How To Care For Fat-Tailed Geckos
What Size Cage To Use
Fat-tailed geckos are easy to house. A 10-gallon tank will work well for one male and two females. A 20-gallon long tank or larger can house one male and up to five females. Do Not house males together, they are very territorial and will damage each other.
Bedding
Use coconut fiber or Reptibark for the substrate. Spot clean as needed and replace every 4-6 weeks.
Heating
Place a heat-pad on the bottom of one side of the tank for heat; this will be the "hot side." A heat lamp can be used but will dry out the air and make shedding difficult, The ambient temperature should be about 80° with a hotspot of around 90°. No additional lighting is required besides standard room lighting because these geckos are nocturnal. DO NOT USE UVB BULBS as it can damage the geckos' eyes, and we've seen no benefit in using them.
Places To Hide
Give them two hides. One hide should go on the cool side and the other on the hot side of the cage. More hides can be provided, and the Gecko can choose its favorite, Each hide should be large enough to hold all the geckos at the same time to prevent fighting. Fat-tailed geckos require some humidity, especially during shedding, place damp moss or paper towel in the cool side hide box to help keep the geckos hydrated, spray with water to rehydrate. This "Wet Hide" will help the geckos when shedding and also help to keep them cool when they need it. Lightly spray the tank every few days to maintain humidity levels of about 40 to 50 percent. Spray the moss paper towel in the hide boxes once a week or as needed to keep moist. Replace wet hide bedding to avoid mold buildup every two to four weeks or as required.
Diet
Like most geckos, Fat-tailed geckos are insectivores. They will feed on Crickets, Phoenix worms, Mealworms, Waxworms, and even tiny pinky mice. We recommend feeding them daily to three times a week, and as much as they will eat. Dust the insects with calcium/multivitamin supplement every other feeding to ensure proper bone growth and Vitamin D3 intake. Do not allow too many uneaten crickets to wander the cage, they will annoy and can nibble on your geckos' toes. You can leave out some cricket food to keep them occupied and gut loaded. Provide a water dish large enough for the geckos to get their bodies into, but no deeper than standing hight.
Availability
Fat-tailed geckos are starting to be bred in increasing numbers now. You can still get new imports at a rather low price, but these arrive with internal parasites, rough-looking, sometimes missing tails and a little beat up, we Do Not recommend. To preserve wild populations, captive Breed is always the best option.
What Size Cage To Use
Fat-tailed geckos are easy to house. A 10-gallon tank will work well for one male and two females. A 20-gallon long tank or larger can house one male and up to five females. Do Not house males together, they are very territorial and will damage each other.
Bedding
Use coconut fiber or Reptibark for the substrate. Spot clean as needed and replace every 4-6 weeks.
Heating
Place a heat-pad on the bottom of one side of the tank for heat; this will be the "hot side." A heat lamp can be used but will dry out the air and make shedding difficult, The ambient temperature should be about 80° with a hotspot of around 90°. No additional lighting is required besides standard room lighting because these geckos are nocturnal. DO NOT USE UVB BULBS as it can damage the geckos' eyes, and we've seen no benefit in using them.
Places To Hide
Give them two hides. One hide should go on the cool side and the other on the hot side of the cage. More hides can be provided, and the Gecko can choose its favorite, Each hide should be large enough to hold all the geckos at the same time to prevent fighting. Fat-tailed geckos require some humidity, especially during shedding, place damp moss or paper towel in the cool side hide box to help keep the geckos hydrated, spray with water to rehydrate. This "Wet Hide" will help the geckos when shedding and also help to keep them cool when they need it. Lightly spray the tank every few days to maintain humidity levels of about 40 to 50 percent. Spray the moss paper towel in the hide boxes once a week or as needed to keep moist. Replace wet hide bedding to avoid mold buildup every two to four weeks or as required.
Diet
Like most geckos, Fat-tailed geckos are insectivores. They will feed on Crickets, Phoenix worms, Mealworms, Waxworms, and even tiny pinky mice. We recommend feeding them daily to three times a week, and as much as they will eat. Dust the insects with calcium/multivitamin supplement every other feeding to ensure proper bone growth and Vitamin D3 intake. Do not allow too many uneaten crickets to wander the cage, they will annoy and can nibble on your geckos' toes. You can leave out some cricket food to keep them occupied and gut loaded. Provide a water dish large enough for the geckos to get their bodies into, but no deeper than standing hight.
Availability
Fat-tailed geckos are starting to be bred in increasing numbers now. You can still get new imports at a rather low price, but these arrive with internal parasites, rough-looking, sometimes missing tails and a little beat up, we Do Not recommend. To preserve wild populations, captive Breed is always the best option.
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