African Fat Tailed Gecko - Hemitheconyx caudicinctus
BEcaBDue to the overwhelming amount of knowledge and care sheets available on the internet today we are going to focus more in depth on our own preferred methods of housing. While this may be more suited for an advanced hobbyist it can easily be replicated within the confines of a standard 10 gallon aquarium.
Supplies Needed -
We use rack systems to house all of our gecko s. If you intend on housing more than a few geckos these are by far the most economical and space saving options available. We custom build all of our racks in house. Not everyone is able to do this but fortunately there are a lot of commercial racks available on the market today.
All of our African Fat Tailed Geckos are housed individually. This includes hatchlings.
Each Iris tub is marked and then drilled for ventilation along the outer rim.
Paper towels are our substrate of choice. The bottom of the tub is lined with two layers of paper towels.
For a hide box we use a Styrofoam meat tray. The tray is positioned at the rear of the tub over the heat source.
A Ziploc or similar container is used for a moist hide. A circular hole is cut in the lid of the container to allow access for the gecko. We then fill this container 3/4 full with moistened coconut fiber. Peat moss can be used as a substitute. Our fat tailed geckos spend most of their time within their moist hide. This provides them with the proper humidity levels they need to have proper sheds. The moist hide is then placed on top of our other hide to prevent it from moving around. When housing hatchlings we opt to cut the hole in the side of the container and use wet paper towels instead of coconut fiber.
The food and water dishes are placed at the front of the enclosure to allow easy access for maintenance.
All of our African Fat Tailed Geckos are housed individually. This includes hatchlings.
Each Iris tub is marked and then drilled for ventilation along the outer rim.
Paper towels are our substrate of choice. The bottom of the tub is lined with two layers of paper towels.
For a hide box we use a Styrofoam meat tray. The tray is positioned at the rear of the tub over the heat source.
A Ziploc or similar container is used for a moist hide. A circular hole is cut in the lid of the container to allow access for the gecko. We then fill this container 3/4 full with moistened coconut fiber. Peat moss can be used as a substitute. Our fat tailed geckos spend most of their time within their moist hide. This provides them with the proper humidity levels they need to have proper sheds. The moist hide is then placed on top of our other hide to prevent it from moving around. When housing hatchlings we opt to cut the hole in the side of the container and use wet paper towels instead of coconut fiber.
The food and water dishes are placed at the front of the enclosure to allow easy access for maintenance.
Heat Source Required!
Fat tailed geckos require a heat source for proper digestion, growth, and development. We recommend using belly heat. This can be provided in the form of an under tank heat pad. Our rack systems are routed and equipped with a heat cable that supplies our units with heat. The desired temperature range for the heated area is 87-90 degrees Fahrenheit.
It's Feeding Time!
We offer our geckos a broad diet. We know that we wouldn't be happy eating the same meal everyday and we wouldn't want our pets to suffer from the same boring food options day after day. Here is a quick breakdown of what we offer as food items:
Not all Fat Tailed Geckos will eat mealworms. Experimentation is usually the best option when assesing what your gecko will eat. Nearly all will take crickets and dubia roaches. When you purchase a gecko from us you will be informed on what diet they are currently being fed.
- Dubia Roaches
- Turkestan Roaches
- Mealworms
- Crickets
- Superworms
- Pinky Mice - Offered occasionally to laying females
Not all Fat Tailed Geckos will eat mealworms. Experimentation is usually the best option when assesing what your gecko will eat. Nearly all will take crickets and dubia roaches. When you purchase a gecko from us you will be informed on what diet they are currently being fed.
Calcium & Vitamins -
We supplement our geckos with Repashy Calcium Plus. In addition to this females that are in the process of egg laying are offered an additional supply of Osteo-Form SA within their enclosure.