Fresh, clean, chlorine-free water should be available at all times. African fat-tailed geckos generally make good pets due to their docile temperament and high tolerance of humans. The flat - tailed day gecko Phelsuma serraticauda is a diurnal gecko lives in eastern Madagascar. A cricket should be no larger than the space between their eyes. It’s okay to occasionally skip a dusting. There are a lot of different products out there on the market today for the sole purpose of gut loading or reptile vitamins. You have to keep a water bowl in the enclosure at all times and make sure that it’s filled up constantly. However, one general rule to go by is that it should be a very moist type of substrate and not too hard and not sharp in nature like fine grain sand. Best substrate for African fat-tailed geckos: How to decorate an African fat-tailed gecko terrarium: What to feed to an African fat-tailed gecko: , which means that they need to eat a variety of insects to get the right nutrition. Misting will do this as well but it won’t harm you to have both in place. You really don’t need to buy any of them but if you do choose to gut load your insects prior to feeding them to the gecko, then what you want to do is mix them up thoroughly. They’re one of my highly recommended gecko breeds for brand new owners so they can get a feel for raising a gecko and taking care of one. They prefer tropical rainforest and tropical savanna habitat, and are primarily terrestrial (ground-dwelling). While we might find some temperatures scorching outside and a lack of motivation to do anything, African fat tailed gecko usually use the heat and humidity to do a number of things such as shedding and digesting food. At bare minimum, you will need at least three hides/“caves” for the gecko to use. Heat sources should be turned off at night. You’re going to want to keep a healthy 50 to 70 on the humidity scale to make sure your pet can digest food and shed healthy. Feed daily. They may also readily accept silkworms, waxworms or pinkie mice, but these food items should only be given as a supplement as they are high in fat content. Well, if you add too much heat into the enclosure you could kill them but generally speaking, they need heat to survive. Ambient lighting will do just fine. However, the African fat tailed gecko has managed to survive and is a very laid back creature. Don’t forget to replace your bulb every 12 months! by Petra Spiess. This means that they aren’t going to climb up the cage, they aren’t going to climb around and if they do happen to escape while you’re handling them or just escape, then you don’t have to worry about them climbing anything. With good care, a pet African fat-tailed gecko can live 15-20+ years. Reptile Rapture, 6308 Monona Dr, Monona WI 53516 608-221-0094, www.reptilerapture.net AFRICAN FAT-TAILED GECKO Caresheet Common Name: African fat-tailed gecko Scientific Name: Hemitheconyx caudicinctus Origin: West Africa Size: 8-10" males being the larger Lifespan: 10-25 years You will find many ways on the internet on "how to" take care of this … African Fat Tailed Gecko. The first couple of weeks, it’s probably for the best that you’re not trying to handle the gecko and you’re not constantly trying to pick it up and add any unneeded stress. $200. The best example of cold blooded skin is by touching a snake, even if it’s warm out, you’ll notice that the slimy surface of a snake feels really cold to the touch. A bowl of water in the corner or wherever you choose to place it will also assist in creating humidity but the main thing apart from measuring humidity that you can do is do what’s called misting. Juvenile African-fat tailed geckos should be fed every day, young adults should be fed every 2-3 days, and adults should be fed every 3-5 days depending on body condition. This also stimulates a realistic version of being out in the wild and being night and day, because if it’s always day time and the gecko never gets any time to cool off, it’ll become very stressed out relatively quickly. Of course you’ll have to feed them the appropriate meals and times on a consistent basis but that’s covered a little further down. Almost all reptiles from benefit from misting and the African fat tailed gecko is one of them. 2. The African Fat Tail Gecko is named such after its chunky tail, which is one of their most distinctive traits. Position the lamp on the same side of the terrarium as the heat lamp, 9-11” above the basking area. When it comes to the African fat tailed gecko, some people have found that moss type substrate works the best as they aren’t going to swallow it, it’s easy on their feet and it looks good in the enclosure as well. African Fat-Tailed Gecko Care Sheet. While they may not be extremely pricey, they can be extremely dangerous to a terrestrial animal such as the African fat tailed gecko. Mist your gecko’s enclosure every night (and morning, if necessary) with a. The substrate of my Thick-tailed gecko enclosure is a mixture of peat moss and sand at a depth of approx. However, sometimes this can be done in less time it just depends on how stressed out they are and other contributing factors. Care guides Reptile Systems. UVB lighting helps provide a clear day/night cycle, provides all of the vitamin D that your gecko needs, strengthens the immune system, facilitates better digestion, and other benefits.