Henkel's leaf-tailed gecko (Uroplatus henkeli)

Short answers

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

A large tall enclosure, approx. 60×50×80 cm for one animal; considerably larger for a pair or trio (e.g. 60×60×120 cm).

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

Daytime 24–26 °C (max. 28 °C, never permanently above 28–30 °C), basking spot — (no classic basking spot; keep cool), at night 20–22 °C (a night-time drop matters).

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

UVB: Low UVB recommended (Ferguson zone 1–2, UV index 1–2), especially for females and juveniles; nocturnal.

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

Life expectancy: approx. 7–10 years (up to ~15 with optimal care).

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

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

Climate

Daytime temperature

24–26 °C (max. 28 °C, never permanently above 28–30 °C)

Night temperature

20–22 °C (a night-time drop matters)

Basking spot

— (no classic basking spot; keep cool)

Humidity

60–80 % by day, up to ~90–100 % at night (misting at night)

UVB

Low UVB recommended (Ferguson zone 1–2, UV index 1–2), especially for females and juveniles; nocturnal

Enclosure

Minimum size

a large tall enclosure, approx. 60×50×80 cm for one animal; considerably larger for a pair or trio (e.g. 60×60×120 cm)

Substrate

Damp bioactive woodland or coco substrate with leaf litter, live plants, plenty of vertical branches

Feeding

Food

Large insects (crickets, roaches, locusts); calcium and vitamins

Feeding interval

adults 2–3×/week, juveniles daily; calcium and vitamins weekly (juveniles) to fortnightly (adults)

Key facts

Adult size

up to ~28 cm total length (one of the largest Uroplatus species)

Life expectancy

approx. 7–10 years (up to ~15 with optimal care)

Origin

North-western Madagascar (Sambirano, Nosy Be, Nosy Komba, Ankarafantsika, Tsingy de Bemaraha); dry and humid forest

Protection status

CITES Appendix II / EU Regulation Annex B (Uroplatus spp. since 2005); proof of origin + registration requirement; frequently wild-caught.

Brumation

No real winter rest; a slight seasonal variation in temperature and humidity (a cooler, drier period) is recommended

Cohabitation

Keeping singly or in pairs (1.1) is possible; males must never be together (territorial). Suitable only for experienced keepers and breeders.

Notes

Not very forgiving of mistakes – it reacts badly to heat (above 28–30 °C: heat stress, dehydration, infertility) and to permanent damp without ventilation. Wild-caught animals are burdened with parasites; captive-bred ones are markedly more robust. The terrarium size varies by source.

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Related species

• Alluaud's leaf-tailed gecko (Uroplatus alluaudi) – Expert
• 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
• 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 Henkel's leaf-tailed gecko (Uroplatus henkeli) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (a large tall enclosure, approx. 60×50×80 cm for one animal; considerably larger for a pair or trio (e.g. 60×60×120 cm)), substrate (Damp bioactive woodland or coco substrate with leaf litter, live plants, plenty of vertical branches), a heat source with a thermostat, UVB lighting, thermometer and hygrometer, a water dish and hides. You will find equipment in the Reptoria marketplace.