Large Gecko Species

Whitney Lowell / Featured Articles, Species Spotlight / / December 7, 2010

Leachies: the Big Geckos

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It seems that more and more people are falling in love with the gentle giant gecko, known as a “leachie” (Rhacodactylus leachianus). Now, leachianus geckos were never my favorite gecko, as they were always way too expensive for me to purchase for my collection, but lately, I’ve really gotten into these guys.

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I fought it off for months, but for those months, I tortured myself, browsing the many threads on various reptile forums that had pictures of these giant geckos. I read stories and watched YouTube videos about how these geckos behaved, and I just couldn’t get over the green base and white and pink blotches that cover their bodies. Plus, they’re big!

I broke down and bought my first leachie, which is a Nuu Ana x Isle E mix, and within a few weeks I had purchased a pure Nuu Anna. Now a few months into my leachianus gecko collection, I have 5!

What attracts me to these geckos? Well, it’s simple. They are docile, calm, and big. For many people, the size is not a good thing, but as long as you have the space, these guys are awesome geckos to add to any reptile collection.

Care

Size: Up to 12″ including the tail and up to about 400 grams, depending on the locale
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Lifespan: Thought to be between 20-30 years.

Housing: These geckos are very territorial so they are best when housed individually, whether you have a male and a female or two females, and definitely don’t try to house two males together, as it may end in a catastrophe.

Since these geckos can get rather large, you want to be prepared for a larger enclosure. Some keepers may recommend an 18”Lx18”Wx18”T for the leachies from smaller locales, like the Nuu Ana, but a Grand Terre locale leachie will be a little cramped and will prefer an enclosure that’s at least a 24”Lx12”Wx16”T.