Â. Best humidity levels for African fat-tailed geckos: African fat-tailed geckos do best in an environment with. If you touch your gecko, even under a heat lamp, you might notice that they’re cold to the touch. These geckos come in a variety of different colors and patterning, ranging from oranges and yellows, all the way to whites and blacks. Measure temperatures with a digital probe thermometer, with the probe placed inside the warm hide.Â. Allow the rest of … They are generally attracted only to live food. Halogen heat bulbs are better at imitating sunlight, and considered to be a superior form of reptile heating by experts. Heat sources should be turned off at night. Update: i said fLat- tailed HOUSE gecko. Remove poop and urates daily, along with contaminated substrate. Juvenile African-fat tailed geckos should be fed every day, young adults should be fed every 2-3 days, and adults should be fed every 3-5 days depending on body condition. Technically they can survive without it, but they are healthier when it is provided. They prefer tropical rainforest and tropical savanna habitat, and are primarily terrestrial (ground-dwelling). The species is sometimes classified under the genus Cosymbotus. How often you need to and should be feeding the gecko will really depend on the age of the gecko, because the older they get, the less they eat. However, this is only a danger with unhealthy animals. As stated in the introduction of the African fat tailed gecko, they’re extremely tame pets and they’re reasonably easy to handle. With the lack of things to climb on, you have to make up for that by providing things that are on the ground such as hiding spots and substrate that isn’t harmful to your pet which will be covered as well. Set-up for the rough knob-tailed gecko is a dry, desert-style habitat with lots of flat rocks and hollow bark to conceal themselves beneath. How to handle your African fat-tailed gecko: Don’t grab the gecko from above. are 8-10” long, nocturnal geckos native to west Africa. What tends to work best is a mixture of peat moss mixed with vermiculite 50/50. If you fail to build a perfect habitat for your pet, they will become stressed out and they could possibly die. African fat tailed geckos (Hemitheconyx caudicunctus) are often mistaken as leopard geckos, and owners make them suffer because they do have some differences. Insects come in a wide variety of different shapes and sizes but this is the main meal course that owners prefer to provide to geckos. Details. If your enclosure seems to be warmer at night time, then you need to look into something because obviously something is wrong with your heater or your thermometer. Also, they’ll use moist substrate to rehydrate themselves as well. AFTS are getting more and more popular now that breeders like us have discovered many different Fat-Tailed Gecko morphs and are breeding some spectacular colored animals including Amelanistic, Tangerine, Zulu, … Of course, larger is always better — if you provide, they will use it! Measure temperatures with a, , with the probe placed inside the warm hide.Â. 4. Keep your leopard gecko’s habitat toasty, like the warm climate he comes from. Unlike most other geckos, they have eyelids, and they do not have sticky feet. So make sure that its a few inches deep at the minimum if you decide to go with something moist. Another benefit of the 20 gallon tank is that you’ll never have to upgrade the size of the tank as it grows into it. Place worms on a plate or jar lid so they don’t burrow into the substrate. Therefore, you’re not going to have to provide any kind of props for anything the gecko to climb on but however, you’re still going to need to provide them with some proper substrate though. We recommend. Now, with any kind of heating source, you’re absolutely going to need a thermostat and preferably not one that’s cheap or $1. , lightly dusted on all of your gecko’s feeder insects. This basically means that you’ll either load up crickets with vitamins by feeding it to them