The African Fat-Tailed Gecko (Hemitheconyx caudicinctus) is a terrestrial gecko species native to West Africa. It's characterized by its stout body and thickened, fat-storing tail. Fat-tailed Geckos are one of the most popular reptile pets today. They are often described as the more exotic cousin to the Leopard Gecko.
These geckos are known for their docile temperament, making them a solid choice for beginner reptile keepers and experienced hobbyists alike.
The African Fat-tailed gecko is from the subfamily Eublepharinae. This subfamily has visibly different characteristics from other geckos. They have true eyelids, unlike so-called "true" gecko species (gekkoninae). This family contains primarily terrestrial geckos that share such characteristics as well developed and fully functioning eyelids, and toes without expanded toe tips.
Physical Characteristics
The African Fat-tailed Gecko is defined not only by its scientific name but also by its physical form. The African Fat-Tailed Gecko has a robust, somewhat squat body, well-suited to its terrestrial existence.
Normal coloring is brown and tan/beige stripes, with a possible thin white stripe along the length of the back. A thin white or light stripe often runs along the dorsal midline, and the ventral surfaces are pale pink or off-white. Their striking bands of light caramel and deep chocolate brown provide built-in camouflage, and many feature a bold white dorsal stripe running from head to tail. The gecko’s skin is comprised of small scales that feel smooth to the touch, offering both protection and a low-friction surface for burrowing.
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Broad Head and Large Eyes: The head is broad and flattened, triangular in shape, which aids burrowing. Their large eyes are golden or brown and equipped with vertical slit pupils for enhanced night vision, a crucial adaptation for a nocturnal predator.
Short, Sturdy Limbs: They have four short, sturdy limbs, each with five clawed toes. These claws are used for digging and gripping the substrate.
Thick, Bulbous Tail: The tail is the most distinctive feature, being short, thick, and bulbous. Is their bulbous "fat" tails, which could be used as a defense mechanism to confuse predators in the wild. Its primary purpose is to store fat reserves, a vital adaptation for survival during periods of food scarcity in arid climates.
They are also able to regenerate their tails, however it will not resemble the original tail. The tail later regenerates within a few weeks. If the tail is lost, the new tail will have a more rounded shape, similar to the head. It may not match the body coloration and pattern of the gecko.
Size and Sexual Dimorphism
The African Fat-tailed gecko is typically around 7-8 inches in length, and easily 100 grams. Adult geckos typically reach a total length of 7-10 inches (18-25 cm) and weigh between 0.09 and 0.2 pounds (40-90 grams).
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Sexual dimorphism is also evident in the species’ physical appearance. Males tend to be larger than females, with broader heads and more pronounced tail bases. Males are generally larger than females. Males are usually larger than females with most of the gecko species! Hatchlings are quite small, measuring only 2-3 inches (5-8 cm) long and weighing 0.004-0.01 pounds (2-5 grams). They grow into juveniles, reaching 4-6 inches (10-15 cm) in their first year. By 12-18 months, they reach full size and sexual maturity.
One example of size difference, one user shared this experience: "Just asking because my male is massive compared to my females. Oli, most of my femlae's are around 40-45 gram's and the male's at least 10-15 gram's larger. yeah, I just weighed my females, they are both 43g's. My male is 68! He's huge. My females are 1.5 years old and very plump tales, extremely healthy too."
The difference in size is only advantageous to male Fat-tailed Geckos. This size helps them to dominate and mate with several females throughout their breeding season. This competition (to acquire mates) is present in males of this species, but not among females.
Habitat and Distribution
African Fat-tailed Geckos are native to West Africa, inhabiting the arid and semi-arid savannas and woodlands of countries such as Senegal, Ghana, Togo, Mali, and Nigeria. The African Fat-tailed gecko is found in West Africa, from Senegal to Nigeria, extending marginally to Central Africa (northern Cameroon).
