The African fat-tailed gecko (Hemitheconyx caudicinctus) is a small yet hardy ground-dwelling lizard across west and central Africa. They have low maintenance needs in the wild, subsisting on small insects and tolerating extreme desert heat, earning them popularity as an intermediate reptile pet species.
In their African range, these nocturnal insectivores inhabit dry, arid grasslands, savannas, rocky mountains, and occasionally forests. Their stout bodies, fleshy tails, and cryptic coloring aid survival in harsh, low-resource environments. These adaptations for moisture retention also make fat-tail geckos an ideal terrarium inhabitants.
Due to their docile personality, moderate size, ease of care, and long…show more content… Sterilized play sand can also aid in egg deposition later on. An assortment of hiding options, artificial foliage, and branches encourage climbing.
## Diet and Nutrition
In captivity, African fat-tailed geckos require a varied insectivorous diet for balanced nutrition. Commercially available complete gecko diets featuring their native prey provide a solid nutritional base. This can be supplemented with regular feeder insects.
Ideal feeder insects include gut-loaded crickets, mealworms, waxworms, small superworms, or roaches 2-3 times weekly. All insects should be lightly supplemented with calcium and vitamin D3 before feeding. The tail fat reserves make them quite resistant to fasting if food is uneaten.
Occasional treats of hand-fed bananas, figs, or baby food can add enrichment but comprise only 10% of total food volume as fruits risk getting stuck in the shed. Water should always be available in tip-proof dishes but changed regularly as geckos often defecate while soaking. Their arid environment makes high hydration
