Henkel’s leaf tailed gecko (Uroplatus henkeli) is one of the larger leaf tailed gecko species native to Northern Madagascar and some of the larger offshore islands like Nosy Be. The larger leaf tailed gecko species tend to imitate tree bark rather than the leaves themselves. Often spending their days in a head down position pressed flat against the bark of smooth trees. Their dermal fringes (frilly bits along their flanks and face) help them to blend in perfectly without casting a shadow making them almost impossible to see during daytime hours in the wild. They become active shortly after dusk where they will stealthily patrol through the forest looking for their prey of insects, slow methodical movements and graceful jumps between branches typify their activity. They often adopt a top down attack approach and will pounce from above onto unsuspecting prey.

The lowland forests in Northern Madagascar where they live are one of the warmer environments that leaf tailed geckos are found in the wild as many of the other leaf tailed gecko species are from cooler montane environments. Due to their lower elevation habitat, they are one of the hardiest of all Leaf tailed geckos as they can tolerate a wider range of temperatures even up to the low 30c’s for short periods.

Different populations of Henkels leaf tailed gecko can have differences in their markings. Some of the populations from further north can show marked sexual dimorphism between the males and females. In these populations the males have uniform mottled markings while the females have large patches of white across the shoulders and on their back which perfectly matches the lichen growing on the trees in the wild. These individuals are often more desirable and are referred to as being “piebald or pied females”. The lines of Henkels leaf tailed gecko that we breed from here are of this “Pied female” locality.

Their otherworldly appearance Leaf tailed geckos makes them one of the most sought after families of gecko in the hobby and the demand always outstrips supply. These Henkels leaf tailed geckos are bred right here in store. Leaf tailed geckos are not for beginners, they are delicate by nature and although not aggressive, regular handling is likely to stress individuals to their detriment. They will thrive if left undisturbed in a large live planted naturalistic enclosure filled with plants like Dracaena surculosa which is very similar to the types of plants in their native habitat. They prefer smooth barked branches in their enclosure of 1-3in diameter vertically orientated, they will not sit on rough bark like cork. We have extensive experience with this species both in captivity and in the wild and will be happy to provide a wealth of advice to serious enquiries but please research the needs of this species before attempting to purchase as they need dedicated keepers to help boost their numbers in the hobby. These individuals are unrelated to each other and our adults originate from mixed EU bloodlines.

You can also check out some of our Tik Tok Videos about them here, here or here