NOVEL FAUNA

Rhacodactylus leachianus · Diplodactylidae

Leachianus Gecko

The New Caledonian giant gecko. A heavy-bodied, bark-patterned, surprisingly vocal lizard, and the largest gecko species alive today.

Group
Lizards
Difficulty
Intermediate
Adult size
8–17 in (20–43 cm), depending on locality
Lifespan
15–20+ years

Evidence CExpert consensus or hobby source (lowest grade of its care-critical sections) · Reviewed 2026-10-24 by Novel Fauna · Evidence graded 2026-10-25

Overview

Evidence C
  • Only expert, clinic or hobby sources

"Leachies" are the largest geckos in the world, with stout bodies, big heads and thick legs 2. They are intelligent, long-lived and surprisingly vocal: some bark or growl when startled 1. Tree of Life Exotic Pet Medical Center recommends them for intermediate to advanced keepers who can manage steady temperature, humidity and diet, and a large vertical enclosure 1. Expect fifteen to twenty years or more 12.

Natural history

Evidence B

Leachies live in the humid forests of New Caledonia in the South Pacific and spend their lives in trees 13. Size depends heavily on locality 12:

  • Small-island forms (R. l. henkeli, from the Isle of Pines and nearby islets) are the smallest, around 8 inches.
  • Grande Terre (mainland) forms (R. l. leachianus) are larger. The Poindimié type reaches about 15 inches.

Keepers track these localities carefully 2.

Enclosure

Evidence C
  • Only expert, clinic or hobby sources
  • Size. At least 24 × 18 × 36 inches (W × D × H) for an adult. Up to 4 feet tall is strongly recommended 1. CEX gives 18 × 18 × 24 inches as a minimum for most subspecies 2.
  • Vertical. Leachies spend most of their time climbing, so height matters more than floor space 1.
  • Cover. Live or artificial plants, cork and vines for cover and humidity 12.
  • Alone. Do not house leachies together except for breeding 12.

Temperature & lighting

Evidence C
  • Only expert, clinic or hobby sources
Target
Daytime75–82°F 1
Night70–75°F (an occasional dip to 68°F is fine) 1
Neverbelow 65°F or above 85°F 2

Leachies are nocturnal, but low-level UVB (a 2–5% tube) for 10 to 12 hours a day still helps vitamin D3 production and bone health 1.

Humidity

Evidence C
  • Rests on a single source
  • Only expert, clinic or hobby sources

Keep 60 to 80% humidity by day, with a nightly rise toward 90% 1. Mist heavily at night and lightly in the morning, and give a shallow water dish 1. Keep good ventilation so the air does not go stale and damp 1. Leachies often lap droplets off leaves and glass 1.

Substrate

Evidence C
  • Rests on a single source
  • Only expert, clinic or hobby sources

Use a moisture-holding substrate such as coconut fiber, a soil mix or a bioactive setup 1.

Diet & supplementation

Evidence C
  • Only expert, clinic or hobby sources

In the wild, leachies eat fruit, nectar, insects and the occasional small vertebrate 1.

  • Staple. A complete powdered diet made for New Caledonian geckos 12.
  • Insects. Gut-loaded, calcium-dusted crickets, roaches or black soldier fly larvae once or twice a week 1.
  • Treats. Occasional mashed banana, mango or papaya 1.
  • How often. Juveniles every other day, adults 3–4 times a week. Remove leftovers within 24 hours 1.
  • Supplements. Most commercial diets are complete. If you feed many insects, dust them as your vet advises 1.

Handling & temperament

Evidence B

Personalities vary: some are shy, others curious 1. Start with short, gentle sessions, support the body with both hands and never grab the tail 1. Many become calm with routine handling over time 1. Handle over a solid surface 2. Wash your hands afterwards, as reptiles can carry Salmonella 5.

Health

Evidence C
  • Only expert, clinic or hobby sources

Common issues 1

  • Dehydration (wrinkled skin, lethargy) when humidity or misting is inconsistent.
  • Shedding problems, especially on the toes.
  • Obesity from overfeeding commercial diets.
  • Metabolic bone disease without enough calcium and UVB.
  • Stress and aggression in small or brightly lit enclosures, or with cage-mates.

When to see a vet

See an exotic-animal vet for poor appetite, weakness, breathing problems or swollen limbs 16. An annual wellness exam is recommended 1.

Breeding overview

Evidence B

Leachies lay eggs 3. Pair them only for breeding. Because size, color and pattern differ by locality, we recommend pairing animals of the same locality and labeling the offspring 2.

Sources

  1. New Caledonian Giant Gecko Care · Tree of Life Exotic Pet Medical Center
  2. Geckos of New Caledonia · Chicago Exotics Animal Hospital
  3. Rhacodactylus leachianus · The Reptile Database
  4. CITES listing: Rhacodactylus leachianus · Species+ (UNEP-WCMC and CITES Secretariat)
  5. Salmonella, Feeder Rodents, and Pet Reptiles and Amphibians · U.S. Food and Drug Administration
  6. When Should My Reptile See a Veterinarian? · Tree of Life Exotic Pet Medical Center

Last reviewed 2026-10-24 by Novel Fauna. This guide is general husbandry information, not veterinary advice. When an animal is sick, see a veterinarian experienced with exotic animals.

Revision history

  1. WIP: library guides (lizards) 478b100

Evidence grades: Novel Fauna editorial: source classification, not yet expert-reviewed, 2026-10-25. What the grades mean.

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