Fat-Tailed Gecko Care Guide

LIFE SPAN

15-20 years

AVERAGE SIZE

7-10 inches

NORMAL BEHAVIOR & INTERACTION

Fat Tailed Geckos are calm, usually nonaggressive and usually easy to handle. They are nocturnal, which means they are most active at night. Housing adult geckos together will create a stressful environment to the point of illness, so they should always be housed separately.

CAGE TEMPERATURE

Cool Side: 70°-80°F

Basking Temps: 90°F

HUMIDITY

65-70% humidity levels 

FEEDING

Carnivores; live prey. Fat Tailed Geckos strictly eat insects and should be offered a variety of different feeders to maintain a healthy diet.

SUPPLEMENTS

Dust food with calcium and vitamin supplements. As a rule, a growing juvenile’s food should be dusted more often than adult food.

WATER

A large bowl of fresh chlorine-free water must always be available.

SHEDDING

Fat Tailed Geckos often require a high humidity retreat to ensure healthy sheds are achieved. Offering a shed box with moist moss or regular soaking is required.

HOUSING & ENVIRONMENT

Fat Tailed Geckos should have a cool side and a warm side to allow for body temperature regulation. A 20 gallon long tank is ideal with hide houses on either side. Your gecko’s enclosure must have a secure mesh or screen lid.  

SUBSTRATE

We recommend a shredded aspen bedding or reptile carpeting. 

UVB LIGHT

While Fat Tailed Geckos do not require UVB, exposure to UVB can be beneficial for their overall health.

DAY/NIGHT CYCLES & HEATING

All reptiles must have distinct day and night periods in their enclosure to maintain biological rhythms. Fat Tailed Geckos need 8-12 hours of both daytime and nighttime. 

HABITAT MAINTENANCE

Daily maintenance should consist of spot cleaning by removing soiled substrate, cleaning water bowl thoroughly and wiping glass clean. The entire tank should be cleaned thoroughly at least once every month.

RECOMMENDED SUPPLIES

• 0 Gal (or larger) aquarium tank with secure metal mesh top (20”L x 13”W)
• Small dome & appropriately sized heat light
• UVB Bulb & housing (optional)
• Temperature/humidity gauge
• Under tank heating pad (placed under heat/ basking light)
• Shredded aspen bedding or reptile carpet
• Large crock water bowl - big enough to soak in
• Water dripper
• Live food
• 1 to 2 hide houses
• Humidity box with terrarium moss for shedding time
• Calcium & vitamin supplements
• Water dechlorinate drops
• Spray bottle

Vet Approved

Our Care Guides are designed to assist in general knowledge and requirements for the care of your new family member. We strongly encourage further research and consultation with your veterinarian on the complete and proper care of any new pet.

For more information visit petsuppliesplus.com, cdc.gov/healthypets or contact your veterinarian.

Always wash your hands before and after handling your pet or cleaning its habitat, and remember that any pet can scratch, bite or transmit disease to humans.

For pregnant women, persons with compromised immune systems, or if you have children under the age of 5, we strongly recommend contacting your physician prior to purchasing or caring for a new pet.

Please see the Centers for Disease Control website at www.cdc.gov/healthypets for more information.