HENKEL’S LEAF-TAILED GECKO (UROPLATUS HENKELI) CARE SHEET
Henkel’s Leaf-Tailed Gecko (Uroplatus henkeli) is a large, spectacular arboreal gecko endemic to Madagascar. It is renowned for its extraordinary camouflage, flattened body, broad tail, dermal fringes and ability to disappear visually against tree trunks and bark.
Although hardy when its requirements are met precisely, this is not a forgiving beginner species. Small but persistent errors in temperature, hydration, ventilation, diet or reproductive management can lead to significant health problems.
The species requires a spacious, vertically orientated enclosure with abundant flat and vertical resting surfaces, moderate rather than high temperatures, a pronounced nighttime temperature drop, high but fluctuating humidity, excellent ventilation, low-to-moderate UVB exposure, fresh water and a varied diet of appropriately supplemented invertebrates.
Captive-bred animals should be strongly preferred.
QUICK FACTS
Scientific name: Uroplatus henkeli
Common names: Henkel’s Leaf-Tailed Gecko, Henkel’s Flat-Tailed Gecko
Family: Gekkonidae
Origin: Madagascar
Lifestyle: Arboreal
Activity: Primarily nocturnal
Adult size: Approximately 10–12 in (25–30 cm) total length
Diet: Primarily insectivorous, with some individuals—particularly reproductive females—readily consuming suitable snails
Day temperature: Approximately 72–79°F (22–26°C)
Night temperature: Approximately 63–70°F (17–21°C)
Humidity: High but fluctuating; commonly around 60% during drier daytime periods and approximately 80% or higher after misting/nighttime
UVB: Recommended
UVI gradient: Approximately 0–3, with deep shade available
Adult enclosure: Approximately 24 × 24 × 40 in (60 × 60 × 100 cm) for an adult pair; larger strongly encouraged
Housing: Individual housing is simplest, although compatible pairs or groups have been maintained successfully by experienced keepers
Handling: Minimal
Experience level: Intermediate to advanced
TAXONOMY
Henkel’s Leaf-Tailed Gecko is:
Uroplatus henkeli
It is a distinct species within the Malagasy genus Uroplatus.
The genus currently contains numerous recognised species, and identification within some Uroplatus complexes can be difficult.
Do not assume that superficially similar leaf-tailed geckos are interchangeable.
Correct identification is especially important when breeding.
Never intentionally hybridise different Uroplatus species.
DISTRIBUTION
Uroplatus henkeli is endemic to Madagascar.
Populations are known from northwestern and western areas of Madagascar, including islands such as:
- Nosy Be
- Nosy Komba
and mainland forest localities.
Its natural populations occupy forest environments with significant arboreal structure.
NATURAL HABITAT
Henkel’s Leaf-Tailed Geckos inhabit forest where they spend much of their lives on:
- Tree trunks
- Branches
- Broad leaves
- Bark surfaces
- Dense vegetation
They are highly nocturnal.
During daylight they usually remain motionless and rely upon camouflage.
At night they become considerably more active, moving through trees and vegetation in search of food and mates.
CAMOUFLAGE
This species possesses exceptional cryptic adaptations.
These include:
- Flattened body shape
- Irregular dermal fringes
- Bark-like patterning
- Broad flattened tail
- Variable colouration
- Ability to flatten closely against surfaces
The enclosure should allow these behaviours rather than forcing the gecko to sit permanently exposed.
ENCLOSURE SIZE
For an adult pair, a practical minimum supported by current specialist guidance is approximately:
60 × 60 × 100 cm
or roughly:
24 × 24 × 40 in.
For an individual adult, accommodation of similar floor dimensions and substantial height is highly desirable.
Larger enclosures are strongly encouraged.
GROUP HOUSING SIZE
Where experienced keepers maintain a compatible group of approximately 3–5 animals, an enclosure around:
90 × 90 × 120 cm
or approximately:
36 × 36 × 48 in
provides substantially more appropriate space.
Group housing should never be attempted simply because the species can sometimes tolerate conspecifics.
WHY ENCLOSURE SIZE MATTERS
A larger enclosure permits:
- Thermal gradients
- UV gradients
- Humidity gradients
- Multiple resting positions
- Visual barriers
- Feeding opportunities
- Natural movement
- Behavioural choice
Large Uroplatus are not suited to cramped display tanks.
