[Kevin McRae]

Hey guys, it's been over a year since I've been on the forum. I used to have over sixty geckos but over the past couple years I've been reduced to three! It's sad not to have all of the wonderful gecko species I once had but at the same time it's less stressful and much more enjoyable. Anyways, I was browsing the classified ads in my city and someone was selling two female Isle E leachies, I talked to the man and he seemed desperate and I got an amazing deal. I've always wanted one as a pet only so I only purchased one female. This was back in May. She's doing great although it took her about a month to start eating regularly. Unfortunately I was away all summer doing snake research so my friend was caring for her.

I've got her in a 18x18x24 exo with 5" of peat/soil/leaf litter. A large snake plant and a few African violets. She used to always hide in the snake plant (just like my Phelsuma and G. marginata used to do) but now she's always behind the exo background (it's going bye bye soon). Here are my questions.

Will leachies use hollow corkbark or bamboo hides?
I've never had a large gecko use branches/limbs. Do leachies?
Now, I love natural vivs but will a leachie destroy it?
My 18x18x24 exo seems kinda cramped for her, are they big enough for adult leachies? Should I get something larger?
When I first got her the seller was handling her, she didn't seem to mind. Can they be handled occasionally...like a crestie for example?

Sorry for the long post! I plan to take a bunch of photos when I redo her enclosure.

[Sporonicle]

Hey, they will use and love cork bark. For naturalistic vivs, if you give them enough places to climb it should be fine as long as the plants can stand some abuse. As for the enclosure size, if you feel it is too cramped for her, you can get her a larger enclosure, but as henkeli tend to be smaller, it should be fine. From what I hear about handling, they can be handled every now and then and although they will be angry when you are in their enclosure once you get them out they are quite friendly.

[Rob D'heu]

Will leachies use hollow corkbark or bamboo hides?
I've never had a large gecko use branches/limbs. Do leachies?
Now, I love natural vivs but will a leachie destroy it?
My 18x18x24 exo seems kinda cramped for her, are they big enough for adult leachies? Should I get something larger?
When I first got her the seller was handling her, she didn't seem to mind. Can they be handled occasionally...like a crestie for example?

The really apreciate a piece of hollow corkbark as in nature they also hide in treehollows . I use real plants with my animals if you take strong sturdy plant it will be fine other plants will be destroyed for sure .
My animals are always found on their branches(logs) when they have a nice size(mine are an arm thick) .
If you feel it is cramped move her to a bigger enclosure , the bigger the better . My pair is in 90x80x170cm (length x width x height) and they use every cm of it .
Handling depends from animal to animal , I've had animals who where very calm and other ones who where very defensive . I only handle my animals when necessary .
Here is a picture of my setup :