African Fat-Tailed Gecko
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.
Environnement
Terrestre
Humidité
50 - 65 %
Température diurne
30 - 32 °C
Température ambiante
25 °C
Température nocturne
22 - 24 °C
Point de repos chauffant
31 °C
Taille adulte
25 cm
Enclos minimal
>= 80 L
Description de l'espèce
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.
Soins, reproduction et cohabitation
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.
Origine et répartition géographiques
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.
Origine
Sélection et cultivarsAmérique du NordAfrique et Madagascar
Profil de reptile
- Régime alimentaire
- Insectivore
- Caramel Albino African fat-tailed geckos thrive on a purely insectivorous diet of live, appropriately sized prey. Gut-loaded crickets, dubia roaches, and mealworms should make up the bulk of their meals to ensure proper nutrition. Dusting their food with calcium and a multivitamin supplement is critical, particularly because albinos can sometimes be sensitive to deficiencies. Fresh water should be available at all times, along with a humid hide to aid in hydration.
- Espérance de vie
- 10-25 years
- Taille adulte
- 25 cm
- Mode de vie/microhabitat
- Terrestrial
- These geckos are fully terrestrial and prefer moving slowly along the forest floor or savanna ground. They are not strong climbers and lack sticky toe pads. Their enclosures should focus on horizontal floor space with plenty of low hiding spots and a substrate that allows for shallow digging.
- Cycle d'activité
- Nocturnal
- African fat-tailed geckos are strictly nocturnal, venturing out only after dark to hunt for insects and explore their environment. They spend their days retreating into burrows or underneath rocks and bark to stay protected and conserve moisture.
- Sociabilité
- Solitary
- The Caramel Albino morph is prized for its stunning brownish-yellow coloration and striking red or silver eyes. Due to their albinism, their eyes can be slightly more sensitive to bright light, so providing ample dark hiding spots is important. They are gentle, nocturnal creatures that explore their environment with slow, measured movements during the night. They are very amenable to handling and will use their thick tails to store excess fat for periods of scarce food.
- Reproduction
- Oviparous
- To breed Caramel Albino geckos, a subtle winter cooling period is often utilized to stimulate their reproductive instincts. Gravid females require a designated lay box filled with damp substrate to deposit their clutches of two eggs. The incubation temperature must be carefully monitored, as it determines the sex of the offspring and ensures a successful hatch. The beautifully colored hatchlings emerge fully independent and ready to start feeding on small insects.
- Tolérance aux manipulations
- Tolerant
- They are generally even more docile and slower-moving than leopard geckos, making them highly tolerant of handling. They rarely bite and usually just try to slowly walk away if stressed. Care must be taken not to squeeze them or pull their fragile tails.
- Brumation
- A brumation period is not required for pet African fat-tailed geckos. Breeders may induce a mild cooling down to 70°F (21°C) for several weeks to stimulate the breeding season. For regular pet care, maintaining standard warm temperatures year-round is completely acceptable and safer.
- Mue
- Regular
- African fat-tailed geckos require significantly higher humidity than leopard geckos to molt properly. A permanent humid hide is mandatory. During a shed, they will become pale and cloudy. Proper humidity (around 60-70% generally, higher in the hide) prevents stuck shed, which can cause severe issues on their toes and tail tip.
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