African Fat-Tailed Gecko — Oreo
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 - 70 %
Température diurne
30 - 32 °C
Température ambiante
26 °C
Température nocturne
22 - 24 °C
Point de repos chauffant
30 - 32 °C
Taille adulte
22 cm
Enclos minimal
>= 60 L
Description de l'espèce
Geographical Origin and Habitat: Inhabits dry savannahs, scrublands, and riverbeds of West Africa (Nigeria, Senegal, Togo). Unlike leopard geckos, they live in damp, warm soils, hiding in burrows and termite mounds.
Taxonomy and Genetics: Family Eublepharidae (eyelidded geckos). Commonly known as the African Fat-Tailed Gecko. This Oreo morph is a popular genetic mutation that produces high-contrast grayscale coloration.
Behavior and Habits: Extremely docile and slow-moving. They are calmer and more tolerant of handling than leopard geckos. Crepuscular and nocturnal burrowers.
Morphology: Robust body with a large head. Features a short, thick, bulbous tail used for fat storage. Coloration consists of alternate wide horizontal bands in cream, white, and gray. The African Fat-Tailed equivalent of the Axanthic trait. Eliminates orange and brown tones, leaving striking cream, white, and anthracite-gray bands.
Soins, reproduction et cohabitation
Terrarium Setup: Horizontal terrarium (minimum 90x45x45 cm). Use a deep, moist substrate of coco-fiber and soil. Provide multiple low cork bark hides and a mandatory warm humid hide filled with damp moss.
Lighting and Heating: Provide a warm spot of 30-32°C using a heat mat or halogen bulb, with a cool side of 24°C. Night temperature should drop to 22-24°C. Low 5-7% UVB is beneficial.
Humidity and Hydration: Requires moderate humidity (50-65%), higher than leopard geckos. Lightly mist the cool side of the enclosure every other day to prevent shedding issues. Keep a clean water dish.
Feeding and Supplementation: Insectivorous. Feed crickets, roaches, and mealworms. May reject dubia roaches. Dust food with pure calcium at every feeding, and calcium+D3/multivitamins weekly.
Compatibility: Strictly solitary. Do not house males together. Can be kept in small female-only groups, but individual housing is safest.
Health and Common Diseases: Watch for shedding retention on toes and eyes due to low humidity. Prone to Metabolic Bone Disease if calcium/D3 is lacking.
Origine et répartition géographiques
Inhabits dry savannahs, scrublands, and riverbeds of West Africa (Nigeria, Senegal, Togo). Unlike leopard geckos, they live in damp, warm soils, hiding in burrows and termite mounds.
Origine
Sélection et cultivarsAfrique 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.
- Taille adulte
- 22 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
- Periodic
- 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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