ENCLOSURE ORIENTATION
The enclosure should be:
vertically orientated.
However, height alone is insufficient.
A tall enclosure with empty airspace is much less useful than one densely furnished with trunks, branches, foliage and flat resting surfaces.
ENCLOSURE TYPE
Suitable housing includes:
- Glass arboreal terrariums
- PVC arboreal vivariums with substantial ventilation
- Purpose-built reptile enclosures
- Large planted display vivariums
The enclosure must combine:
good humidity retention with excellent airflow.
VENTILATION
Ventilation is one of the most important aspects of Uroplatus henkeli husbandry.
Humid air should never become:
- Stagnant
- Permanently wet
- Poorly oxygenated
Useful ventilation arrangements include:
- Lower front vents
- Upper ventilation
- Mesh roof sections
- Cross ventilation
The aim is regular air exchange without causing excessive dehydration.
FURNISHINGS
Provide numerous:
- Vertical trunks
- Cork flats
- Cork tubes
- Natural branches
- Broad leaves
- Vines
- Roots
- Live plants
- Textured backgrounds
VERTICAL RESTING SURFACES
Henkel’s Leaf-Tailed Geckos frequently rest on:
flat or nearly flat vertical surfaces.
Provide several suitable resting surfaces rather than only thin branches.
Useful options include:
- Cork flats
- Large smooth-barked branches
- Vertical timber
- Large leaves
- Textured vivarium walls
BRANCHES
Branches should vary in:
- Diameter
- Orientation
- Height
- Texture
Provide:
- Vertical
- Horizontal
- Diagonal
routes throughout the enclosure.
Avoid bark so abrasive that repeated contact could damage the skin.
FOLIAGE
Dense foliage provides:
- Shade
- Security
- Drinking surfaces
- Humidity retention
- Visual barriers
- UV refuge
The enclosure should contain several areas where the animal can become almost completely concealed.
LIVE PLANTS
Suitable live plants may include:
- Ficus
- Dracaena
- Calathea
- Schefflera
- Pothos
- Philodendron
- Suitable broad-leaved tropical plants
Large-leaved species are especially useful as resting surfaces.
Ensure plants are free from harmful pesticide residues.
TEMPERATURE
Henkel’s Leaf-Tailed Gecko requires moderate temperatures.
A daytime ambient range of approximately:
72–79°F (22–26°C)
is appropriate.
IMPORTANT HEAT WARNING
This species should not be maintained continuously at high temperatures.
Prolonged exposure above approximately:
81°F (27°C)
can become harmful.
Short natural peaks into the high 20s°C may occur, but they should not represent the permanent enclosure temperature.
OVERHEATING
Heat stress can cause:
- Restlessness
- Reduced feeding
- Rapid loss of body condition
- Weakness
- Dehydration
- Death
Preventing overheating is therefore a major husbandry priority.
NIGHT TEMPERATURE
A nighttime drop is particularly important.
Aim for approximately:
63–70°F (17–21°C).
A cooler night period reflects the species’ natural environment and is considered important for long-term health.
NIGHTTIME COOLING
Do not automatically heat the enclosure throughout the night.
In many homes, allowing room temperature to fall naturally provides an appropriate nighttime reduction.
Heating should only be used at night if temperatures would otherwise fall excessively low.
SEASONAL VARIATION
A modest seasonal cycle is beneficial.
Slightly cooler temperatures and shorter photoperiods can be provided during the cooler season.
Breeding activity may respond to subsequent increases in temperature and day length.
For European collections, seasonal cycles are often sensibly aligned with local seasons rather than attempting to reproduce Madagascar’s calendar exactly.
HEATING
Where supplemental heating is required, use a:
low-output overhead heat source controlled by a thermostat.
Suitable equipment may include:
- Low-wattage halogen lamps
- Appropriate overhead radiant heating
Powerful basking lamps are generally unnecessary in ordinary-sized enclosures.
THERMOSTAT
All significant heat sources should be:
thermostatically controlled.
Never rely solely on wattage or room temperature estimates.
MONITORING TEMPERATURE
Use reliable digital thermometers at multiple positions.
Monitor:
- Upper enclosure
- Mid-level
- Lower/cool area
- Resting surfaces
An infrared thermometer can be useful for checking surface temperatures.
LIGHTING
Provide good visible-spectrum daytime lighting.
