African fat-tailed geckos can be purchased from reputable reptile breeders at reptile shows and expos. As these captive-bred specimens have had optimal conditions, their health is greatly improved over wild-caught specimens.
Captive fat-tails feed on live crickets, mealworms, waxworms, roach nymphs and silkworms; for optimal nutrition this should be gut loaded prior to feeding (see below).
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Crickets
African fat-tailed geckos are predominantly insectivorous creatures that make popular pets among reptile enthusiasts due to their ability to be easily bred at home. Gut loading insects will increase nutritional value.
These animals are nocturnal, making the evening hours the ideal time to spot them hunting or roaming their enclosures.
Baby fat-tailed geckos need a high metabolism and should be fed small insects every day as part of their diet, while as they mature this requirement can be reduced to several times each week. Crickets are popular feeder insects but you could also try dubia roaches which do not make noise and contain higher levels of nutrients compared to crickets. When offering feeder insects to your African fat-tailed gecko diet always dust or “gut load” these feeder insects before offering to your African fat-tailed gecko diet.
Roaches
African fat-tailed geckos make excellent starter reptiles. Their low maintenance requirements and relatively docile nature makes them suitable for beginners who are just getting started in reptile ownership. You can find them easily at pet stores, reptile shows and online; just make sure that the breeder you purchase it from is reliable; before purchasing one make sure they check that their gecko is healthy before purchasing; additionally it should be remembered that these animals tend to become active at nighttime and may lose its tail during this process.
Geckos typically feed on crickets and mealworms; however, other foods such as waxworms, roach nymphs, silkworms and pinkie mice may also be fed to them for optimal nutrition. Food should be provided in small pieces to avoid any possible choking risks; gut load the insects first to boost nutrition further; dead insects are best avoided as this could potentially pose health issues; humidity in their tank should range between 50%-70% for best results.
Mealworms
African Fat-Tailed Geckos are territorial and solitary creatures with their tails functioning both as storage space for fat storage as well as an effective defense mechanism against predators. Carnivorous in nature, African Fat-Tailed Gecko diet typically consists of crickets, mealworms, dubia roaches and hornworms but other treats may include silkworms, cockroach nymphs or small frozen mice as treats. When introducing any new insects make sure they have been gut loaded (fed nutrient rich food source) before giving to your African Fat-Tailed Gecko.
Don’t feed your lizard fish, as its sharp bones could cause choking and internal damage. When keeping fat-tailed gecko’s hideout inhabited with moisture-retaining substrate like sphagnum moss for humidity levels to remain at optimal levels it is recommended that misting daily as well as providing water dish. A deep terrarium with multiple hideouts and heated hide area are suitable environments, while using loose substrate can present low impaction risk and cushion their joints while helping maintain humidity levels.
Fish
African fat-tailed geckos are highly docile animals that love being held. Although their tail may regrowth after being dropped on its own, owners should never pick them up by its tail and should try not startle or hold too tightly; otherwise they may shake it defensively but should not bite.
Feeding these lizards daily with insects is essential, and gut loading should be used to provide more nutrition and increase survival chances. Supplements can be purchased both online or at exotic pet stores.
These lizards require a suitable tank, as they can become quite large over time. Some owners add a sphagnum moss layer which helps maintain humidity in their enclosure; or use a shallow water bowl that’s regularly misted with misting water to increase humidity in their environment.
