Mossy leaf-tailed gecko (Uroplatus sikorae)

Short answers

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

A tall enclosure; a single animal at least ~45×45×60 cm, a pair ~50×50×100 cm.

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

Daytime 23–24 °C (max. ~28 °C, not for long), basking spot — (no classic basking spot), at night ~18 °C.

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

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

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

Life expectancy: approx. 7–10 years.

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

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

Climate

Daytime temperature

23–24 °C (max. ~28 °C, not for long)

Night temperature

~18 °C

Basking spot

— (no classic basking spot)

Humidity

60–80 % by day, close to 100 % at night (misting at night)

UVB

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

Enclosure

Minimum size

a tall enclosure; a single animal at least ~45×45×60 cm, a pair ~50×50×100 cm

Substrate

Damp bioactive substrate, plenty of branches and vines, dense planting

Feeding

Food

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

Feeding interval

adults 2–3×/week, juveniles daily

Key facts

Adult size

~14–20 cm total length (medium-sized)

Life expectancy

approx. 7–10 years

Origin

Eastern Madagascar (montane rainforest)

Protection status

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

Brumation

No real winter rest; a slight seasonal variation

Cohabitation

Keeping singly or in pairs (1.1 or 1.2) is possible. Males are kept separate as a precaution, even though some keepers report little aggression between them.

Notes

A master of camouflage, nocturnal, and sensitive to warmth (above 28 °C is tolerated poorly). High night-time humidity with good ventilation is needed, with a slight drying out by day. Prefer captive-bred animals.

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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
• Lined leaf-tailed gecko (Uroplatus lineatus) – Expert

All species in the care wiki →

What you need to start

To keep Mossy leaf-tailed gecko (Uroplatus sikorae) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (a tall enclosure; a single animal at least ~45×45×60 cm, a pair ~50×50×100 cm), substrate (Damp bioactive substrate, plenty of branches and vines, 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.