This supports:
- Circadian rhythm
- Natural activity
- Plant health
- Normal environmental cues
PHOTOPERIOD
A simple year-round cycle around:
12 hours light / 12 hours dark
can work well.
More advanced keepers may provide seasonal variation.
A warmer-season photoperiod around:
12–14 hours
and a cooler-season photoperiod around:
8–10 hours
can more closely reproduce seasonal change.
NIGHT LIGHTING
Do not use permanently illuminated:
- Red bulbs
- Blue bulbs
- Purple bulbs
Provide a proper dark period.
UVB
UVB should be provided.
Although Uroplatus henkeli is predominantly nocturnal, individuals often sleep in partially exposed positions where they can receive natural UV radiation.
UV INDEX
Provide a gradient approximately between:
UVI 0 and UVI 3.
The highest accessible exposure should be around:
UVI 3
in the most exposed upper area.
Other sections should provide:
- UVI 1–2
- Deep shade approaching UVI 0
WHY A UV GRADIENT MATTERS
The animal must be able to choose its exposure.
Do not illuminate every resting surface equally.
Provide:
bright areas + dappled exposure + deep shade.
UVB EQUIPMENT
A suitable linear UVB tube is generally appropriate.
Actual lamp strength depends upon:
- Enclosure height
- Distance to animal
- Mesh
- Reflector
- Plant cover
- Lamp model
A higher-output lamp positioned farther away can sometimes produce the same UVI as a weaker lamp positioned closer.
Therefore, percentage alone is not a useful measure of actual exposure.
UV METER
Where possible, use a:
Solarmeter 6.5 or equivalent UV Index meter.
Measure UV at the gecko’s actual resting positions.
This is particularly important in heavily planted enclosures because growing foliage can substantially alter UV exposure over time.
HUMIDITY
Henkel’s Leaf-Tailed Geckos require relatively high humidity.
However, the enclosure should not remain permanently wet.
A useful daily pattern is approximately:
60% during drier daytime periods
rising toward:
80% or higher following misting and overnight.
HUMIDITY RANGE
Short-term readings may range considerably, potentially between approximately:
60–100%.
The important factor is not maintaining one fixed number.
The important factor is providing:
humid air + drinking opportunities + regular drying + good ventilation.
MISTING
Misting once or twice daily is often appropriate.
Frequency depends upon:
- Ventilation
- Room humidity
- Temperature
- Enclosure size
- Planting
- Substrate
DRYING PERIOD
The enclosure should not remain visibly wet all day.
After misting:
- Droplets should remain available for drinking
- Humidity should remain elevated for a period
- Exposed surfaces should then gradually dry
FOGGING
Fogging may be useful for raising ambient humidity without saturating surfaces.
If used, it should generally be:
intermittent rather than continuous.
Early morning fogging can mimic natural morning humidity.
DIRECT MISTING
Some animals will drink when lightly misted directly.
Use:
fine, gentle mist
rather than blasting the gecko with pressurised water.
WATER
Provide a:
fresh water bowl at all times.
Despite being highly arboreal, Henkel’s Leaf-Tailed Geckos may drink from standing water.
Placing the water dish near the base of a frequently used branch can improve accessibility.
Change water daily.
SIGNS OF DEHYDRATION
Possible signs include:
- Sunken eyes
- Wrinkled tail
- Curling of the tail
- Poor shedding
- Reduced activity
- Stress colouration
- Loss of body condition
Persistent dehydration requires immediate investigation.
SUBSTRATE
A suitable substrate can consist primarily of:
organic soil.
Additional materials may include:
- Leaf litter
- Fine orchid bark
- Coco components
- Small amounts of sand for drainage
- Other safe tropical substrate ingredients
SUBSTRATE MOISTURE
The substrate should remain:
slightly moist rather than saturated.
Waterlogged substrate can discourage egg laying and encourage poor hygiene.
DRAINAGE LAYER
A drainage layer is highly useful.
Materials such as expanded clay balls can be placed beneath the substrate with a separating membrane.
This helps prevent waterlogging in heavily misted planted enclosures.
LEAF LITTER
Provide a substantial layer of:
leaf litter.
This contributes to:
- Moisture buffering
- Natural appearance
- Microfauna habitat
- Egg-laying cover
- Behavioural complexity
BIOACTIVE HOUSING
Bioactive housing is highly suitable when well managed.
