Henkel’s Leaf Tail Gecko

Common Name: Henkel’s Leaf-Tailed Gecko
Scientific Name: Uroplatus henkeli
Source: CB24

Adult Size: Typically 25-30 cm total length
Native Range: Northern Madagascar

Enclosure: Tall, well-ventilated arboreal terrarium; minimum 60 × 45 × 90 cm for an adult with vertical branches and cork
Heating: Ambient 22-26 °C / Localised basking 28-30 °C / Night drop 18-22 °C

Humidity: High 60-80 % with strong airflow; regular misting with enclosure drying between cycles

UVB: Low-level UVB

Diet: Insects (crickets, roaches, locusts); juveniles fed daily, adults 3 times weekly

Water: Regular misting for drinking; shallow water dish may be provided

ABOUT THIS SPECIES

Henkel’s Leaf-Tailed Gecko is one of the larger members of the Uroplatus genus, renowned for its exceptional camouflage. The flattened body, fringed skin edges and broad, leaf-shaped tail allow it to blend seamlessly against tree bark. Colouration ranges from mottled greys and browns to warmer earthy tones, often shifting subtly with light and environment.

Native to the dry and transitional forests of northern Madagascar, this species is strictly arboreal, spending daylight hours pressed flat against vertical trunks. It is nocturnal, emerging after dark to hunt insects among branches. A vertically oriented enclosure with ample climbing surfaces and consistent humidity supports natural resting and hunting behaviour. Good airflow is essential to balance the higher humidity typical of this forest species.