Barking Geckos (Underwoodisaurus milli) also sometimes called “thick tailed geckos” are a small, charming gecko species, native to Southern Australia. They are hardy and easy to care for and they make an excellent starter reptile species. They get their name from the chirping noise they make when alarmed, but this is rare to hear as they are a very laid back species.

They inhabit rocky outcrops and shelter in amongst the rocks or down burrows during the day, venturing out at night to hunt. They are more cold tolerant than many other Australian gecko species and can take significant night time drops in temperature and seasonal changes in winter. Interestingly they have been shown to often live in groups occupying the same burrow or refuge as one another. It is thought that this may be influenced by cold temperatures as a group of sheltering geckos can retain heat better in cold weather than a single individual. This doesn’t necessarily mean that they live in social groups requiring you to always keep multiples in the same enclosure, but it does mean that they are normally very tolerant of each other when housed together.

They are strictly insectivorous and will thrive on a mixed diet of crickets, locusts, small cockroaches and occasional worms. They need an arid environment but with an area of localised humidity (humid hide) at the cool end.

Barking geckos are a great alternative to leopard geckos for those who may be looking for a smaller terrestrial species with relatively straight forward care requirements. They are a handleable species well suited to beginner keepers.

Like most of the animals we sell, these are all bred here in store.