Care guide

How to Handle an African Fat-Tailed Gecko

Quick answer

Wait a week or two after bringing a fat-tail home, then handle briefly and calmly. Scoop with a flat hand from the side, keep the gecko low, never grab the tail, and avoid handling right after a meal or during a shed.

Session length
10–15 minutes
Never
Grab the tail

Building trust

Short sessions of ten to fifteen minutes let the gecko settle. End before it becomes stressed.

What to avoid

Grabbing from above, squeezing, handling after feeding, and handling during a shed.