Knob-Tailed Gecko

This page is educational reference material for preparing questions. A licensed veterinarian examines the animal, makes the diagnosis, and sets the treatment.

A big head and a tiny tail

Knob-tailed geckos are Nephrurus, a genus of Australian geckos with a short, knobbed tail they use in displays. Adults of the common pets are about 4 to 5 inches. They often live 10 to 15 years, care is intermediate, and they are calm and shy. They are nocturnal. A red light left on all night is not the right way to watch them. A dim room at dusk is enough.

They want a dry tank, a warm spot, and a cooler end, with deep substrate some species will dig. Humidity that stays high is the wrong climate. A moist hide can be offered at shed time. Insects, calcium, and a dish of water they might ignore are the feeding plan. Many drink from a light mist on the cage wall even though the air stays dry. Species differ. A barking knob-tail and a smooth knob-tail should not share one careless setup.

Captive-bred Australians

Australia does not export these for the pet trade. Legal animals are captive-bred. A wild-caught adult is a welfare and a paperwork problem. They can be food-aggressive for their size. Tong-feed or cup-feed so a strike hits the cricket. The tail knob waves when they are annoyed. Give them a minute instead of picking them up anyway.

Stuck sheds on the toes are the common injury. A swollen toe needs attention before it is lost. Reptile vets are at ARAV.

Knob-tailed gecko questions

Which knob-tailed gecko is the pet?

Several Nephrurus species are kept, including rough, smooth, and barking knob-tails. Adult size and how dry the tank should be vary. Ask for the species, not only the tail shape.

Do they bark?

Some species do, especially barking knob-tails. The sound is a defense. It is startling and normal.

Are they good for handling?

They are calm and shy. Brief handling of a captive-bred adult can be fine. They are still a lizard you can drop, and a fall injures them.