Possible clean-up crew organisms include:
- Springtails
- Suitable tropical isopods
However, bioactive enclosures still require routine management.
DIET
Henkel’s Leaf-Tailed Gecko is primarily:
insectivorous.
A diverse feeder rotation should be provided.
SUITABLE FEEDERS
Suitable prey can include:
- Crickets
- Locusts
- Dubia roaches where legal
- Other captive-bred roaches
- Black soldier fly larvae
- Silkworms
- Appropriate moth larvae
- Flies
- Stick insects from safe captive cultures
- Other suitable captive-bred invertebrates
SNAILS
A particularly interesting aspect of this species is its consumption of:
snails.
Many females show a strong appetite for them, particularly around reproductive periods.
Suitable captive-bred snails may provide:
- Dietary variety
- Calcium
- Behavioural enrichment
SNAIL SIZE
Offer only appropriately sized snails.
A useful conservative guide is that the shell should be approximately:
the size of the gecko’s eye
for smaller prey items.
Avoid oversized snails that could be difficult to swallow.
NEVER USE UNSAFE WILD SNAILS
Do not casually collect garden snails.
Wild snails may carry:
- Pesticides
- Herbicides
- Parasites
- Environmental contaminants
Use:
captive-bred feeder snails from a safe source.
FEEDER VARIETY
Do not rely exclusively on crickets.
A broad feeder rotation improves:
- Nutrition
- Enrichment
- Feeding response
GUT LOADING
All feeder insects should be:
properly gut loaded.
Provide nutritious food and hydration for feeder insects before offering them.
CALCIUM AND SUPPLEMENTS
Dust feeders appropriately with:
- Calcium
- Appropriate reptile vitamins
Supplementation should be adjusted according to:
- UVB exposure
- Age
- Sex
- Reproductive status
- Diet
- Product formulation
REPRODUCTIVE FEMALES
Breeding females have particularly high calcium requirements.
Monitor females carefully for:
- Body condition
- Calcium reserves
- Weight loss
- Weakness
- Reduced grip
FEEDING JUVENILES
Juveniles can be offered appropriately sized prey approximately:
three times per week
with at least a day between substantial feeds.
Feed quantity depends upon prey size and the individual’s growth.
FEEDING ADULTS
Subadults and adults may generally be fed around:
2–4 times per week.
Frequency should be adjusted according to:
- Season
- Body condition
- Reproductive activity
- Individual appetite
COOL-SEASON FEEDING
During cooler seasonal periods, feeding may be reduced to around:
twice weekly
if activity and metabolism decline.
DO NOT OVERFEED
Overweight animals are not healthier animals.
Monitor:
- Weight
- Body shape
- Muscle condition
- Tail condition
- Activity
FEEDING TIME
Because the species is predominantly nocturnal, feeding in the:
late afternoon or around lights-out
is often most appropriate.
This encourages natural hunting behaviour.
FEEDING METHODS
Food can be:
- Released onto branches
- Cup-fed where appropriate
- Tong-fed for monitoring
Allowing live prey to disperse through the enclosure provides more exercise and behavioural enrichment.
Tong-feeding can be useful for confirming that new or young animals are eating.
REMOVE EXCESS PREY
Do not allow large numbers of hungry insects to remain loose indefinitely.
Remove excessive uneaten prey where necessary.
BODY CONDITION MONITORING
Weigh adults regularly.
Every:
3–6 months
is a useful routine interval for stable animals, with more frequent checks where health or reproduction requires it.
HANDLING
Handling should be:
minimal.
This is primarily a display species.
TRANSFERRING ANIMALS
When movement is necessary:
- Work in a secure room
- Move slowly
- Encourage the gecko onto a branch or hand
- Avoid squeezing
- Support the body
- Minimise restraint
TAIL SAFETY
Never restrain an animal by its tail.
Like other leaf-tailed geckos, tail damage or loss can occur.
SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR
In the wild, Uroplatus henkeli is fundamentally a solitary species.
However, compared with many geckos, captive individuals can sometimes show relatively low levels of aggression toward conspecifics.
INDIVIDUAL HOUSING
Individual housing remains:
the simplest and safest option for most private keepers.
