Newbie with just purchased gravid AFT---advice?

theresaintucson · #1 07-18-2010, 06:20 PM

Hello Everyone! My name is Theresa. I've loved geckos ever since I was little but it was only until recently that I decided to get one. I did months of research and reading and decided on a fat tailed gecko. I found a beautiful one at my local reptile specialist store. I brought her home today after setting up her tank. She went after a cricket almost immediately.
I have a challenge on my hands-my Bette (named for "Bette Davis") has eggs. I was shown her big pregnant belly. I would love to have this eggs laid and hatched some day. I know how important humidity is now and would welcome your advice and good wishes for success.
I am looking forward to participating in this forum. I sense I am in trouble-it's not possible to have just one gecko...
-Theresa

acpart · #2 07-18-2010, 07:56 PM

Congratulations on your new gecko. About her being gravid: one thing to do is to find out if she was with a male at the pet store (or, if the pet store hasn't had her long, if there's any way she could have been with a male wherever she was before). It's possible, though not extremely common for female geckos to lay eggs without having encountered a male, in which case, of course, the eggs are all infertile.

If it turns out she was with a male and is really gravid with potentially fertile eggs, then you have a couple of choices. It's likely that she will lay multiple clutches of 2 eggs, about 2 weeks apart. You can try to incubate these eggs, or you can let her lay them and discard them. Generally, it is discouraged to let the gecko lay and discard on the theory that if they are investing so much of their physical resources to produce these eggs we should let them hatch. However, I will say from my experience and what I've read, that fat tail gecko eggs seem a bit more difficult to hatch successfully than the similar leopard gecko eggs. I breed both fat tails and leos and while I have generally had about an 85% hatch rate for the leos (this includes eggs that seemed infertile from the start), I'm running more like 50% with the fat tails. I say this only because the amount of running around and gathering equipment for incubating and hatching may not be worth the doubtful results.

Without going into all the details of incubation etc., you need a place where the eggs, when laid, can be kept at a steady temperature with a fluctuation of 2 degrees or less, somewhere between about 82-90. The humidity needs to be somewhat high also. A commercial or home made incubator is usually used. To get more info, google "fat tail gecko breeding" or "leopard gecko breeding" and read care sheets.

Good luck,

Aliza

theresaintucson · #3 07-18-2010, 09:24 PM

Aliza, thank you for your reply. The vendor who sold me my FT was told by his supplier that my FT had been with a male. I've been doing research since posting, regarding incubators, etc. I don't know if I am up to that challenge. I had no intention of breeding geckos when I got mine. I used to breed and raise birds for the pet trade so I know how involved it is. I have a lot to think about if I want to go that route with my new pet. Thanks again for your quick reply

**Elizabeth Freer** · #4 07-19-2010, 10:24 PM

Hi ~

Just checking in to see how AFT Bette Davis is doing

.

theresaintucson · #5 07-19-2010, 11:09 PM

Bette Davis is doing great! She ate yesterday and was busy checking her new place out. Today she's been sticking to her hide. I wonder if there are eggs? I'll check tomorrow. Thanks for asking. I just love this little gecko.