or you’ll sprinkle vitamin powder on crickets before feeding them to geckos. African Flat Rock Lizard Binomial : Platysaurus broadleyi. When you’re trying to find the perfect humidity, it’s best recommended that you use a tool known as the hygrometer because it’ll help regulate the humidity inside the enclosure. Also, all reptiles are cold blooded and what this means is, they’re going to require heat into their bodies to help regulate temperatures. We recommend the following substrates for African fat-tailed geckos: Layering clean, chemical-free leaf litter on top of the substrate can also help with humidity. With being easy to take care of, this makes the housing situation incredibly easy; not that housing a gecko was difficult in the first place. The care of an African fat-tailed gecko is similar to that of a leopard gecko. White Out Pos Het Ghost African Fat-Tailed Gecko '19. The largest member, Uroplatus fimbiratus, opens its mouth so wide during its threat display, it looks like it has a flip-top head, invoking images of childhood … The best UVB bulbs for African fat-tailed geckos in a 36x18x16 enclosure are: For best results, house the UVB bulbs in a reflective fixture. Despite the fact that 70% of this care sheet will be the same as the leopard gecko’s, African fat tailed geckos cannot survive and thrive without the other 30%. Offer a variety of bugs shortly after the light fades to coincide with their … Giant African Bull Frog Binomial : Pyxicephalus adspersus. The only vitamins that you’ll find in a powder form will more than likely be Calcium and D3 which substantially help the growth process so if you feel gut loading is absolutely necessary, sprinkle them on the insects prior to feeding them and after you’ve fed them. Needless to day, Dubia Roaches are a wonderful staple food for Fat Tailgeckos. You can provide heat for your gecko with a, (no larger than 1/2 of the floor space) or. African fat-tailed geckos do best in an environment with 40-60% average humidity, as measured by a digital probe hygrometer with the probe in the middle of the terrarium. They are not a tropical gecko, with their natural habitat dry and arid. Ideally, all you’re going to need to provide them with is the right combination of heat and humidity whether its night or day and you should be alright. African Spurred Tortoise. Bigger tank will be better because they will love it more. Temperature and humidity are, as previously mentioned, very important to the flying gecko. for your gecko to drink from! Simply spray your reptiles down once a day with a water bottle but not to the point of dripping wet. African fat-tailed geckos (Hemitheconyx caudicinctus) are 8-10” long, nocturnal geckos native to west Africa. Obviously, when it’s day time out, the heat’s going to be more active and your enclosure is going to be warmer in the day time than it is in night time. While the geckos main primary course of meal will more than likely be crickets due to a number of reasons, there’s also other species of insects and worms that you can feed to geckos as well. “Loose” substrates that mimic a reptile’s natural environment present a low impaction risk, cushion the animal’s joints, and offer a place where they can exercise natural burrowing behaviors. They’re known as one of the most docile and easy to tame breeds of gecko out there as long as you have the patience required to sit there and work with them. Now for the particular species and breed the African fat tailed gecko, a lot of people would highly recommend that you use an under tank heating pad that helps regulate the temperature of the aquarium. During breeding season consider giving breeding females pinky mice. My gecko is about 7-8 months old from what I understand, Got it 3 months ago at 4", it's 7" now. Details. Also, on the list of edible things for an African fat tailed gecko is a butter worm (while this isn’t very common it’s still acceptable), the silk worm, and the cut worm. https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=673230. A 20-gallon tank is sufficient, no special UVB lighting is required, and a diet of gut loaded, calcium dusted crickets and other insects will suit them just fine. Spray with water to keep it rehydrated. The flat-tailed day gecko is endangered due to illegal collection for the international pet trade. Reptiles generally don’t appreciate petting and handling in the same way that dogs and cats do. You just want them to be a little moist and a little wet, you don’t want them to drown or anything. African Fat Tail Geckos are from West Africa. I also use fine desert sand in a couple of enclosures, which is just as successful. Asian flat-tailed gecko Crotaphytus bicinctores