Fat Tailed Gecko Care Sheet

Scientific Name

Hemitheconyx caudicinctus

Size

20-30cm (8-10 inches)

Lifespan

15 years

Natural Distribution

West Arica

Fat Tailed Geckos love to eat adult brown crickets. In the wild they regularly feed on insects. These are recommended the best diet.

From £Loading price

We always suggest sprinkling Nutrobal on your gecko's food to ensure they're getting the right balance of vitamins and minerals.

From £Loading Price

As a treat Fat Tailed Geckos enjoy are mealworms. Naturally they would eat this snack as they find them.

From £Loading price

Fat Tailed Geckos like to have a place to hide to feel safe. In the wild they will hide during the day emerging to hunt insects at night.

From £Loading price

We advise using wooden vivariums rather than glass as they retain heat more efficiently keeping your pet nice and warm. For a small Fat Tailed Gecko a 60x37.5x30cm (24"x15"x12") vivarium is adequate. Adults and groups require at least 90x45x45cm (36"x18"x18").

Beech woodchip is a good substrate as the Fat Tailed Geckos generally do not swallow it whilst feeding on live insects. Sands, such as calcisands can be injested easily, building up inside the animal potentially causing health problems and distress to your pet. Fat Tailed Geckos can be secretive and appreciate places to hide. Hides such as wood, rocks and reptile caves should be made available at both the warm and cooler ends of the vivarium. A cave or a hide with damp moss inside should be available as this helps Fat Tailed Geckos to shed.

Night time heating is provided by a heat mat at the bottom of one end of the vivarium controlled by a thermostat, about 75oF is fine. During the day a small spot bulb is used to raise the temperature to about 85F. The spot bulb will also provide a day and night cycle. Temperatures should always be checked by a reliable thermometer.

Day light is provided by the spot bulb used to raise the day temperate. As Fat Tailed Geckos are nocturnal and produce their own vitamin D, strong UV lighting is unnecessary, 2.0% UV lighting is acceptable (please ensure you have the correct size starter unit).

Naturally Fat Tailed Geckos are insect hunters. Crickets are particularly nutritious, locusts, mealworms and wax worms can also be used to supplement their diet and add variety. Your pet deserves the best foods possible so look after your live foods. Keep your crickets and locusts fresh, plump and full of vitamins by feeding them with Bug Grub and fresh vegetation. Remember, your Fat Tailed Gecko also eats whatever is in your live food's stomach. Also, don&'t allow your live food to dehydrate, you don't want to give your animals dried up half dead insects for dinner! Hydrate them with Bug Gel to keep them alive longer and mouth wateringly juicy. Care for your live food in their own enclosure, such as a Cricket Keeper. Live foods should be coated in a vitamin and mineral supplement such as Nutrobal to ensure the Fat Tailed Gecko is getting the best nutrition possible. Drinking water should always be made available to the Fat Tailed Gecko from a water bowl and checked daily to ensure freshness.

Fat Tailed Geckos are a good lizard for handling. They should be treated gently, with love and care allowing it to walk slowly across the hands. Never pick up a Fat Tailed Gecko by the tail as they can 'drop' the tail and although this will regrow it will never be the same as the original.

Males do not get on with each other as adults and will fight so only keep one per enclosure. Males can be kept with a harem of females providing the vivarium is large enough to accommodate them. Females are ok to be kept as a colony.

Regular spot cleaning of the vivarium should be performed to keep it hygienic for both the animal and the keeper. Dead live foods and the gecko's faeces should be removed when noticed. Change the substrate once a month or as required and clean the vivarium with a reptile disinfectant.

Want to know if we have Fat Tailed Geckos currently in store?

Click here to see our stock list