Fat Tail Q's - Substrate and Care

[Lena]

Ok, I have a few questions about substrate because I'm getting some mixed information. I'm picking up a sort of rescue fat-tail tomorrow and want to have things all set up right for the little one.

What substrates are usable?
I read that it was best to bed him on spagum peat moss that I'll wet, pack down, and allow to dry. What else can I use?
So does that mean that I keep a humid hide in his enclosure?
Dry one, too?
Should I be misting the entire enclosure, part of it, or just leave that to the humid hide?

Couple other not substrate-related questions..

Should I offer a bowl of calcium dust?
Water?
I can feed him superworms, right? Should I expect him to eat as much as a leo?

Thanks guys. :main_thumbsup:

 

[acpart]

I can answer questions based on my single pair of AFTs. I have heard of AFT's being housed on everything from paper towel to eco earth. My pair is housed on eco earth in a planted tank. Well, sort of a planted tank. Originally I put in a haworthia (kind of like aloe, but spikier), a dracaena tree-looking thing and an african violet. Only the haworthia is doing well. The dracaena probably didn't get enough water and the african violet is being eaten by the crickets, so eventually there will be more haworthia.

I have not specifically provided a humid hide since the plants and occasional watering keep the humidity up. The AFT's have 2 ceramic hides with ceramic bottoms that are half buried in the eco earth. Each hide (I made them) has a cover so I can take the cover off and check on them. They also have another handmade ceramic hide that is like a half cylindar lying on top of the substrate. They usually spend most of their time curled up together in the ceramic hides, or occasionally resting under the haworthia.

I do provide a bowl of calcium, but they don't seem to use it, which isn't a problem since I feed them crickets dusted alternately with calcium and vitamins. I don't know if an AFT will eat superworms; they will definitely eat crickets.

Aliza

 

[Lena]

Picked her up today. She's an absolute sweetheart. She has a little bit of swelling and crust around the vent that I'll post pictures of later. Hopefully nothing to serious. This is a rescue so it was to be expected.

She seems to be settling in nicely, though. Actually shedding right now, obviously enjoying the much needed humidity (She didn't have any humidity at all at the pet store.)

Her name is Jambalaya.

 

[fatty conn]

hey Lena, I used to use peat moss, but I switched to eco earth because of the debris sometimes found in the bails of moss, but now I'm switching to paper towel, and keeping a moist hidebox full of damp vermiculite, one of my baby's this year has gotten a ulcerated cornea, and she might lose an eye, the vet says that it is pottentially caused by the substrate, although I've never had problems before. now i've spent about 200 dollars on two vet visits and meds and every day I have to medicate her 4 times. Jeff G Sr. also Informed me that with breeding it can get stuck on their hemipenes. so From now on I'm never using that coconut fiber expandable stuff, eco earth, forest bed, bed-a-beast, After some of these hardships I would rather play it safe and have a dull looking inclosure with the pt, then have a natural feel with those substrates, that can potentially cause heath problems

 

[Lena]

Well luckily I have no intention to breed. But thanks for the heads up!

Currently she's on paper towels because of a problem she's had with her vent since I bought her.. And if and when the problem clears, I will be moving her to a lovely planted terrarium and possibly getting her a room mate.

I've really become a fatty fan from having this little bundle of joy. She's the sweetest thing ever.

 

[fatty conn]

They are pretty awesome, Two years ago We rescued one, now we have 12 of them, I can't stop myself