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Description
African Fat Tail Gecko (White Out Caramel)
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, reflecting their health and overall condition.
Appearance: The White Out Caramel African Fat Tail Gecko is a visually stunning morph that blends two powerful traits for a warm yet high-contrast appearance. The Caramel gene lightens and softens the natural brown tones, introducing rich golden and amber hues, while the White Out gene adds pattern disruption and contrast, resulting in irregular banding and cream highlights. This combination creates a balanced, high-end morph featuring warm, earthy undertones with unpredictable pattern variation—no two look the same.
Distribution: Native to West Africa, including Senegal, Ghana, Togo, Benin, and Nigeria, where they inhabit semi-arid grasslands, rocky outcrops, and scrub habitats.
Habitat: In their natural environment, these geckos seek shelter in burrows or under stones during the day to avoid excessive heat. In captivity, they thrive in naturalistic terrariums that replicate this environment, using compacted soil-sand mixes, moderate humidity, and multiple hides to provide security and thermoregulation.
Behaviour: African Fat Tail Geckos are calm, nocturnal, and deliberate in movement. The White Out Caramel morph shares the same easygoing temperament as the species standard, adapting quickly to captivity and handling.
Captive Care
Enclosure: Provide a minimum adult enclosure size of 24 inches × 18 inches × 12 inches (60 × 45 × 30 cm). Naturalistic enclosures are recommended, using compact soil-sand-clay blends that support burrowing and humidity retention. For juveniles or during quarantine, reptile carpet, tile, or paper towel may be used for easier cleaning and safety. Include three hides: warm, cool, and humid for proper thermoregulation and 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). Allow nighttime temperatures to drop to 70–74°F (21–23°C). Humidity should stay between 50–70%, with a moist hide always available for shedding.
Lighting: While UVB is optional, a low-output (2–5%) UVB bulb encourages natural behaviour and overall health. Maintain a consistent 12-hour day/night cycle.
Diet: Feed a rotating diet of crickets, dubia roaches, mealworms, and silkworms. All feeder insects should be gut-loaded and dusted with calcium and multivitamin supplements. Juveniles should be fed daily, while adults can be fed every 2–3 days.
Behaviour in Captivity: The White Out Caramel morph is calm, hardy, and well suited to regular handling. It readily adapts to feeding routines and thrives under stable environmental conditions.
Special Considerations: Always use thermostats to regulate heat sources. Monitor tail thickness as a health indicator, and ensure proper hydration, particularly during shedding cycles.
Sand: Addressing Concerns and Misconceptions
Sand has been debated among gecko keepers for years due to the risk of impaction. When used as part of a compacted soil-sand mixture and maintained correctly with proper heating and humidity, the risk remains low. The primary concerns arise with loose or calcium-based sands combined with poor husbandry. For hatchlings, juveniles, or newly acquired animals, reptile carpet, tile, or paper towel are safer options until they are fully established.
Taxonomy Note
The African Fat Tail Gecko (Hemitheconyx caudicinctus) belongs to the family Eublepharidae, which also includes eyelid geckos such as the Leopard Gecko (Eublepharis macularius). These geckos possess movable eyelids and lack adhesive toe pads, making them entirely terrestrial. The species is taxonomically stable, displaying only mild natural variation across its range.
Genetics Note
White Out (Incomplete Dominant): Alters the base pattern and coloration, creating unpredictable banding and marbling. White Out geckos display brighter contrasts and irregular markings, while “Super White Outs” (homozygous form) exhibit lighter, more pattern-reduced appearances.
Caramel (Recessive): Lightens the overall pigmentation by reducing melanin, creating warm golden-brown tones and a soft, pastel appearance. When combined with pattern-modifying genes like White Out, it produces visually complex and warm-toned morphs.
(“het.” is short for heterozygous, meaning one copy of a gene is carried but not visually expressed. In this morph, both the White Out and Caramel traits are visually expressed.)