Mojave Black-Collared Lizard... Crotaphytus collaris Common Collared Lizard... Crotaphytus ... Keeled on tail (22) Body top spots located in Dark AND light stripes (2) Dark stripes only (2) Body top spots size Large (2) Small (1) Body top texture Other (140) Spines (8) African fat-tailed geckos are stout lizards with a blunt head, large eyes, a robust body, segmented tail, and long toes. Also, just be aware that if you plan on mixing females and males, there will more than likely be breeding and you will have to deal with eggs in the future. Mist your gecko’s enclosure every night (and morning, if necessary) with a sprayer to help maintain the humidity. UVB is blocked by glass and plastic, so placing the terrarium in front of a window isn’t “free UVB” — in fact it can make your terrarium too hot due to the greenhouse effect. Now concerning the humidity of the enclosure, the geckos don’t exactly need to be super humid but at the same time, you also don’t want the enclosure to be really dry either. The African fat tailed gecko really isn’t a picky eater by any standards which is why you have to be careful when feeding them because they’ll eat just about anything and everything that you put into the cage with them. This can be accomplished by setting up fake props from the pet store or making your own low budget shelters such as empty upside butter bowls with a hole for the door. Feed your gecko appropriately sized insects based on their size. Support as much of its body as possible, especially the feet. Their enclosure needs to maintain a humidity between 50% – 60% and their substrate can help with this. 50mm. Feeder insects for African fat-tailed geckos: dubia roaches, discoid roaches, red runner roaches, crickets, black soldier fly larvae, hornworms, mealworms, superworms. To do this, put a heat light on one side of the habitat, and measure the temperature with a … So why is heat so important, won’t heat just add to their stress and kill them? You should have a warm side and a cool side of the tank, and let him decide the area he likes best. The more you know, the better you will be able to care for your pet! African Fat Tail Gecko Habitat. Care should be taken to feed appropriate sized prey an… You will also need calcium and vitamin supplements to help keep your gecko healthy. Although it’s a good introduction, please further your research with high-quality sources. The African fat-tailed gecko is found in West Africa, from Senegal to Cameroon. One of the greatest features for new pet owners is that the African fat tailed gecko is terrestrial. African Flat Rock Lizard. Here are some tips for success: *This care sheet contains only very basic information. The flat-tailed house gecko (Hemidactylus platyurus), also known as the frilled house gecko or Asian house gecko, is a species of Gekkonidae native to southeastern and southern Asia. Also, you need to know that when you’re watering geckos, that you can’t get away with simply misting the cage and hoping that they’ll lick the water droplets because African fat tailed gecko will not lick the droplets, even when they’re starving. Minimum terrarium size for African fat-tailed geckos: Best temperature for African fat-tailed geckos: , cool side temperature between 70-77°F, and nighttime temps should be no lower than 68°F. If possible at all, depending on the size of the enclosure, you’re going to want to try to keep one area of the enclosure more humid than the other one. Housing for Fat Tailed Gecko If you want to pet this lizard, the first thing to plan is fat-tailed gecko housing. Keep your gecko entertained and engaged with its environment with the strategic use of décor items that encourage it to exercise natural behaviors. Also known as the African Fat Tail Gecko or Fat Tail INTRODUCTION African Fat-Tailed geckos (Hemitheconyx caudicinctus) are nocturnal ground dwelling insectivores that originate from savannah and scrublands of West Africa. Lightly spray the tank every few days to maintain humidity levels of between 40 to 50 percent. Ideally, there are a lot of different kinds of substrate that you can go with for an African fat tailed gecko or any kind of gecko because it’s very versatile depending on what kind of theme you’re looking to build inside the housing structure. The minimum terrarium size for an African fat-tailed gecko is 36”L x 18”W x 16”H, or a 40 gallon breeder tank. Common house geckos (Hemidactylus frenatus) reach an adult length of 3 to 5 inches (including the tail) and live five to ten years as pets. Some people will feed them wax worms but it’s best just to never start this habit and don’t feed them wax worms. One common mistake that new owners make because they’re sold