African Fat-Tailed Gecko

Hemitheconyx caudicinctus

The African fat-tailed gecko is often considered the "other" popular eublepharine gecko alongside the leopard gecko, offering a similar care experience with its own unique characteristics. Native to West Africa, these crepuscular geckos are named for their thick, fat-storing tails and have a stockier build than leopard geckos with larger eyes and a somewhat pudgier face. The main difference in care is humidity - African fat-tailed geckos come from more humid environments and require consistently higher humidity than leopard geckos, especially a well-maintained humid hide at 80-90%. They are typically more docile and less skittish than leopard geckos but may be slightly shier initially. With proper care including adequate humidity, these geckos live 15-20+ years.