The African fat-tailed gecko is typically around 7–8 inches in length,[5] and up to 75 grams in weight,[6] with females being slightly smaller than males.

African fat-tailed geckos will spend most of their time in a dark, humid hiding place such as a termite mound.

[8][9] African fat-tailed geckos have been seen to vary in physical attributes based on their habitat even within specific regions of Africa from size, scale pattern, to color.

[11] African fat-tailed geckos are reportedly strictly nocturnal, taking shelter from their generally hot and dry environment during the day and emerging at night to forage.

[9] African fat-tailed geckos have a primarily insectivorous diet, feeding on various kinds of insects and other invertebrates within their habitats, such as worms, crickets, possibly beetles or cockroaches, etc.

Through selective breeding the reptile trade has been able to produce numerous color variants of the African fat-tailed gecko.