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Description
African Fat Tail Gecko (White Out)
Scientific Name: Hemitheconyx caudicinctus
Common Name: African Fat Tail Gecko
Species Overview
Size: Adult African Fat Tail Geckos typically reach 7–8 inches (18–20 cm) in length, with males being slightly larger and more robust. Their thick tails act as nutrient reserves, storing both fat and moisture for long-term energy stability.
Appearance: The White Out African Fat Tail Gecko is one of the most visually diverse and variable morphs in the species. It expresses an incomplete dominant gene that disrupts traditional banding and alters pigmentation, resulting in bold marbling, broken striping, and high contrast between light and dark areas. Colours range from deep brown and chocolate to beige, cream, or soft grey, often with irregular patches and asymmetrical patterns. Each White Out gecko is unique—no two display the same pattern, which is a major part of this morph’s appeal among collectors and breeders.
Distribution: Native to West Africa, including Senegal, Ghana, Togo, Benin, and Nigeria, where the species inhabits dry grasslands, rocky plains, and arid savanna regions.
Habitat: In their natural range, African Fat Tail Geckos spend the daytime hours hidden in burrows or beneath rocks to avoid heat and conserve moisture. In captivity, they thrive in naturalistic terrariums that mimic this environment, using compact soil-sand substrates, moderate humidity, and multiple hides for comfort and thermoregulation.
Behaviour: These geckos are nocturnal, slow-moving, and calm by nature. The White Out morph shares the same gentle, tolerant disposition as the species standard and adjusts readily to captivity and regular handling.
Captive Care
Enclosure: Provide a minimum adult enclosure size of 24 inches × 18 inches × 12 inches (60 × 45 × 30 cm). Naturalistic setups are recommended, using compact soil-sand-clay mixtures that support digging and humidity balance. For juveniles or quarantine setups, reptile carpet, tile, or paper towel are suitable alternatives for easy cleaning and safety. Include at least three hides: one on the warm side, one on the cool side, and a humid hide to support shedding.
Temperature & Humidity: Maintain a warm-side surface temperature of 88–92°F (31–33°C) and a cool side between 75–80°F (24–27°C). Nighttime temperatures can drop safely to 70–74°F (21–23°C). Keep humidity levels between 50–70%, ensuring a moist hide is always available for proper shedding.
Lighting: UVB lighting (2–5%) is optional but beneficial, supporting natural behaviour and vitamin D synthesis. Maintain a consistent 12-hour day/night light cycle.
Diet: Feed a varied diet of gut-loaded crickets, dubia roaches, silkworms, and mealworms. All insects should be dusted regularly with calcium and multivitamin supplements. Juveniles should be fed daily, while adults can be fed every 2–3 days.
Behaviour in Captivity: White Out African Fat Tail Geckos are calm, responsive, and adaptable to handling. With consistent care, they make excellent display or breeding animals and exhibit reliable feeding behaviour.
Special Considerations: Always regulate heating with a thermostat to avoid burns. Monitor tail thickness as an indicator of proper fat storage and general health.
Sand: Addressing Concerns and Misconceptions
Sand has been widely debated as a substrate due to the risk of impaction. When used correctly—as part of a compacted soil-sand mixture and maintained with proper heating, hydration, and nutrition—the risk is minimal. The main concerns arise from loose or calcium-based sands used with poor husbandry. For hatchlings, juveniles, or newly acquired animals, reptile carpet, tile, or paper towel are safer substrate options until they are well established.
Taxonomy Note
The African Fat Tail Gecko (Hemitheconyx caudicinctus) is a member of the Eublepharidae family, which includes eyelid geckos such as the Leopard Gecko (Eublepharis macularius). Members of this family retain movable eyelids and lack adhesive toe pads, making them fully terrestrial. The species remains taxonomically stable, with minor natural variation across its West African range.
Genetics Note
White Out (Incomplete Dominant): Alters the gecko’s base coloration and pattern, producing dramatic marbling, partial striping, and high-contrast irregular markings. Each expression is unique, ranging from subtle mottling to intense pattern disruption. When two White Outs are bred together, they may produce “Super White Outs,” which are lighter, more washed out, and exhibit reduced patterning overall.
(“het.” is short for heterozygous, meaning one copy of a gene is carried but not visually expressed. In this morph, the White Out gene is visually expressed.)