Care guide
African Fat-Tailed Gecko Care Sheet: The Essentials
An African fat-tailed gecko needs a 20-gallon long enclosure at minimum (40-gallon breeder preferred), a warm-hide surface of about 88–92°F on belly heat, a cool side of 75–80°F, 40–60% ambient humidity, a permanently damp humid hide, and a diet of gut-loaded, calcium-dusted insects.
On this page
- Adult size
- 7–9 inches, about 40–70 g
- Lifespan
- Often 15–20 years
The short version
Fat-tails are calm, nocturnal, terrestrial geckos from West African savanna. They are easy to keep once the basics are right, and the basic that catches most new keepers out is humidity: a leopard-gecko-style dry setup is not enough.
Setup
Use a front-opening enclosure with three hides (warm, cool and humid), a thermostat-controlled heat mat, a digital thermometer and hygrometer, a shallow water dish, and a safe substrate such as tile, slate, paper towel, or a bioactive mix.
Feeding and health
Feed juveniles daily and adults two or three times a week. Dust with calcium, use a multivitamin about weekly, and watch tail thickness. Find an exotic vet before you need one.