Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I aquired my adult AFT from my supervisor, so I am unsure of his age, but when I got him he was kinda on the thin side. He quickly fattened up and was eating 6-15 crickets each week (depending on how many crickets I would get when I asked for a dozen at the pet store). He won't eat mealworms at all. I was gone for the summer and my husband continued with the once a week feedings. When I got back however, my boy has a fairly thin tail, not like he will die tomorrow or anything, but too thin for my liking. He is eating and passing fecals just fine, but I'm worried about why he got so thin despite eating. He's eaten 14 crickets over the past two days and seems like he could eat more if he were offered them. Is it possible that he picked up some parasites from the crickets, and if so, what is the best way to collect a fecal to get him tested? I'm less than a week away from being a vet student, so I know there are very herp knowledgable vets to check it and treat him, I'm just not sure if maybe we aren't feeding him enough, and stuff like that. Any other tips or ideas on how to put some more weight on him?
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Kati33
0.0.1 Crested gecko (Dax)
1.0 Leopard gecko (Dragon)
1.0 AFT Gecko (Gobi)
0.1 Rosy boa (Daisy)
0.1 Rat-pet not food! (Jag)
0.0.1 Lovebird (Radar)
1.1 Dogs (Asher and Hank)
1.0 Husband (Bruce)

I forgot- I feed my leopard at the same time, so if the AFT has parasites, then my leopard should as well, right? Even though he hasn't lost any weight?
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Kati33
0.0.1 Crested gecko (Dax)
1.0 Leopard gecko (Dragon)
1.0 AFT Gecko (Gobi)
0.1 Rosy boa (Daisy)
0.2 Rats-pets not food! (Bear and Moose)
0.0.1 Lovebird (Radar)
1.1 Dogs (Asher and Hank)
1.0 Husband (Bruce)

Has it had loose stool? That's a sure sign. Keep your eye out for a fresh fecal sample (try to collect one right away). Then take it to a vet for a fecal float. That will determine whether there is a parasite.

Maybe he's just not getting enough food. In the summer I notice that my geckos eat like crazy because of the heat, and don't pork out.

Good Luck

I have 6 AFT's and one of them I recieved in the same condition you mentioned. I have now had him for over a year and he is great. I do feed him at least 2x's a week to keed him fat and I just started giving him pinkies and he LOVES them. I use live pinkies b/c he needs to see them move. 1 a week seems to be good plus calcium dusted crickets. People use pinkies to fatten up all the time.
Also, you don't actually have your leo and fattail together do you?
Here is a pic of Larry now.

My info was in addition to geckogirl72. I agree that a fecal exam could be helpful if he still does not gain weight.
Good luck and let us know how he is

Once a week? We feed our adult fatties every second day. I think once a week is too long between feedings. Try adding variety. Some of our fatties only eat crickets and others will eat waxworms, silkworms, mealworms etc. I use uth for belly heat and I find that helps in the digestion quicker, therefore, the fatties eat more and gain and maintain their weight better. Just some suggestions.
Betty