Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I'm diehard in love with both the Crested Gecko and the African Fat Tailed, for beauty, cuteness, and ability to take to handling better than most geckoes. I've got most of the standard supplies for either (20 gallon tank, Eco-Earth bedding, moisture hides and rock hides, heating pad etc etc) and am finally looking to buy one.

I know you're most likely bias but if any of you have also had experience with African Fat Tailed Geckoes as well as Cresteds, can you tell me the big differences between owning the two; expenses, needs, daily care neccessary or every-other-day/weekly care, caging, behaviour etc? The people at my local pet store just urge me to buy both for profit reasons on their part

well, with the cresty, yo'd need more climbing stuff, and you wouldn't really need the heating pad tht much, because they ca be kept at room temperature or just above........

I've never owned an AFT but for me the answer could be found in the care sheets: AFT's require live food, Cresteds don't. If I'm too busy/lazy to deal with keeping crickets, I can feed my crested "off-the-shelf" food (Crested Gecko Diet, mixed with supplements, water, and peach baby food). I do feed crickets when I can, but the CGD is a complete nutitrional diet by itself.

Also, cresteds don't require a heat source, as long as you keep your house between 70 and 80 F.

-H