It allows precise monitoring of:
- Feeding
- Faeces
- Weight
- Behaviour
- Health
PAIRS AND GROUPS
Compatible:
- Male/female pairs
- Female groups
- In some circumstances male groups
have been maintained successfully by experienced institutions and breeders.
This does not mean all animals will be compatible.
GROUP RISKS
Possible problems include:
- Dominance
- Food competition
- Suppression of smaller individuals
- Courtship stress
- Fighting
- Injuries
House animals of similar size and monitor closely.
MULTIPLE MALES
Males may display toward one another.
Behaviour can include:
- Gaping
- Vocalisation
- Threat displays
- Physical fighting
Separate animals immediately if injuries occur.
MIXED-SPECIES HOUSING
Mixed-species zoo exhibits have been used successfully.
However, mixed-species housing adds significant risks involving:
- Disease transmission
- Predation
- Competition
- Injury
- Stress
- Feeding difficulty
It is generally unnecessary and inappropriate for routine private husbandry.
SEXING
Adult males develop:
obvious hemipenal bulges
at the base of the tail.
Females lack comparable development.
Sexing young juveniles can be more difficult.
BREEDING AGE
Henkel’s Leaf-Tailed Geckos can reach sexual maturity around:
12–18 months
although chronological age alone should never determine breeding readiness.
BREEDING CONDITION
Animals should be bred only when:
- Fully developed
- Healthy
- Feeding reliably
- Well hydrated
- In excellent body condition
Females must have sufficient nutritional reserves before breeding.
FEMALE WEIGHT
Healthy breeding females may fall broadly within approximately:
70–115 g
but weight alone should not determine reproductive readiness.
Individual build, age, muscle condition, calcium reserves and health are equally important.
CALCIUM SACS
Females can develop visible calcium stores around the neck.
Well-developed calcium reserves can be a useful sign of reproductive condition.
However, they should not replace overall health assessment.
MATING
Courtship frequently occurs at night.
The male may:
- Approach the female
- Wave the tail
- Mount
- Position his tail beneath hers
Copulation can be prolonged.
SPERM STORAGE
Females are capable of:
storing viable sperm
and may produce multiple fertile clutches after a successful mating.
This should be remembered when separating previously paired females.
EGG PRODUCTION
Females generally produce:
two eggs per clutch.
EGG-LAYING SITE
Eggs are usually deposited:
on or slightly beneath the ground substrate.
Common sites include:
- Beneath leaf litter
- Lightly buried in soil
- Around plant bases
- Protected substrate depressions
LAYING SUBSTRATE
Provide:
slightly moist soil covered with leaf litter.
Avoid waterlogged substrate.
Females may reject overly wet nesting locations.
EGG SEARCHING
Check breeding enclosures carefully.
Eggs may be difficult to locate beneath dense leaf litter.
Allow a female to finish laying and leave the site before disturbing freshly laid eggs.
INCUBATION
Eggs can be incubated artificially or, under suitable conditions, may occasionally develop successfully within the adult enclosure.
Artificial incubation provides better control and makes hatchlings easier to locate.
INCUBATION TEMPERATURE
An incubation range approximately:
64–79°F (18–26°C)
with gradual daily fluctuation is highly suitable.
A daytime range around:
75–79°F (24–26°C)
with a nighttime drop to:
64–72°F (18–22°C)
is particularly appropriate.
CONSTANT INCUBATION TEMPERATURE
Constant temperatures around 24–26°C can produce successful hatching, but naturalistic nighttime cooling may improve results.
Avoid exposing eggs to temperatures outside the appropriate range for prolonged periods.
INCUBATION MEDIUM
A slightly moist incubation medium such as vermiculite may be used.
Avoid:
- Excess water
- Condensation dripping directly onto eggs
- Permanently saturated medium
EGG ORIENTATION
If moving eggs:
preserve their original orientation.
Do not repeatedly rotate developing eggs.
INCUBATION TIME
Incubation can take:
several months.
Duration depends heavily upon temperature fluctuations.
Do not attempt to accelerate incubation by excessive heating.
HATCHING
Two eggs from the same clutch may hatch:
several days apart.
Do not discard an apparently intact second egg simply because its clutchmate has hatched.
HATCHLING CARE
Healthy hatchlings should be moved into secure, appropriately sized arboreal accommodation after the first post-hatching period.
