Care guide
African Fat-Tailed Gecko Humidity Guide
Quick answer
Aim for roughly 40–60% ambient humidity with a permanently damp humid hide that is far wetter. Do not keep the whole enclosure soaked, because permanent damp causes mould, scale rot, and respiratory infection.
- Ambient target
- About 40–60%
- Humid hide
- 80%+ inside
Why they need more than a leopard gecko
Fat-tails come from West African savanna and shelter in burrows and termite mounds that hold moisture. A bone-dry enclosure leads to stubborn sheds and dehydration.
How to hold it
Use a damp humid hide, a small water dish, and light misting on one side. Keep ventilation on the dry side so the air moves and the enclosure does not become a swamp.
Warning signs
Low humidity: retained shed, wrinkled skin, constant time in the humid hide. High humidity: mould, condensation, smelly substrate, blister-like patches on the belly.