at night 14–18 °C.

European leaf-toed gecko: Does it need UVB lighting?

UVB: Essential (UVB 5.0).

European leaf-toed gecko: How long do they live?

Life expectancy: 8–12 years.

European leaf-toed gecko: Is it suitable for beginners?

Rather not – it is considered an intermediate species (difficulty: Intermediate).

Climate

Daytime temperature

22–28 °C

Night temperature

14–18 °C

Basking spot

30 °C

Humidity

55–70 %

UVB

Essential (UVB 5.0)

Enclosure

Minimum size

45×30×40 cm

Substrate

Sand-loam, rock structures with narrow crevices, cork bark

Feeding

Food

Small house crickets, crickets, flies

Feeding interval

2–3×/week

Key facts

Adult size

6–8 cm total length

Life expectancy

8–12 years

Origin

Corsica, Sardinia, the Ligurian coast

Protection status

Strictly protected (Habitats Directive Annex IV) – only captive-bred animals with proof of origin

Brumation

A winter rest of 10–14 weeks at 6–10 °C

Cohabitation

A pair or a small group. Two males will not work together — they fight over territory and the warm spot until one is seriously injured or spends its life in a corner. One male with several females, on the other hand, works reliably. What matters is several warm spots and hides so that subordinate animals can get out of the way, and separate feeding as soon as the animals differ in size.

Notes

Europe's smallest gecko; it lives in narrow rock crevices on coastal cliffs. Strictly protected – taking it from the wild is a criminal offence. It needs a genuine winter rest and tip-proof stone structures.

Do you keep this species?

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All species in the care wiki →

What you need to start

To keep European leaf-toed gecko (Euleptes europaea) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (45×30×40 cm), substrate (Sand-loam, rock structures with narrow crevices, cork bark), a heat source with a thermostat, UVB lighting, thermometer and hygrometer, a water dish and hides. You will find equipment in the Reptoria marketplace.