Caring for fat tailed gecko

[gawd1981]

I have just bought a fat tailed gecko and the kids and I are enthralled, my only issues are I have no idea whpet at works and what doesn't... There has been so much conflicting information given to me that i'm not sure what to do now...My current set up is as follows; small river rock substrait (washed and baked in the oven, this is what the guy at the pet shop said to do) a water dish, and a few hiding spots, 150w heat lamp above the cage... the guy at the pet shop said that i shouldn't put any plants in the terrarium because of moisture... i wondered if maybe i could put a few cactuses in her cage maybe? it seem that the pet shop isn't as knowledgable as they should be please help with any info that would make Zirra (that's her name) more comfortable and make her terraruim nice cozy place for her to live.. thanks so much

 

[acpart]

Congratulations on your new fat tail. First of all, please be sure you have an African fat tail gecko and not a leopard gecko. Some places call leopard geckos "fat tail" geckos because the tail is fat. Look in the African fat tail section here and in the leopard gecko section or post a picture here.

In general I can tell you that the African fat tails like a fair amount of moisture; I mist them every day and keep them in planted tanks on a coco fiber substrate. River rocks are OK as long as it's really clear that the rocks are too big for them to swallow.

Leopard geckos need less humidity and don't get misted. Cactus plants (obviously without spines) would be OK in the tank. I don't tend to do that because I don't use lights in my (many) leopard gecko tanks and the cactuses need light.

I can tell you more once you're sure which kind of gecko you have.

ALiza