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African Fat-Tailed Gecko - Caramel Albino
Hemitheconyx caudicinctus
A T-positive albinism strain. Unlike the fluorescent orange of standard albinos, the Caramel morph retains subtle dark pigments, showing warm toasted cream and caramel tones.
Class:Squamata
Order:Squamata
Family:Eublepharidae
Genus:Hemitheconyx
Species:Hemitheconyx caudicinctus*
* Caramel Albino
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Environment
Terrestrial
Humidity
50 - 65 %
Day temperature
30 - 32 °C
Ambient temperature
25 °C
Night temperature
22 - 24 °C
Basking spot
31 °C
Adult size
16 cm
Minimum enclosure
>= 80 L
UVB
Low
Species description
Geographical Origin and Habitat: Native to the dry savannahs, scrublands, and river valleys of West Africa (such as Nigeria, Senegal, and Togo). They are terrestrial and seek shelter in deep, humid abandoned termite mounds or rodent burrows to escape the midday heat.
Taxonomy and Genetics: Belonging to the family Eublepharidae (eyelid geckos), they possess moveable eyelids and lack adhesive toe pads, unlike most geckos. Popularity in the hobby has surged due to the development of unique morphs (e.g. Patternless, White Out, Oreo, Zulu), offering diverse and contrasting coloration options.
Behavior and Habits: Renowned for an exceptionally calm, docile, and slow temperament, often even more placid than the leopard gecko. They are terrestrial burrowers and nocturnal hunters of savannah insects.
Morphology: Robust build with a large head and a short, thick tail used for fat storage. The wild-type coloration features dark chocolate and caramel horizontal bands. Adults reach 20–23 cm in length. Males possess visible preanal pores and hemipenal bulges at the base of the tail, whereas females are slightly more rounded.
Care, breeding and tankmates
Terrarium Setup: A horizontal enclosure (minimum 90x45x45 cm) is recommended. Provide a deep, burrowable substrate of damp topsoil and coconut fiber, along with cork bark tunnels and a vital humid hide filled with damp moss.
Lighting and Heating: Maintain a temperature gradient with a warm zone floor temperature of 30–32°C using a heat mat or halogen. Keep the cool side at 24°C, with a night drop to 22–24°C. Provide 5–7% UVB.
Humidity and Hydration: Require moderate ambient humidity of 50–65%. Lightly mist half of the enclosure every other day to keep the substrate damp but not wet. A shallow water bowl must be available.
Feeding and Supplementation: Strictly insectivorous. They can be selective feeders, preferring live crickets and worms. Dust prey items with pure calcium at every feeding, and add D3/multivitamins once or twice a week.
Compatibility: Solitary. Do not house two males together. Harem groups can be kept in large terrariums, though individual housing is safest.
Health and Common Diseases: Vulnerable to metabolic bone disease if calcium is lacking, and severe dysecdysis (especially around the eyes and toes) if humidity is too low. Monitor tail thickness as an indicator of health.
Geographic Origin and Distribution
Native to the dry savannahs, scrublands, and river valleys of West Africa (such as Nigeria, Senegal, and Togo). They are terrestrial and seek shelter in deep, humid abandoned termite mounds or rodent burrows to escape the midday heat.
Origin
Selective breeding and cultivarsNorth AmericaAfrica and Madagascar
Reptile profile
- Diet
- No verified data available
- Life expectancy
- No verified data available
- Adult size
- 16 cm
- Lifestyle/Microhabitat
- No verified data available
- Activity cycle
- No verified data available
- Sociality
- No verified data available
- Reproduction
- No verified data available
- Handling tolerance
- No verified data available
- Brumation
- No verified data available
- Molting
- No verified data available
The catalog's scalar value is 16 cm. The ReptTraits v1.2 source reports a maximum adult measurement of 16 cm for this species, recorded as snout–vent length (SVL). These figures are not interchangeable: the first is the profile's editorial reference, whereas the second is a published maximum under a specific measurement convention; differences among sources can reflect sex, population, life stage and measuring method.
Image gallery
Licensed images linked to the species or, when marked, to the closest representative taxon.
Related species
Recommendations grouped by close relatives, companion choices, and similar care.
