Post by ReptileMan27 on Dec 3, 2005 2:04:03 GMT -5
Scientific Name: Hemitheconyx caudicinctus
Common Name: Afican Fat Tail Gecko,Fat Tail Gecko,and AFTs are a few of the common names.
Range: West Africa(Nigeria to Senegal)
Adult Size: 5-8 inches long, males tend to be a little larger.
Lifespan: 15 years
INTRODUCTION: AFTs are very similar in appereance and disposition to the ever popular leopard gecko. They usaully have alternating bands of chocolate brown and lighter brown on the entire body.
HOUSING: A 10 gallon tank with a screen cover is good for one adult AFT. I would say one adult AFT to every 10 gallons is a good rule of thumb when housing more then one AFT. Make sure there is only one male per cage and as many females as you want. Be sure to allow room in the cage for water dish and hide spots. Make sure to put lots of hides in the cage like fake plants,vines,and hiding caves or logs.
LIGHTING & TEMPERATURES: AFTs are nocturnal and dont require any UVB or any other special lighting. UTHs(under tank heater) works best for heating AFTs. Nocturnal bulbs like infered can be used for heating also or even a regular house hold bulb works to. Make sure to provide a thermal gradient of 75-90 degrees. By doing this you create a cool and a warm side, this allows the gecko to choose where its comfortable. The water dish should be on the cool side and the hide spot on the warm side. It also isnt a bad idea to have a hide spot on the cool side to. DO NOT USE HOT ROCKS FOR HEATING YOUR AFTs.
HUMIDITY: Make sure to provide your AFT with a humid hide with moist paper towels or peat moss in it. Misting is also a good idea to keep the humidity up. The main time humidity is most important is when your AFT is shedding because it helps aid with the shedding. If your AFT is having problems shedding then you need to raise the humidity.
SUBSTRATE: There are a number of things that can be used for a substrate but the safest in my experience is coco fiber,paper towels,newspaper, or reptile carpet. Some people use bark or mulch but the problem with that is bark and mulch contain large peices which if swallowed can be deadly. DO NOT USE SAND(play sand or calci sand). Sand is not natural for AFTs and is not safe either.
FOOD & WATER: Crickets should make up the main diet but mealworms can also be used if your AFT will eat them. The crickets should be dusted with calcium powder with vitimain D3 in it. How often you dust the cricks depends on age and personal experience. I dust crickets 2 to 3 times a week for babys and 1 or 2 times a week for adults. Its also important to gut load the crickets before feeding the to your AFT. Gut loading can be done buy feeding your crickets some of the different comercial gut load food for crickets. Wax worms can also be fed but only as a treat once in awhile because they are addicting and very fattening. Fresh clean water should be avaliable at all times. A more flat water dish that only holds 2 or 3 inches of water,works best.
HANDLING/DISPOSITION: AFTs are more mellow and docile then other gecko species with the exception of leopard geckos. I actually find AFTs more calm and layed back then leos,which makes them a little easier to handle. AFTs are nocturnal, so they are most active at night and that may be the best time to feed or handle. The best way to Handle AFTs is to hold them in a flat hand and dont try to restrain them. Just let them walk in your hands and even on your arm. Make sure not to grab them by the tail because their tail will pop off easy. The tail will grow back but its very stressful for the lizard and the regrown tail wont look as nice as the original.
SEXING: AFTs can be sexed by looking underneath them at the base of the tail. Males will have pores shaped like a V and females will be blank without the pores. Sex can usaully be determined at 6 months of age.
Common Name: Afican Fat Tail Gecko,Fat Tail Gecko,and AFTs are a few of the common names.
Range: West Africa(Nigeria to Senegal)
Adult Size: 5-8 inches long, males tend to be a little larger.
Lifespan: 15 years
INTRODUCTION: AFTs are very similar in appereance and disposition to the ever popular leopard gecko. They usaully have alternating bands of chocolate brown and lighter brown on the entire body.
HOUSING: A 10 gallon tank with a screen cover is good for one adult AFT. I would say one adult AFT to every 10 gallons is a good rule of thumb when housing more then one AFT. Make sure there is only one male per cage and as many females as you want. Be sure to allow room in the cage for water dish and hide spots. Make sure to put lots of hides in the cage like fake plants,vines,and hiding caves or logs.
LIGHTING & TEMPERATURES: AFTs are nocturnal and dont require any UVB or any other special lighting. UTHs(under tank heater) works best for heating AFTs. Nocturnal bulbs like infered can be used for heating also or even a regular house hold bulb works to. Make sure to provide a thermal gradient of 75-90 degrees. By doing this you create a cool and a warm side, this allows the gecko to choose where its comfortable. The water dish should be on the cool side and the hide spot on the warm side. It also isnt a bad idea to have a hide spot on the cool side to. DO NOT USE HOT ROCKS FOR HEATING YOUR AFTs.
HUMIDITY: Make sure to provide your AFT with a humid hide with moist paper towels or peat moss in it. Misting is also a good idea to keep the humidity up. The main time humidity is most important is when your AFT is shedding because it helps aid with the shedding. If your AFT is having problems shedding then you need to raise the humidity.
SUBSTRATE: There are a number of things that can be used for a substrate but the safest in my experience is coco fiber,paper towels,newspaper, or reptile carpet. Some people use bark or mulch but the problem with that is bark and mulch contain large peices which if swallowed can be deadly. DO NOT USE SAND(play sand or calci sand). Sand is not natural for AFTs and is not safe either.
FOOD & WATER: Crickets should make up the main diet but mealworms can also be used if your AFT will eat them. The crickets should be dusted with calcium powder with vitimain D3 in it. How often you dust the cricks depends on age and personal experience. I dust crickets 2 to 3 times a week for babys and 1 or 2 times a week for adults. Its also important to gut load the crickets before feeding the to your AFT. Gut loading can be done buy feeding your crickets some of the different comercial gut load food for crickets. Wax worms can also be fed but only as a treat once in awhile because they are addicting and very fattening. Fresh clean water should be avaliable at all times. A more flat water dish that only holds 2 or 3 inches of water,works best.
HANDLING/DISPOSITION: AFTs are more mellow and docile then other gecko species with the exception of leopard geckos. I actually find AFTs more calm and layed back then leos,which makes them a little easier to handle. AFTs are nocturnal, so they are most active at night and that may be the best time to feed or handle. The best way to Handle AFTs is to hold them in a flat hand and dont try to restrain them. Just let them walk in your hands and even on your arm. Make sure not to grab them by the tail because their tail will pop off easy. The tail will grow back but its very stressful for the lizard and the regrown tail wont look as nice as the original.
SEXING: AFTs can be sexed by looking underneath them at the base of the tail. Males will have pores shaped like a V and females will be blank without the pores. Sex can usaully be determined at 6 months of age.