Lined leaf-tailed gecko · Uroplatus lineatus
Lined leaf-tailed gecko, up close.
Long dark stripes run from the narrow head to the blade-like tail of the lined leaf-tailed gecko.
This is the slender trunk specialist of the leaf-tail family.
See what they needBefore you decide
Could a lined leaf-tailed gecko thrive in your home?
Picture the full-grown animal, the permanent enclosure, and the ordinary care you would still be happy to give years from now.
The honest fit
Would their everyday rhythm suit you?
Think about an ordinary week, including the days when you are tired, busy, or away from home.
Life together may suit you if…
- You love the look of living bamboo grain
- You can build a tall pole-filled habitat
- You can keep nights cool and humid
- You will buy captive-bred with CITES records
Pause if…
- Your enclosure is mostly thin vines
- You want regular handling
- Your room stays warm overnight
- Identity or paperwork is uncertain
A comfortable home
Build the home around their choices.
Build a tall ventilated forest around smooth bamboo-like poles and broad trunks in several diameters, with secure cross-routes, dense shade, soft planted landings, drainage, gentle guarded warmth, low measured UVB, and safe service doors.
Measure where the animal actually rests
A real retreat from the warm side
Use a digital hygrometer and watch ventilation
Build light and shade as a gradient
The rhythm
What an ordinary week asks of you.
Let the stripes disappear
Check temperatures, UVB, humidity curve, airflow, eyes, toes, tail, skin, weight, drains, and doors.
Feed along the grain
Offer measured prey at several poles and confirm the gecko is hunting without competition.
Keep every pole secure
Clean in sections, flush drainage, test vertical supports, clear vents, and review night temperatures.
Care with tenderness
Learn what is normal for your lined leaf-tailed gecko.
Bamboo is useful habitat
Offer smooth vertical surfaces wide enough for the gecko to flatten against, not just decorative vines.
Do not peel from a trunk
Present a tube and let the feet release one by one; skin and toes are easily injured.
Keep legal records
Uroplatus are CITES Appendix II. Exact species identity and lawful captive origin matter.
Call for warning signs
Sunken eyes, weak grip, skin damage, breathing changes, weight loss, or appetite change need a reptile veterinarian.
Good to know
Common questions, answered.
Open any question for a short, practical answer.
Life together
Could a lined leaf-tailed gecko suit a first-time keeper?
Maybe. Picture the full-grown animal and the care that fills an ordinary week. Would you still enjoy that life years from now?
How large do lined leaf-tailed geckos get?
Usually 25–30 cm (10–12 in)
How long do lined leaf-tailed geckos live?
Often 10–15 years. Individual lifespan varies, so plan around the longer end.
When are lined leaf-tailed geckos active?
A nocturnal trunk specialist and ambush insect hunter
Do lined leaf-tailed geckos enjoy handling?
Fragile display gecko; use cork or bamboo tubes for transfers. Watch the animal's posture and movement, support the whole body, and stop before calm turns into endurance.
Can two lined leaf-tailed geckos live together?
House alone
What do lined leaf-tailed geckos eat?
Varied appropriately sized live invertebrates
How large should a lined leaf-tailed gecko's enclosure be?
Start with at least 60 × 60 × 90 cm for one adult. More usable room is valuable when it creates better gradients, cover, and movement choices.
Home and health
What temperatures does a lined leaf-tailed gecko need?
Provide a gentle upper zone around 25–28°C (77–82°F), with shaded lower trunks around 20–23°C (68–73°F). Measure both where the animal actually spends time and control every heater appropriately.
Does a lined leaf-tailed gecko need UVB?
The reviewed plan calls for measured low UVB across upper trunks, with complete shade. Fixture, reflector, mesh, distance, lamp age, and shade all change what reaches the animal.
What humidity does a lined leaf-tailed gecko need?
About 60–75% by day and 75–85% at night, with strong airflow. Check it with a digital hygrometer. Keep fresh air moving through the enclosure, and let the animal choose between damp shelter and dry ground.
What should be inside the enclosure?
Build a tall ventilated forest around smooth bamboo-like poles and broad trunks in several diameters, with secure cross-routes, dense shade, soft planted landings, drainage, gentle guarded warmth, low measured UVB, and safe service doors.
What substrate works for a lined leaf-tailed gecko?
Drained forest soil and leaf litter beneath soft planted landing areas
What does ordinary cleaning involve?
Remove waste, dead prey, and shed promptly; inspect eyes, toes, tail, skin, weight, poles, drains, airflow, and seals.
What should I arrange before bringing a lined leaf-tailed gecko home?
Build and test the complete adult habitat, verify the readings over several days, identify a reptile veterinarian, check local and rental rules, and choose a responsible captive source or rescue.
Can a healthy-looking lined leaf-tailed gecko carry Salmonella?
Yes. Reptiles can carry Salmonella without looking ill, so handwashing and keeping habitat water, food, and cleaning equipment away from kitchens are part of ordinary care.
Still thinking about lined leaf-tailed geckos?
Put this animal beside the others on your shortlist. Then build and test the complete adult habitat before anyone comes home.
Compare reptilesSources and care boundaries
Exact targets depend on the measured location, equipment, animal, and veterinary context. This profile keeps source disagreements visible instead of blending them into one number.