Provide:
- Fine branches
- Flat resting surfaces
- Dense foliage
- Appropriate ventilation
- Suitable humidity
- Fresh water
- UVB
- Thermal gradients
HATCHLING TEMPERATURE
Juveniles should generally have ambient daytime temperatures around:
73–77°F (23–25°C)
and nighttime temperatures around:
66–70°F (19–21°C).
HATCHLING WARM AREA
A carefully controlled warmer area can be provided, but the enclosure must never become uniformly hot.
Juveniles can be particularly vulnerable to overheating and dehydration.
HATCHLING FOOD
Provide small prey such as:
- Small crickets
- Small locusts
- Small roach nymphs
- Fruit flies where appropriate
- Other suitable tiny invertebrates
HATCHLING SUPPLEMENTATION
Appropriate supplementation is particularly important during rapid growth.
Review both:
- Supplement schedule
- UVB exposure
carefully.
QUARANTINE
All newly acquired animals should be quarantined.
A minimum around:
90 days
is a sensible general baseline.
Longer quarantine may be appropriate for:
- Imports
- Wild-caught animals
- Animals of unknown origin
- Animals with health concerns
QUARANTINE MONITORING
Record:
- Weight
- Appetite
- Faeces
- Hydration
- Shedding
- Behaviour
- Respiratory signs
PARASITES
Wild-caught and imported Uroplatus may carry substantial parasite burdens.
Veterinary faecal examination is particularly valuable for animals of uncertain origin.
Do not use antiparasitic drugs indiscriminately.
Diagnosis and dosing should be directed by an experienced reptile veterinarian.
COMMON HEALTH PROBLEMS
Potential health concerns include:
- Heat stress
- Dehydration
- Retained shed
- Nutritional deficiencies
- Metabolic bone disease
- Parasites
- Respiratory disease
- Skin infections
- Trauma
- Reproductive disease
- Egg retention
HEAT STRESS
Possible signs include:
- Restlessness
- Reduced appetite
- Persistent attempts to escape
- Weakness
- Rapid loss of condition
Check environmental temperatures immediately.
DEHYDRATION
Signs can include:
- Sunken eyes
- Wrinkled or curled tail
- Poor shedding
- Reduced activity
- Weakness
Evaluate:
- Humidity
- Misting
- Water access
- Temperature
- Ventilation
- Underlying illness
METABOLIC BONE DISEASE
Warning signs include:
- Tremors
- Weak grip
- Limb deformity
- Difficulty climbing
- Soft jaw
- Abnormal posture
Seek veterinary attention promptly.
EGG RETENTION
Potential warning signs include:
- Persistent digging
- Failure to lay
- Abdominal swelling
- Straining
- Weakness
- Tremors
- Reduced appetite
- Sudden behavioural change
Egg retention can become life-threatening.
Seek veterinary care promptly.
VETERINARY RED FLAGS
Veterinary assessment is appropriate for:
- Rapid weight loss
- Persistent anorexia
- Severe dehydration
- Repeated regurgitation
- Persistent diarrhoea
- Abnormal breathing
- Nasal discharge
- Oral discharge
- Severe retained shed
- Tremors
- Poor grip
- Neurological signs
- Significant wounds
- Prolapse
- Suspected egg retention
CLEANING
Spot-clean regularly.
Remove:
- Faeces
- Dead feeders
- Mouldy material
- Contaminated substrate
- Uneaten food
WATER HYGIENE
Clean and refill water bowls:
daily.
Misting-system reservoirs and tubing should also be cleaned routinely.
DISINFECTION
When deeper cleaning is necessary:
- Remove the gecko
- Follow disinfectant dilution instructions
- Observe correct contact time
- Rinse where necessary
- Allow surfaces to become safe before reintroducing the animal
Never mix chemical disinfectants.
SOURCING
Whenever possible, purchase a:
captive-bred Henkel’s Leaf-Tailed Gecko from a reputable breeder.
Ask for:
- Hatch date
- Sex
- Current weight
- Feeding history
- Supplementation
- UVB history
- Parent identities
- Captive-bred status
- Health history
WILD-CAUGHT ANIMALS
Historically, wild-caught Uroplatus henkeli have entered the pet trade.
Wild animals may arrive with:
- Parasites
- Dehydration
- Injury
- Chronic stress
- Poor body condition
Captive-bred animals offer significantly better traceability and reduce pressure on wild populations.
