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Description
African Fat Tail Gecko (Snow)
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 muscular. Their thick tails serve as vital nutrient stores, helping them maintain hydration and energy.
Appearance: The Snow African Fat Tail Gecko is a visually striking morph known for its pale, high-contrast coloration. This double-recessive morph combines the Amel (Albino) and Patternless traits, eliminating dark pigmentation and reducing visible patterning. The result is a smooth, pastel-toned gecko featuring shades of cream, soft pink, light beige, and faint grey undertones. Some individuals retain faint ghost-like markings, while others are nearly pure white. This morph’s clean, frosted appearance has made it one of the most popular among collectors seeking elegant, understated coloration.
Distribution: Native to West Africa, including Senegal, Ghana, Togo, Benin, and Nigeria, where they inhabit dry grasslands, rocky outcroppings, and arid savannas.
Habitat: In the wild, African Fat Tail Geckos spend most of the day in burrows or under stones to escape heat and retain moisture. In captivity, they thrive in naturalistic terrariums with compacted soil-sand substrates, moderate humidity, and multiple hides for shelter and thermoregulation.
Behaviour: Snow African Fat Tail Geckos are calm, steady, and nocturnal. Like all members of their species, they are slow-moving and tolerate handling well once accustomed to consistent care.
Captive Care
Enclosure: Provide a minimum adult enclosure measuring 24 inches × 18 inches × 12 inches (60 × 45 × 30 cm). Naturalistic setups with compact soil-sand-clay mixtures promote natural digging behaviour and humidity retention. For juveniles or during quarantine, reptile carpet, tile, or paper towel can be used for simplicity and safety. Include three hides—one warm, one cool, and one 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 around 75–80°F (24–27°C). Nighttime temperatures can drop safely to 70–74°F (21–23°C). Humidity should remain between 50–70%, with a moist hide available at all times.
Lighting: Although UVB lighting (2–5%) is not essential, it can support healthy calcium metabolism and natural activity. Maintain a 12-hour day/night light cycle.
Diet: Feed a variety of gut-loaded insects, including crickets, dubia roaches, mealworms, and silkworms. Dust all prey with calcium and multivitamin supplements regularly. Juveniles should be fed daily, while adults can be fed every 2–3 days.
Behaviour in Captivity: Snow African Fat Tail Geckos are hardy and tolerant of handling. They adapt quickly to enclosure routines and make excellent display and breeding animals.
Special Considerations: Always regulate heating devices with a thermostat to prevent burns. Monitor tail thickness and body condition as indicators of proper nutrition and health.
Sand: Addressing Concerns and Misconceptions
Sand remains a debated substrate due to potential impaction risks. When used as part of a compacted soil-sand mixture and maintained correctly with proper temperature, hydration, and husbandry, the risk is minimal. Problems usually arise with loose or calcium-based sands paired with poor care. For hatchlings, juveniles, or new arrivals, reptile carpet, tile, or paper towel are safer choices until they are fully established.
Taxonomy Note
The African Fat Tail Gecko (Hemitheconyx caudicinctus) belongs to the Eublepharidae family, which includes other eyelid geckos such as the Leopard Gecko (Eublepharis macularius). Unlike adhesive-toed geckos, members of this family retain movable eyelids and lack toe pads, making them fully terrestrial. The species remains taxonomically stable, showing only mild regional variation.
Genetics Note
Amel (Recessive): Removes all dark pigmentation, replacing black and brown tones with cream, orange, or pinkish hues. This gene produces a warm, pastel look when expressed.
Patternless (Recessive): Removes or significantly reduces visible markings, resulting in a smooth, uniform appearance. When paired with Amel, it produces the pale, clean-toned “Snow” morph.
Snow (Double Recessive Combination): The Snow morph expresses both the Amel and Patternless genes simultaneously, resulting in minimal pattern and very light pigmentation. This combination produces some of the palest and most uniform colour variations within the species.
(“het.” is short for heterozygous, meaning one copy of a gene is carried but not visually expressed. “Double recessive” means both genes must be inherited in full to appear visually.)