Reptile Questions

Are African fat-tailed geckos carnivores?

African Fat-Tailed Geckos are carnivorous, and are not known to consume any plant materials in their natural habitat. Their diet consists mainly of insects and other invertebrates they encounter during the night-time in the savannahs, including different types of worms, crickets and beetles.

What Size Crickets Do African Fat Tailed Geckos Eat? When feeding your African fat-tailed gecko, offer food items that are no larger than the width of the gecko's head. For baby African fat-tails, offer crickets that are ¼ inch long. When they reach 10 grams in weight, they can take 1/2 inch crickets. Upon attaining 18 grams, your gecko can take full-size crickets.

How Long Do African Fat-tailed Geckos Live? Crested geckos can have a lifespan in captivity of 15 to 20 years. African fat-tailed geckos are very similar to leopard geckos except that their tails function as fat storage. Because of this, a healthy African fat-tailed gecko will have a fat, large tail that is about the same width as its head.

What Is The Difference Between Male And Female African Fat Tailed Geckos?

Both the male and female African fat-tailed gecko has a fat-tailed, but once mature the males tail will be wider at the base than the female. Again, this is only a suitable way to sex your gecko if you have another African fat-tailed gecko to compare it to.

How Do African Fat-tailed Geckos Communicate? However, you may find your African fat-tailed gecko communicating through its tail. They will wag, stiffen, and even rattle their tail depending on their mood. The African fat-tailed gecko is born with one of two forms: banded or striped. Banded geckos have darker bands that stretch down the length of their bodies.

What Climate Do African Fat-tailed Geckos Live In? Dry and hot/tropical climates are favored by this small terrestrial gecko. Although they only have a small geographic range where they are native, African Fat-tailed Geckos are one of the most popular reptile pets today.

How Long Can African Fat Tailed Geckos Go Without Food? With its tail, an African fat tailed gecko can go days on end without food. 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.

When Is Breeding Season For African Fat Tailed Geckos? Breeding season for African fat-tailed geckos starts in November, then goes into March. During this time, females can lay up to five batches, known as clutches, of eggs depending on how many males mate with them. Each clutch range from 1-3 eggs.

How Often Do African Fat-tailed Geckos Eat?

Adults can eat three to four times a week. African fat-tailed geckos can suffer from all of the same potential health issues as other reptiles in captivity. This includes respiratory infections, mouth rot, and even bacterial infections.

Do African Fat Tailed Geckos Need A Basking Spot? Please note that your African fat-tailed gecko will not bask the same as a bearded dragon, but having a basking spot can be advantageous in helping to improve belly heat to help with effective digestion. 2 thermometers, one for each side of the tank to monitor temperatures

Where Can I Buy African Fat Tailed Geckos? African fat-tailed geckos are not yet as widely available as the more common leopard geckos. Interestingly, though rare, they are available online through fat tailed gecko breeders. Another reason to be sure to purchase from a fat tail gecko breeder who specialize in their captive breeding.

How To Handle African Fat-tailed Geckos? Handling African Fat-Tailed Geckos is the best part about owning them. They don't bite unless they are very stressed. New geckos should get 3-7 days to settle down before you hold them. Baby geckos are more likely to bite. Make sure your gecko feels safe, by holding with both hands. Never squeeze your gecko.

How To Care For African Fat Tailed Geckos? African fat-tailed geckos will need a source of water to drink from. This means you'll need to provide a small water dish that the lizard can get its head into comfortably. Keep the dish filled with fresh filtered water. The cleanliness of the water will have a big impact on their overall health and lifespan.

Do African Fat-tailed Geckos Need Thermostats?

Thermostats are also available for maintaining the correct temperature. African fat-tailed geckos require a humidity level between 50-70%. This can be accomplished through the use of the right substrate. It was previously noted that it is important to provide hiding places for your African fat-tailed.

Do African Fat-tailed Geckos Need A Light? African fat-tailed gecko setup is easier than you may think. Remember that your gecko will require up to twelve hours of light per day. Being nocturnal reptiles, there is no need for a UVB light. Under tank heat mats are the preferred heating choice for these reptiles.

Do African Fat-tailed Geckos Need UVB Light? For example, if you have two adults, you should keep them in a 20-gallon tank and so forth. Your African fat-tailed gecko should also receive a full 12 hours of light each day. However, they don't really need a strong UVB light. A simple T8 or T5 lamp on a timer will work just fine for them. Be sure to mount your light in a back corner as well.

How Often Do African Fat-tailed Geckos Lay Eggs? African fat-tailed geckos have a distinct breeding season each year that typically lasts 5 months - normally November to March. While females can lay up to five clutches of eggs in this time, most often lay much fewer with either a single or two clutches only.

Are African Fat Tailed Geckos Nocturnal? 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. They have been found during the day hiding under a variety of cover and will retreat to burrows or hide under rocks or fallen logs. African fat-tailed geckos as pets

Do African Fat Tailed Geckos Have Sticky Feet?

The African fat-tailed geckos has small, but strong, legs. They're also sporting tiny agile fingers that help them climb and burrow. Interestingly enough, the feet are not sticky like most geckos.

What Do African Fat-tailed Geckos Need To Survive? It also needs decorations such as cork rounds, logs, grape wood, and bamboo hollows. It is vital that African Fat-Tailed Geckos are exposed to 10-12 hours of light each day. As they do not bask throughout the daytime, they do not need a strong UVB light source (around 5% over a small area).

Are African Fat Tail Geckos Good Pets? African fat-tails and leopard geckos both have excellent temperaments, but AFTs are much more mellow, and even wild-caught adults can be easily tamed. AFTs tolerate handling better, even as babies, and they may make better pets in that respect.

Are African Fat-tailed Geckos Good Pets? Native to arid environments of West Africa, the African fat-tailed gecko is an interesting species to own. It's not as well-known as some other common types of pet geckos.

Why Buy African Fat Tail Geckos? African fat tail geckos are known for their mild temperament and relatively laid-back personalities. Most importantly, when you buy a gecko from us, you automatically receive our 100% live arrival guarantee. All of our white out African fat tail gecko for sale are hand raised and handled often to remain as tame as they are beautiful.

Can African Fat Tailed Geckos Be Kept In Groups?

African fat-tailed geckos do just fine in solitary enclosures. While you can keep them in groups, you must be careful about how you house them. You should never keep two males together. Males are notoriously territorial and will fight until they lose their tails.

Do African Fat Tail Geckos Need Humidity To Grow? African fat tail geckos do require certain humidity to grow and remain healthy. Shedding for example can be super easy for your gecko, or a task depending on if the humidity is correct or too low.