Within their range, these geckos are found in the dry Sahel habitat, as well as in wet or dry savannah habitat. Their preferred climate is warm and dry, and they thrive in microhabitats with adequate humidity. A terrestrial biome dominated by plants and animals adapted to aridity. Conditions are dry, though spectacular blooms may occur following rain. Daily temperates typically fluctuate.
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African fat-tailed geckos have been seen to vary in physical attributes based on their habitat even within specific regions of Africa from size, scale pattern, to color.
Behavior and Diet
Being nocturnal they are most active at night. They are most active at night when temperatures are cooler and their insect prey is active. The geckos are more active during the wet season, which typically occurs from June to October. They may enter a period of brumation during the dry season -a state of reduced metabolic activity -to cope with food scarcity and cooler temperatures.
African Fat-tailed Geckos are primarily terrestrial and move slowly and deliberately. They use their strong limbs to navigate their habitat. The species can reach speeds up to 10 miles per hour (16 km/h), though these speeds are not sustained.
Ultimate African Fat Tailed Gecko Care Guide | Enclosure Setup, Diet & Handling Tips
African Fat-tailed Geckos are solitary and territorial, with males actively defending their territories from other males to secure resources and mates. Genders are highly territorial. As solitary animals, thus two males should not be housed together.
African Fat-tailed Geckos are insectivorous carnivores that consume a variety of insects and other arthropods. Its diet in the wild primarily consists of crickets, roaches, beetles, and spiders. They stalk prey with their sense of smell and keen night vision, then strike with a quick, powerful lunge. They hunt for various insects at night.
Breeding
Fat tail breeding is almost identical to that of leopard geckos. African Fat-tailed Geckos are oviparous, a reproductive strategy in which they lay eggs. Their breeding season aligns with West Africa’s wet season, typically from June to October. This period of increased humidity and abundant food serves as an environmental trigger for reproduction.
Males will have pre-anal pores which will be in a ‘v-shape’ and two bulges at the base of the tail which is formed by the hemipenes. The pronounced hemipenal bulges behind the vent on the tail side is another way to tell the matured pair.
Mating involves a courtship ritual in which the male approaches the female and performs specific tail-waving movements to signal his intent. Males mate with them during the season. Following successful mating, a female will lay a clutch of two eggs in a humid, protected location. She can produce several clutches during a single breeding season.
Females provision their eggs with energy (as yolk) prior to oviposition. There is no post-oviposition care of eggs or young in this gecko. Following successful mating, a female will lay a clutch of two eggs in a humid, protected location. She can produce several clutches during a single breeding season.
The incubation period lasts 45-70 days, and studies indicate that the temperature during this phase determines the sex of the hatchlings. The eggs will hatch in 30 to 105 days. Fat tail eggs are temperature sexed dependent. Sexing is best done once the geckos are around 4-6 months old. Males have pre-anal pores in a V-shape and two bulges near the base of the tail (hemipenes). Never house two males together, as they will fight and may injure or kill each other.
Fat-tailed Geckos exhibit temperature dependent sex determination. Once eggs are laid, incubation time varies with temperature. At a certain temperature, given temperatures, the offspring produced will be predominately female. and fewer clutches in a year.
The eggs will hatch in 30 to 105 days. The eggs will hatch in 30 to 105 days because of the higher temperatures. Males around 35 days and the cooler temperatures.
Here is a summary of temperature and sex determination:
| Temperature | Resulting Sex |
|---|---|
| 29 ̊C to 30.6 ̊C | Both sexes |
| Below 28.3 ̊C | Mostly females |
| Above 31 ̊C | Mostly males |
Lifespan
African Fat-tailed Geckos live an average of 15-20 years in captivity. The lifespan of this species in the wild is considerably shorter, typically 5 to 10 years. This is due to factors such as predation, disease, and inconsistent food availability. These geckos reach sexual maturity at approximately 12 to 18 months of age, which marks the beginning of their reproductive period.