CONSERVATION
Uroplatus henkeli is entirely dependent upon Madagascar’s forest ecosystems.
Major concerns for Uroplatus populations include:
- Habitat destruction
- Logging
- Agricultural expansion
- Fragmentation
- Collection for trade
Responsible captive breeding can reduce dependence upon wild collection.
CITES
The genus Uroplatus is included in:
CITES Appendix II.
International trade is therefore regulated.
Appropriate documentation may be required when importing or exporting animals.
DOCUMENTATION
Keep:
- Purchase receipts
- Breeder records
- CITES documentation where applicable
- Import/export paperwork
- Veterinary records
LEGAL CONSIDERATIONS
Before obtaining an animal, check current legislation governing:
- Ownership
- Sale
- Breeding
- Transport
- Import
- Export
Laws can differ substantially between jurisdictions.
NEVER RELEASE CAPTIVE GECKOS
Never release captive reptiles into the wild.
Released animals may:
- Die
- Spread disease
- Compete with native wildlife
- Establish invasive populations
Arrange responsible rehoming where necessary.
COMMON HUSBANDRY MISTAKES
Common mistakes include:
- Keeping the enclosure permanently above 27°C
- Providing no nighttime cooling
- Using excessively powerful heating
- Using uncontrolled heat sources
- Providing inadequate enclosure height
- Leaving the enclosure sparsely furnished
- Providing too few flat resting surfaces
- Poor ventilation
- Keeping the enclosure permanently wet
- Allowing chronic dehydration
- Providing no permanent water bowl
- Providing no UVB
- Using excessive UV exposure without shade
- Failing to measure UVI
- Feeding only crickets
- Poor gut loading
- Incorrect supplementation
- Ignoring the value of dietary variety
- Feeding unsafe wild-collected snails
- Overfeeding adults
- Excessive handling
- Keeping incompatible animals together
- Ignoring subordinate animals in groups
- Breeding underweight females
- Keeping laying substrate too wet
- Incubating eggs too hot
- Failing to quarantine new animals
RESPONSIBLE OWNERSHIP
Before obtaining Henkel’s Leaf-Tailed Gecko, ensure you can provide:
- A large vertically orientated enclosure
- Numerous flat and vertical resting surfaces
- Dense vegetation
- Excellent ventilation
- Moderate daytime temperatures
- Significant nighttime cooling
- Reliable protection against overheating
- Fluctuating high humidity
- Regular misting
- Fresh drinking water
- Appropriate UVB
- A varied invertebrate diet
- Gut-loaded prey
- Correct supplementation
- Minimal handling
- Quarantine
- Veterinary care
- Long-term commitment
SUMMARY
Henkel’s Leaf-Tailed Gecko (Uroplatus henkeli) is a large Madagascan arboreal gecko requiring precise environmental management.
For an adult pair, provide at least approximately:
60 × 60 × 100 cm (24 × 24 × 40 in)
with larger housing encouraged.
Fill the enclosure with:
- Vertical trunks
- Cork flats
- Branches
- Broad leaves
- Dense vegetation
- Multiple shaded resting positions
Maintain daytime temperatures around:
72–79°F (22–26°C).
Avoid prolonged temperatures above approximately:
81°F (27°C).
Provide a significant nighttime reduction to approximately:
63–70°F (17–21°C).
Humidity should fluctuate rather than remain constant, commonly dropping toward approximately:
60% during drier daytime periods
and rising toward:
80% or more after misting and overnight.
Good ventilation is essential.
Provide a UV gradient of approximately:
UVI 0–3
with abundant shaded retreats.
Feed a varied diet of appropriately sized, gut-loaded and correctly supplemented invertebrates.
Captive-bred feeder snails may be particularly useful for reproductive females.
Fresh water must always be available.
Individual housing is simplest, although compatible pairs and groups can be maintained by experienced keepers with adequate space and careful monitoring.
Captive-bred animals should be strongly preferred.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION:
This care sheet provides general husbandry guidance and does not replace species-specific research or veterinary advice. Individual requirements may vary.
Always check current legislation governing the acquisition, collection, import, transport, keeping, breeding or sale of reptiles in your jurisdiction.
If you have concerns about an animal’s health or care, consult a suitably experienced exotic or reptile veterinarian.
Information correct at the date of publication.
reptilecommunity.com | Revised: August 2026