Anyone working with African Fat-Tailed Geckos

[Jerhart]

I was curious if anyone is working with AFT Geckos? I have been thinking about getting into some sort of terrestrial gecko for some time now. Everyone works with leopard geckos and I am wanting to something a little more uncommon. I am attracted to the robust build of the AFT Geckos.

I suppose the one thing holding me back is the feeding. I hate messing with crickets. But I understand this makes up the majority of their diet and it is something I will just get use to dealing with.

Anyone want to share their experience with these guys? I am out of the loop on morphs but off the top of my head, banded, striped, albino banded/striped, tangerine, and khaki are the current morphs out there?

I am familiar with their husbandry. Just am wanting to hear individuals views on them. Who are some of the big-wig breeders of AFTs?

Thank you all!

[casperca]

Check out JMG reptile

http://www.jmgreptile.com/breedingprojects.html

They've got some killer projects going with the fatties.

[Jerhart]

JMG has some nice animals! Thank you very much for that link.

I was reading on Trempers site that he has fed his geckos dusted mealworms for year with no signs of health problems. Now he didnt say if the mealworms made up 10% or 90% of the diet (I know that he is speaking of leos, but both have similar feeding requirements). I have always been under the assumption that crickets should make up a majority of the diet. Does anyone have experience making mealworms a majority of their animals diet? Is this possible? I find keeping mealworms much easier than keeping crickets.

Also, do the same rules apply to AFTs when incubating within a certain temperature range will yield majority females or males? bleh..that was worded funny ha.

Thanks you!

[Jerhart]

Anyone?

Does anyone know of any good forums with AFT info? I am trying to register at geckoforums.net however the image verification code is not showing up for me. Kind of frustrating.

Any gecko fans out there have any other good forums that may be of use to me?

Thank you.

[ladywhipple02]

I don't know a whole lot about AFT's, but I do know that you can feed Leo's with Pheonix worms. They are the larva of the soldier fly, and a lot higher in calcium than mealworms... plus they're softer, with less chance of impacting. I put them in with a dusting of Repashy Superfood Leopard Gecko Calcium Plus. My guys seem to like them quite a bit, though I have read testimonials of other leo owners who's pets won't eat them.

In any case, it may be worth a try if you hate crix as much as I do. You can go to www.pheonixworms.com for more info.

[Jerhart]

Thank you Lynn!!!!!

I will check the phoenix worms out!

I have a freezer full of rats and have no problem with that. But I really dont want to deal with stray crickets running around, chirping at nite, and constant trips to the pet store....been there done that YEARS ago.

Thanks again for the info!

[ladywhipple02]

My bad... I'm tired tonight, lol. It's www.phoenixworm.com.

The best thing about them, too, is that you don't have to keep them in the fridge or anything. Room temp is just fine.

[Stewart_Reptiles]

I was reading on Trempers site that he has fed his geckos dusted mealworms for year with no signs of health problems. Now he didnt say if the mealworms made up 10% or 90% of the diet (I know that he is speaking of leos, but both have similar feeding requirements). I have always been under the assumption that crickets should make up a majority of the diet. Does anyone have experience making mealworms a majority of their animals diet? Is this possible? I find keeping mealworms much easier than keeping crickets.

Many leo breeders feed mealies exclusively and if I recall correctly Ron Tremper is one of them.

I purchased my first leos last August and have not fed them anything else than mealies. (gut loaded for 24 hours prior to feeding)

I hate crickets and the idea of raising crickets is even worse.

I breed my own mealies, it is cheap and easy, you can also store them in your fridge for a while.

Crickets stinks and dye relatively fast.

Phoenix Worms are also great (great source of protein)

[Jerhart]

Many leo breeders feed mealies exclusively and if I recall correctly Ron Tremper is one of them.

I purchased my first leos last August and have not fed them anything else than mealies. (gut loaded for 24 hours prior to feeding)

I hate crickets and the idea of raising crickets is even worse.

I breed my own mealies, it is cheap and easy, you can also store them in your fridge for a while.

Crickets stinks and dye relatively fast.

Phoenix Worms are also great (great source of protein)

Deborah do you have any links to keeping and breeding your own mealies? The cricket thing, as I said, is the primary thing holding me back at the moment.

[Stewart_Reptiles]

Deborah do you have any links to keeping and breeding your own mealies? The cricket thing, as I said, is the primary thing holding me back at the moment.

http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showp...89&postcount=4