African Fat-tailed Gecko - Hemitheconyx caudicinctus
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African
Fat-tailed Gecko - Hemitheconyx caudicinctus
[Back to
Lizard Care Sheets]
General Information
Distribution — West Africa from Senegal to North Africa
Habitat — Fat-tailed Geckos inhabit dry environments including dry forest, savannah, and rocky mountain slopes.
Adult Size — An average adult Fat-tailed Gecko is usually between 20 and 25 cm (8 - 10 inches) total length. Hatchlings have a total length of 7 cm (3 inches) and grow to adult size in approximately one and a half years.
Temperament — Young Fat-tailed Geckos - like most small animals - are highly sensitive to potential threats. They will typically try and escape whenever they an attempt is made to pick them up. However, despite this initial sensitivity, these animals are actually very easy to handle and adults are typically very docile.
Longevity — Fat-tailed geckos typically live for 15 to 20 years in captivity.
Captive Care
Rating: 2 — Due to this animals good nature, feeding habits, and adult size it receives a better rating than most. Watch out for wild caught specimens - this species is easy to breed but eggs are difficult to hatch; therefore, many wild caught animals are still being imported. A domestically bred Fat-tailed Gecko makes an ideal starter lizard.
Diet: Hatchlings and Juveniles - crickets, meal worms, wax worms, and other insects; Adults - crickets, meal worms, wax worms, and the occasional pink mouse.
Temperature: 28o to 32 o C (86o-94oF) during the day and 20o to 22oC (69o-74oF) at night.
Required Space: Adult Fat-tailed Gecko can be housed a 10-15 gallon terrarium. As a matter of fact, a breeding group of two females and one male can be housed in a 15-20 gallon terrarium.
Breeding: Fat-tailed Geckos are relatively easy to breed in captivity. These animals seem to require a cooling period and a reduction in the day length but this is not necessary to induce breeding. Fat-tailed Geckos can be considered sexually mature as early as 16 months of age and some may breed at younger ages; however, it is recommended that the animals be at least 18 months before breeding occurs to allow for proper growth. Breeding occurs from January through to March and clutches of two eggs are produced. It is essential to have a moist area for the female to deposit the eggs to ensure their survival. Eggs should be removed and placed in an incubator. Although breeding is easy, incubation poses some difficulties. Even with seemingly perfect conditions a hatch rate of 60% is excellent.
Special Requirements: This species is docile, eats readily, and is long lived which makes it a hardy animal ideally suited for beginners.; however, hatchlings should be left for about a month without any handling to make sure they get on a good feeding schedule. Most people make the mistake of handling their animal too soon and they end up with a very stressed lizard that refuses to eat. For the first few months, the contact you should have with your lizard should be for feeding, cleaning, and changing water only.
Sources (Suggested Reading):
de Vosjoli, Philip. 1990. The General Care and Maintenance of Fat-tailed Geckos and African Fat-tailed Geckos. Advanced Vivarium Systems, Lakeside, California. Pp. 36.
Bartlett, R.D. and P. Bartlett. 1997. Lizard Care from A to Z. Barron’s Educational Series Inc., New York. Pp. 178.
Henkel, Friedrich-Wilhelm and Wolfgang Schmidt. 1995. Geckos: Biology, Husbandry, and Reproduction. Krieger Publishing Company, Malabar, Florida. Pp. 237.
Rogner, Manfred. 1997. Lizards, Volume 1. Krieger Publishing Company, Malabar, Florida. Pp. 317.
Seufer, Hermann. 1991. Keeping and Breeding Geckos. T.F.H. Publications, Neptune, New Jersey. Pp. 189