Northern leaf-tailed gecko (Saltuarius cornutus)

Short answers

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

60×45×80 cm (height).

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

Daytime 20–26 °C, basking spot No basking spot, at night 16–20 °C.

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

UVB: Recommended (UVB 2–5 %).

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

Life expectancy: 10–15 years.

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

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

Climate

Daytime temperature

20–26 °C

Night temperature

16–20 °C

Basking spot

No basking spot

Humidity

70–85 %

UVB

Recommended (UVB 2–5 %)

Enclosure

Minimum size

60×45×80 cm (height)

Substrate

Coco humus, vertical cork bark, climbing branches, planting

Feeding

Food

House crickets, crickets, roaches

Feeding interval

2–3×/week

Key facts

Adult size

20–28 cm total length

Life expectancy

10–15 years

Origin

North-eastern Queensland – rainforest

Protection status

Export from Australia is prohibited – only European captive-bred animals

Brumation

A cooler spell of 8–10 weeks

Cohabitation

Kept in pairs; males kept strictly separate. The reason: several males fight over territory and the best hiding spots until one is injured or sits permanently in a corner. Females usually get along but need their own hiding spots; feed separately if sizes differ.

Notes

Perfectly camouflaged on tree bark; by day it sits head-down on vertical trunks. It needs height and cool nights; a rainforest species, not a desert one.

Do you keep this species?

Add your animal to Reptoria – Reptoria reminds you about feeding and shedding. Add your animal for free →

Look for Northern leaf-tailed gecko (Saltuarius cornutus) 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 Northern leaf-tailed gecko (Saltuarius cornutus) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (60×45×80 cm (height)), substrate (Coco humus, vertical cork bark, climbing branches, 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.