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African Fat-Tailed Gecko
Hemitheconyx caudicinctus
The leopard gecko's chunkier, more laid-back cousin — same easy care but with higher humidity needs.
7–9 in15–20 years
Habitat
Enclosure
20 gal long (30×12×12 in) minimum for one adult
Temperature
Hot hide 88–92°F · cool end 75–80°F
Humidity / Water
40–50% ambient · humid hide at 70%+
Heating & lighting
Under-tank heat mat or deep heat projector on a thermostat covering a third of the floor, plus a humid hide kept moist. Low-output UVB is beneficial.
Diet
Feed these
- Crickets
- Dubia roaches
- Mealworms
- Black soldier fly larvae
Never feed
- Wild-caught insects
- Prey wider than the space between their eyes
- Fruit and vegetables — they can't digest them
- Waxworms as a staple (too fatty)
Feed adults every 2–3 days and dust every insect with calcium + D3. A humid hide is essential — they shed poorly when kept dry.
Cohabitation
Can live with
No one — house this species alone.
Never house with
Other fat-tailed geckos — males fight Any different species
Safest kept alone, just like leopard geckos. Two housed together usually leads to bites and lost tails.
