Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello! I have just recently aquired my first African Fat Tail Geckos. I have been keeping reptiles for 15 years, but these are my first geckos, and I love 'em! My collection consists mainly of Uromastyx, so I am up to speed in keeping these heat loving desert lizards. But what about my AFT's? I know they need to be kept humid, so what is my best course of action? Their substrate is 'Zoo-Med Repti-sand', which is very fine in consistancy. Should I put some peat moss in there too, moistened, with a hide-a-hut on top so they can sit in there? I've heard this is called a "sweatbox"? Am I right? I have been lightly misting them in the mornings, and they sip the water off the glass in the tank. But when I offer a water dish, they completely ignore it, even actively avoiding it at times. They have both shed already, and I've only had them for 1 week. So how do you guys regulate your AFT's humidity? I appreciate everyones answers, because you are all performing your own "case-studies" on geckos. Doesn't really sound like there is anyone here who just picked up a gecko at the local PetCo because it "looked cute". Thanks again!

-Paul
2 African Fat Tails
1 Mali Uromastyx
2 Niger Uromastyx
1 Bearded Dragon

The best way to keep the humidity up is to use something other than sand. Since these guys are a more tropical species than leopard geckos they really do much better on a bark type substrate. I personally use cyprus mulch but there are some comercial products out that you can find at the petstore. I still give my guys a humid hidebox, which doubles as a lay box.

Most adult aft's that you find in the pet trade are WC. (Wouldn't hurt to have a fecal done) They might eventually learn to drink from a bowl, but I still find that my adults prefer to drink from the sides when I mist and these guys have been in captivity for 10 years. Since I keep these guys on a substrate that holds humidity better, I only have to mist them 2-3 times a week.

You didn't mention where you picked these guys up so I will point out something that you might not realize. As I said before, most adult AFT's that you see in the pet trade are WC. Always watch for mouthrot in new arrivals. Recently imported AFT's seem very prone to it. Once they are established the occurance drops but in those first few months, it can develop quick. If it pops up, seek veterinary help. I had a fresh import sent to a store where I worked. She developed moutrot seemingly overnight, and it was baytril resisant. She pulled through but her recovery was long.

Hello! The AFT's I purchased are both juveniles, I forgot to mention that. One is 5 inches long, the other is 6 inches. The smaller one has a white stripe going down it's back. This one has also lost it's tail previous to me buying it, so it's new tail looks like a second head, rather than the longer, pointed tail on the larger gecko. What should their photoperiod be? I have an Uth so the tank is warm at night also, and they seem to be active at dusk and dawn. I am going to change their substrate to a moss/bark mixture, so the humidity will go up. Does the lighting have an effect on this? Thanks for the all the info!

-Paul

Depending on what type of lighting you use, it may effect the humidity. A heat lamp might make it dry out a tad faster. It's not really a problem, you may just have to mist a little more often. Also keep in mind that with winter coming up, you may have to increase your misting because the air gets drier (at least in my place it does)
For the winter time, a 12/12 photoperiod is fine. I increase mine to a 14/10 during the summer.

I mix at about a 50/50 ratio and depending like noted where you live would depend on how much misting you may have to do.
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My posts and replies are my experiences only
1.2.6 Tokays
1.4.6 Leos(9 albino)
0.2.0 AFT's
0.2.0 Stenodactylus Petrii(Dune Geckos)

Sand alone will not hold enough humidity, I use a mixture of fine play ground sand and peat. Id be careful using calci sand. I use a humid hide over the Uth with vermiculite insde and on the cool end i have a cave that I keep moist underneath also. I mist the entire substrate real well once a week and maybe a light misting in between. My AFTs seem to come out after misting like they enjoy it. Hope this helps. They prob drink from the water dish when your not looking or around so dont take it out.
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My posts and replies are my experiences only
1.2.6 Tokays
1.4.6 Leos(9 albino)
0.2.0 AFT's
0.2.0 Stenodactylus Petrii(Dune Geckos)

you mix up the sand and the moss?? if i were to mix up repti-sand, and, say, sphagnum moss, would that do the trick? ive heard that there have been problems with things like jungle earth, and that bed a beast tends to get very dry and powdery, thus being a bit of a pain.
thanks for the info.

This has worked very well for me, my AFTs realy seem to enjoy it. Humid hide cover is off in pic.

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My posts and replies are my experiences only
1.2.6 Tokays
1.4.6 Leos(9 albino)
0.2.0 AFT's
0.2.0 Stenodactylus Petrii(Dune Geckos)

looks close to my set up dakman
I added some plants. Silk of course because I was afraid of bugs and diseases from other plants and the fact that some are deadly and I didn't really know which to put in or whatever.
I have some rocks too and places they can go on the cooler side if they like but basically the same as what you have.
They seem to like it
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collector of Leo's and African Fat tails
www.geckomomsgeckos.com
President of Friends with MS
www.friendswithms.com

I stay away from plants too except with my Tokays, seems to be a place crickets always seem to hide. On the cool end is a large water bowel that is actually a cave underneath that provides a bath and climbing on, they like it there.
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My posts and replies are my experiences only
1.2.6 Tokays
1.4.6 Leos(9 albino)
0.2.0 AFT's
0.2.0 Stenodactylus Petrii(Dune Geckos)