Lined leaf-tailed gecko (Uroplatus lineatus)

Short answers

Lined leaf-tailed gecko: How big does the enclosure need to be?

From 60×60×125 cm for one animal; for a pair from 95×95×125 cm (1997 expert report, at 15,5 cm SVL).

Lined leaf-tailed gecko: What temperature does it need?

Daytime 24–26 °C (up to ~30 °C in the wild; wild-caught animals usually prefer 24–26 °C), basking spot — (no classic basking spot), at night 18–22 °C; a marked night-time drop is essential, not an optional extra.

Lined leaf-tailed gecko: Does it need UVB lighting?

UVB: Low UVB recommended (Ferguson zone 1–2, UV index 1–2); nocturnal.

Lined leaf-tailed gecko: How long do they live?

Life expectancy: approx. 5–15 years; captive-bred animals usually 8–15 years, wild-caught animals considerably less.

Lined leaf-tailed gecko: Is it suitable for beginners?

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

Climate

Daytime temperature

24–26 °C (up to ~30 °C in the wild; wild-caught animals usually prefer 24–26 °C)

Night temperature

18–22 °C; a marked night-time drop is essential, not an optional extra

Basking spot

— (no classic basking spot)

Humidity

~80–85 % (the region of origin stays at ~85 % all year); mist at night after lights out

UVB

Low UVB recommended (Ferguson zone 1–2, UV index 1–2); nocturnal

Enclosure

Minimum size

from 60×60×125 cm for one animal; for a pair from 95×95×125 cm (1997 expert report, at 15,5 cm SVL)

Substrate

A moist mix of peat and sand or coco fibre, about 3 cm deep, with moss and leaf litter on top; plus plenty of vertical branches and bamboo canes as well as dense planting (for example Dracaena) as visual cover

Feeding

Food

Insects (crickets, roaches, locusts); calcium and vitamins

Feeding interval

adults 2–3×/week, juveniles daily

Key facts

Adult size

25–28 cm total length, of which about 11 cm is tail; snout–vent length thus about 14–17 cm

Life expectancy

approx. 5–15 years; captive-bred animals usually 8–15 years, wild-caught animals considerably less

Origin

Eastern Madagascar (bamboo forest), the island of Nosy Boraha (Ste Marie)

Protection status

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

Brumation

No real winter rest; a slight seasonal variation

Cohabitation

Solitary or pair housing (1.1 / 1.2); males NEVER together. The reason: several males fight over territory and the best hiding places until one is injured or permanently confined to a corner. Females usually get along but need their own hiding places each; feed separately if there is a size difference.

Notes

It prefers bamboo – vertical structures are essential. Wild-caught animals are often dehydrated and parasitised; high humidity and night-time misting are critical, with drying out by day. Experienced keepers only.

Do you keep this species?

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Lined leaf-tailed gecko (Uroplatus lineatus) currently offered

• Uroplatus lineatus – Lippstadt · 150 €

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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
• Henkel's leaf-tailed gecko (Uroplatus henkeli) – Expert
• Pietschmann's leaf-tailed gecko (Uroplatus pietschmanni) – Expert
• Mossy leaf-tailed gecko (Uroplatus sikorae) – Expert

All species in the care wiki →

What you need to start

To keep Lined leaf-tailed gecko (Uroplatus lineatus) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (from 60×60×125 cm for one animal; for a pair from 95×95×125 cm (1997 expert report, at 15,5 cm SVL)), substrate (A moist mix of peat and sand or coco fibre, about 3 cm deep, with moss and leaf litter on top; plus plenty of vertical branches and bamboo canes as well as dense planting (for example Dracaena) as visual cover), a heat source with a thermostat, UVB lighting, thermometer and hygrometer, a water dish and hides. You will find equipment in the Reptoria marketplace.