New to AFT

[bambichik39]

I haven't been on this site in what seems like forever- but have recently been given a AFT and am having a hard time finding information on them. My friend whom gave her to me had her in a huge odd shaped tank- it was like 35 gallons but also tall. She was housed on playground sand. Since getting the lizard from her I switched the tank for a 20L (find it easier to heat). I have a new UTH i stuck under one side and have a thermostat coming tomorrow from amazon. I also put down eco earth or whatever that brown stuff is you put in water to expand. Its pretty much dry now. She has one hide over the UTH and one on the other side of tank and a long log down the center that opens and has wet moss in it for humidity. Is there anything else I nee to change? I ordered a bookcase also arriving tomorrow to set the new tank on so will post a picture this weekend to verify everything is proper. I'm almost 30 and have had my Leo for 11 years and also have a beardie- so not exactly new to the reptile world- but AFT seem to be a rarity these days and I want to do things proper. The new liz is eating great and loves to sleep under her warm hide. I did read on here where people put slate over the UTH to get better temp result.. should I try that and keep rest eco earth? thanks and sorry for long post.

 

[acpart]

I find that AFT's are making somewhat of a comeback because of all the new morphs that have popped up recently. I keep two breeding groups, though my success with the breeding is up and down. I also keep them on eco-earth (coco fiber), mostly because they should be misted and kept more humid than leopard geckos and I prefer to be spraying a "dirt" type substrate daily rather than tile. I find the AFT's to be somewhat more laid back and reclusive than leopard geckos. I like to put plants in my enclosures, so I do use a drainage layer (expanded clay balls with a layer of mesh under the coco fiber). In order to be able to provide the heat on the warm side, I only put the drainage layer in the 2/3 of the tank that constitutes the cool side. I wrap the mesh around the clay balls to contain them. The warm side has only coco fiber and it conducts the heat well.
One of my AFT's eats super worms and the others are crickets only. They love to come out when I mist every morning and lick the droplets from the sides of the tank and the hides.

Aliza

 

[bambichik39]

Thanks for the reply, hopefully I'll be able to keep her as happy and healthy as my leo. My friend got her at a reptile show awhile back in Kansas City but do to recent traveling requirements for work had to find her a new home