Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I am going to keep my male and female fattails together. Is uth necessary or is heat from above ok. Is a 10 gallon ok or would 20 be better. Thanks- Mark

Since your AFTS are young they can be kept in a 10g but will need a 20g as they become adults.
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Tarentolas@hotmail.com
groups.msn.com/KevinsReptiles
Geckos
1.1.0 Gekko gecko
1.1.0 Eublepharis macularius(ghost and normal)
2.0.0 Hemitheconyx caudicinctus(normal and striped)
1.0.0 Tarentola mauritanica
1.0.0 Hemidactylus turcicus
Other Lizards
0.1.0 Basiliscus vittaus
1.0.0 Physignathus cocincinus
0.1.0 Anolis carolinensis
1.0.0 Chamaeleo calyptratus calyptratus
1.0.0 Iguana iguana
Boidaes
1.1.0 Python regius(Lenny and Elizabeth)
0.0.1 Boa constrictor imperator(Carl)
Turtle
0.1.0 Chrysemys picta

1.1.0 Elaphe guttata guttata soon!
1.1.0 Lampropeltis triangulum campbelli soon!

As Tarentola said, they eventually will need to be in a 20gal.(Long)....so why buy twice. Just get the 20gal. now, that's what I did, they adapt. I have an under the tank heatmat on mine with a dimmer type thermostat so I can control the temp in the winter & summer mos.,works out gr8 for me. Good luck AFT's are awesome ur gonna love 'em.
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2.0.0 Cresteds
1.1.0 Afican Fat Tail
0.0.2 Viper Tail
0.0.1 Oedura castelnaui

20L for baby and/or juvenile will be too large and can cause stress to your gecko. For sake of husbandry and searching for food, the 10 gallon will better stimulate your geckos. Steer clear from the "why buy twice" analogy and go with the "do it right for the sake of your gecko(s)." You'll have enough money into this that an additional $10 shouldn't kill you.

Same goes for hides. Obviously at least two one of which over the UTH but use smaller hides for the smaller geckos.

I agree with you if they are hatchlings, but not so much on the juvies, depending on their age/size. A 20gal.long isn't all that big once you start putting all the necessities in there.
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2.0.0 Cresteds
1.1.0 Afican Fat Tail
0.0.2 Viper Tail
0.0.1 Oedura castelnaui

Though you can keep an adult in a large cage, I once kept a adult AFT in a 75g........................oh how he loved it.

You both have good opinions
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Tarentolas@hotmail.com
groups.msn.com/KevinsReptiles
Geckos
1.1.0 Gekko gecko
1.1.0 Eublepharis macularius(ghost and normal)
2.0.0 Hemitheconyx caudicinctus(normal and striped)
1.0.0 Tarentola mauritanica
1.0.0 Hemidactylus turcicus
Other Lizards
0.1.0 Basiliscus vittaus
1.0.0 Physignathus cocincinus
0.1.0 Anolis carolinensis
1.0.0 Chamaeleo calyptratus calyptratus
1.0.0 Iguana iguana
Boidaes
1.1.0 Python regius(Lenny and Elizabeth)
0.0.1 Boa constrictor imperator(Carl)
Turtle
0.1.0 Chrysemys picta

1.1.0 Elaphe guttata guttata soon!
1.1.0 Lampropeltis triangulum campbelli soon!

Necessities, ae: two hides and a shallow dish for water. As far as base dimensions, a 10g fish tank is perfect for 1 leo, 2-3 leos 20L . For me to say bigger tanks are junk and a bad idea is totally bogus, they live in the wild. But for all practicallity, there are not many 60g fat-tails out there in the wild either. To say a 60g gecko is healthier than a 50g is bogus as well. But access space does cause stress on the herp, besides extra space for crickets to run.

As far as a 75g considering 65 gallons are space wasted- my gex don't complain much about 10g. Such as with snakes, a 4 ft ball python need nothing larger than a 20L- though not to say he couldn't live its life in a 40,55,65,75

Now I'm just rambling.. sorry

-Scott

Unless they are hatchlings you want to go with the 20L. hatchlings should be in a small set up but anything else will thrive better in the 20L when kept in a pair. A 10 is to small for for a pair. You can use overhead heat but a UTH is the preferred heat source for them.
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My posts and replies are my experiences only
1.2.15 Tokays
1.4.10 Leos(13 albino)
1.2.0 AFT's(amel male)
0.2.0 Stenodactylus Petrii(Dune Geckos)

ATF's need belly heat to help with digestion (at least that's what I've been repeatedly told). so i would highly recommend a UTH.
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0.1.0 African Fat Tail
0.1.0 Leopard Gecko
1.0.0 Flat Tail House Gecko
1.0.0 Long Tail Grass Lizards
1.0.0 Betta (Past away 3/17/04)
1.1.0 Cats