African fat-tailed gecko

The African fat-tailed gecko (Hemitheconyx caudicinctus) is a crepuscular, ground-dwelling gecko.

African fat-tailed gecko
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Family: Eublepharidae
Genus: Hemitheconyx
Species:
H. caudicinctus
Binomial name
Hemitheconyx caudicinctus
(Duméril, 1851)[1]

The African fat-tailed gecko is from the subfamily Eublepharinae. Members of this subfamily include the leopard gecko of south Central Asia, India, and Pakistan. This subfamily has clearly different characteristics from other geckos. They are terrestrial and crepuscular, and have moveable eyelids, vertical pupils, and no adhesive lamellae (sticky feet).

The African fat-tailed gecko is found in West Africa, from Senegal to Cameroon. Their habitat is dry and arid, although they will spend most of their time in a dark, humid hiding place. In captivity, it is important to provide these geckos with a source of humidity that mimics these conditions.

The African fat-tailed gecko is typically around 7-9 inches (18–23 cm), with females being slightly smaller than males. They have a captive lifespan of 10–25 years. Normal coloring is brown and tan/beige stripes, with a possible thin white stripe along the length of the back. The underbelly is pale pink or off-white.

The African fat-tailed gecko is equipped with the ability to lose its tail when threatened or attacked. 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. The tail is also where they store their fat, an important energy reserve. With its tail, an African fat tailed gecko can go days on end without food.[2]

African fat-tailed geckos as pets

In the pet trade the African fat-tailed gecko has gained some popularity though is still not as popular as the closely related leopard gecko.[3] Unlike the leopard gecko, these geckos tend to be more docile but do have a higher humidity requirement. Through selective breeding the reptile trade has been able to produce numerous color variants of the African fat-tailed gecko including tangerine, albino, patternless, black out, and aberrant fat-tails.

While it might seem that you can house these animals together with the similar leopard gecko species, these animals have different heating, humidity, and husbandry requirements. Housing these two species together is never recommended.

Diet

African fat-tailed geckos have a primarily insectivorous diet. Mealworms, crickets, roaches, and other small insects are commonly feasted upon by African fat-tailed geckos. African fat-tailed geckos will not eat dead prey, and will only eat live insects. It is recommended to feed them with gut loaded insects no bigger than the space between their eyes, and to feed adults at least three to four times a week. Babies should be fed almost daily. While hornworms and pinky mice seem to be a popular feeder, it is not recommended to use them as even large geckos can choke on them.

References
  1. Richard D. Bartlett; Patricia Pope Bartlett (1995). Geckos: Everything About Selection, Care, Nutrition, Diseases, Breeding, and Behavior. Barron's Educational Series. p. 74. ISBN 978-0-8120-9082-6. Retrieved 30 January 2013.
  2. "African fat tail gecko facts". The Pet Enthusiast.
  3. "African Fat Tailed Gecko". Reptile Range.
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