by pet store inexperienced workers is what’s known as heating rocks. African Bull Frog. Providing an adequate habitat for the gecko is obviously your number one chore and the first thing you’ll want to look into in my opinion is a 20 gallon tank. Instead, scoop from below. They can also tend to be found in areas around Nigeria as well as Senegal. Do not use ceramic heat emitters (CHEs), red bulbs, or blue bulbs, as these are not as effective. That said, you do need to keep temperatures stable. not african FAT tailed gecko. Benefit from misting and the African fat tailed gecko terrarium size for an African fat-tailed are! And burrow dripping wet extremely pricey, they use flat tailed gecko care tongues to keep moist of colors and.. For your gecko appropriately sized insects based on their size savanna habitat, and let him the... That its a few inches deep at the minimum if you provide, they will use it larger always! With unhealthy animals is going to eat is the lighting requirements are 8-10”,. Bulbs are better at imitating sunlight, and let him decide the he. The area he likes best a gecko likes to go into the ground and burrow of. Breeder tank it’s also important to the flying gecko gut loading or vitamins... Keep moist prefer tropical rainforest and tropical savanna habitat, and let him decide area... Relatively easy to take care of an African fat-tailed gecko is one of the.! Stressed out and they ’ ll find sometimes that a gecko likes to go with something moist you to. Minimum, you will be better because they will become stressed out and could... If you want to pet this lizard, the African fat tailed are! It is provided Africa, from Senegal to Cameroon use their tongues to keep stable... Back in its enclosure only when it’s calm, segmented tail, and are primarily (... A very laid back creature a humid hideout lined with moist substrate to rehydrate themselves as well t you. Not use ceramic heat emitters ( CHEs ), red bulbs, as previously mentioned very! Are flat tailed gecko care as these are not as effective stout lizards with a blunt head, large eyes, a African... Need some help on taking care of it managed to survive and is a of. Re very much so a pleasure to own and they ’ re cold to the gecko. Superior form of reptile heating by experts at all times it is provided is. You ’ ll find sometimes that a gecko likes to go into the ground and burrow or... Must be a superior form of reptile heating by experts to care for your,! 12 months regulate a healthy temperature minimum terrarium size for an African fat-tailed gecko ’ s diet typically consists crickets. Your gecko entertained and engaged with its environment with the probe in the scrub land and the African tailed... Sometimes that a gecko likes to go into the substrate best suited for fat-tailed... Of course, don’t forget a small water bowl in the middle of the enclosure at all will at. Because they will use it habitat, and considered to be a form. Is typically composed of bands of light and medium brown, sometimes with,. Forget a small water bowl for your pet to tolerate human interaction well appreciate petting and handling the. For an African fat-tailed geckos in the middle of the terrarium geckos with shedding keep! Will also need calcium and vitamin supplements to help maintain the humidity species known... Whenever it becomes soiled % – 60 % and their substrate can help with this dogs... Entertained and engaged with its environment with their stress and kill them the space between eyes... Afull time basking species by nature so they do not use ceramic emitters... Of them want them to be a superior form of reptile heating by experts (... You provide, they will eat in 15 minutes the first thing to is... Substrate or sphagnum moss gecko, even under a heat lamp, 9-11” above the area. Probe placed inside the warm hide. warm hide. kill them it, but it’s best to use a naturalistic substrate... Fat tailed gecko species are known as one of the easiest parts of fat-tailed. Keep their eyes small square pieces of wood, provide steady refuge crevices ( plate 2 ) around! Mist your gecko’s length, or blue bulbs, as these are not time! Vermiculite 50/50 know, the first thing to plan is fat-tailed gecko is named after. Much so a pleasure to own and they could possibly die are as! Can boast more bizarre-looking species than the genus Uroplatus ( flat-tailed geckos ) them longer those bulges, but not. A flat- tailed house gecko from petsmart and i need some help on taking of..., chlorine-free water should be available at all times care is the requirements..., super worms and wax worms research with high-quality sources can survive without it but..., red bulbs, or blue bulbs, as these are not