| These
exciting, nocturnal geckos of Madagascar's primary forests are one of
the most bizarre animals on earth. They are very cryptic-looking often
totally camouflaged in their natural habitats. The local, native
Malagasy people refer to these animals as "taha-fisaka" or
devils. While they may look evil, these geckos are totally harmless.
With the exception of the largest gecko of the genus, U. fimbriatus,
they have small teeth and weak jaws and can not inflict a serious bite.
They smaller species rarely even gape with their mouths. While they have delicate
bodies and can be a little "jumpy" when first handled,
they can be handled occasionally with good care. They require frequent
mistings to keep cages humid (1-2 times daily) and you can feed them
every other day, so they are not high maintenance reptiles like
chameleons and species like U. ebenaui and U. phantasticus
can be keep in 5 gallon tanks (a pair or trio). Large species such as U.
fimbriatus will need taller, more spaceous tanks like a 20 to 40
gallon. Tanks should be well-ventilated. Recommended beddings should be
spagnum moss, peat moss or potting soil. A small, shallow and wide water
dish should be provided and changed one to two times a week. Prey food
should be crickets, meal worms, wax worms, snails, roaches and large,
flying moths for the larger Uroplatus species.
These amazing geckos are totally fascinating with their
incredible, natural body camouflage and colors, plus their unique
behaviors make them an excellent herp to have in your collection. We
highly recommend the Uroplatus geckos of Madagascar.
| COMMON
NAME |
SCIENTIFIC
NAME |
MAX.
SIZE/DESCRIPTION |
BASIC
CARE |
PHOTO |
| SPEAR-TAIL
GECKO |
Uroplatus
ebenaui |
4"
(75 mm), the smallest Uroplatus, very similar-looking to U.
phantasticus, but the tail is shorter, more serrated and
arrowed-headed, colors of tan, yellow and orangeish-brown |
70F-78F,
80 %, low-lying, almost ground dwellers needing cool, humid
habitat, need heavy foliage and cork bark. Feed small insects. |
 |
| SATANIC
LEAF-TAIL GECKO |
Uroplatus
phantasticus |
4"-6"
(100 mm), one of the most popular Uroplatus, colors of
purple, orange, tan, brown, remarkably leaf-like in appearance,
neat, points/horns above the eyes. |
70F-78F,
80 %, low-lying, almost ground dwellers needing cool, humid
habitat, need heavy foliage and cork bark. Feed small insects. |
 |
| MOSSY
LEAF-TAIL GECKO |
Uroplatus
sikorae |
7"-8",
(150mm), most camouflaged of the Uroplatus in mossy, lichen
greens, tans and greys, "fringes" under their mouths and
along their body allow them to have no shadow. A sub-species, U.
s. sameiti exists, but is rarely exported. It has a
colorless inside to its mouth. U. sikorae has a black color
in its mouth lining. |
70F-80F,
80%, arboreal, cool, humid habitat, need arm-thick branches, cork
bark & deep foliage should be provided. Feed medium to large
insects. |
 |
| LINED
LEAF-TAIL GECKO |
Uroplatus
lineatus |
9"-10.5"
(270 mm), most slender, stick-like of the Uroplatus with
dark, dorsally running stripes. Colors of yellow, tan and orange.
Found mainly in bamboo forests. Large, flattened tails. |
70F-80F,
80%, arboreal, cool, humid habitat, cork bark & bamboo poles
of various diameters should be used, foliage should be provided
too. Feed medium to large insects. |
 |
| FRILLED
LEAF-TAIL GECKO |
Uroplatus
henkeli |
9"-10
3/4" (280 mm), similar to U. fimbriatus, but is
slightly shorter, has larger skin flaps on the body & the eye
color is pink/tan w/ small red spots. Males are yellowish-brown
with large brown spots & chevrons. Females are dark speckled
w/ beige-grey body color. |
70F-80F,
80%, arboreal, cool, humid habitat, cork bark and heavy foliage
should be provided. Feed medium to large insects. |
 |
| GIANT
LEAF-TAIL GECKO |
Uroplatus
fimbriatus |
12"
(300-330 mm), largest Uroplatus. also has the most teeth of
any living reptile. Differs in eye coloration from U. henkeli by
having red, concentric striations around the pupil with a
background color of silver, tan or gold giving it a
"marbled" look. Body color is brownish-grey. Long snout.
Impressive threat display and emits a loud distress call. |
70F-85F,
80%, arboreal, cool, humid habitat, cork bark and heavy foliage
should be provided. Feed medium to large insects. |
 |
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