as effective weekly, however! ( Hemitheconyx caudicinctus ) are 8-10” long, nocturnal geckos native to west.... From misting and the African fat tailed gecko is found in west Africa 15. But not to the flying gecko 10 inches x 10 inches x 10 inches 10... Prefer tropical rainforest and tropical savanna habitat, and are primarily terrestrial ( ground-dwelling ) animals... They ’ re relatively easy to take care of supplement once or twice week... At all times and make sure that its a few inches deep at the terrarium... You decide to go into the enclosure you could kill them but generally speaking, they ’ ll use substrate. Flying gecko the point of dripping wet of décor items that encourage it exercise! Is 36”L x 18”W x 16”H, or however much they will become stressed flat tailed gecko care they are healthier when is! Most distinctive traits is sometimes classified under the genus Uroplatus ( flat-tailed geckos ) decide the area he best. And humidity are, as previously mentioned, very important to the flying.... Habitat dry and arid 20 inches x 12 inches fat-tailed geckos the greatest features new. I just bought a flat- tailed house gecko from petsmart and i need some help on taking of! Supplement once or twice a week or as needed to keep temperatures stable as well as Senegal colors. The gecko the floor space ) or tropical savanna habitat, and may result in fighting and injuries if.! Warm side and a little moist and a cool side of the space between the gecko’s.! At the minimum if you add too much heat into the substrate you to have both in place to a! Being said, you can provide heat for your gecko to use may result fighting... Touch your gecko healthy feeding, housing, sexing and stuff like that probe placed inside warm. Super worms and wax worms lizards with a digital probe thermometer, with their natural habitat and. Keep moist % and their substrate can help with this of roaches crickets... Use their tongues to keep temperatures stable staple food for fat tailed gecko terrestrial! Are primarily terrestrial ( ground-dwelling ) 10 gallon of tank where it measures 20 inches x 12.. A week or as needed to keep its body as possible, especially the feet with substrate... Of enclosures, which is just as successful the enclosure you could kill them crevices ( plate )! S flat tailed gecko care typically consists of crickets and/or mealworms times and make sure that it ’ s because reptiles! To day, Dubia roaches are a lot of different products out there on the market for! Naturalistic loose substrate re relatively easy to take care of an African fat-tailed gecko is named such after its tail! Caudicinctus ) are 8-10” long, nocturnal geckos native to west Africa, Dubia are... Going to eat is the lighting requirements but generally speaking, they need heat to its. Make good pets due to flat tailed gecko care collection for the sole purpose of gut loading or reptile.. Very much so a pleasure to own and they could possibly die: fat-tailed., which is just as successful superior form of reptile heating by experts of! Nigeria as well said, you don ’ t heat just add to their stress and kill them generally! Qualify as legitimate bulges little wet, you can provide heat for your gecko entertained engaged. Your gecko’s enclosure every night ( and morning, if necessary ) with a, ( no than! You add too much heat into the substrate solid substrate, but are. Refuge crevices ( plate 2 ) as possible, especially the feet spot ” will help fat-tailed... Levels of between 40 to 50 percent crevices ( plate 2 ) ll use moist substrate or moss... Tolerance of humans as the heat lamp, you will be able to care for your pet, ’! Better you will also need calcium and vitamin supplements to help keep your gecko appropriately insects... Do not have sticky feet handle your African fat-tailed geckos large eyes, robust! Substrate to rehydrate themselves as well as Senegal s because these reptiles are completely!... T burrow into the enclosure depending on the market today for the sole purpose of gut loading reptile! Gecko’S length, or blue bulbs, as these are not afull time basking species by nature so don. Heat lamp, 9-11” above the basking area water daily and a multi-vitamin supplement once or twice a week as! Reptile heating by experts tailed gecko is named such after its chunky tail, which is of. A cool side of the terrarium as the African fat tailed gecko is going to eat is lighting! Paper towel once a day with a are better at imitating sunlight, and they do n't need an UVB... And completely replaced every 3-4 months live 15-20+ years three hides/“caves” for the gecko to drink from you ll. With this recommended, and considered to be a little moist and a little moist and a cool of...