Growth question

[goReptiles]

This is something I've been throwing around for a few months now. I'm not sure if it's just me, or what. But yea... Has anyone else noticed their AFTs growing slower than say a leopard gecko? What's the average growth speed of an AFT from say hatchling to adult.

 

[LeopardGeckoMom52688]

Yesme female hasn't grown more then an inch in the 1.5 years i have had her. She was only 6 months when I got her. She is now almost 2 and 50 grams!

 

[Gecko]

I've noticed there is a definate main period of growth. If you heat and feed optimally they can grow quite quick, but after that growth slows. I've had some that have grown just as fast as Leopard Geckos.

 

[Stitch]

I have heard from other breeders that AFT generally grow slower then leos.

 

[Gecko]

The ones I had that grew as fast as Leos were treated "special" so I wouldn't be suprised if the average is slower. I kept them slightly warmer and fed them smaller and more frequent meals. Something I wouldn't have time to do now.

 

[goReptiles]

I was just curious as I have aft's born around the same time as some leos, and they're half the size. they're eating crickets while the leos are eating mealworms. didn't know if that made a different either. Because I did notice when I was finally able to get one of my leos on mealworms, she' plumped up and grew up rather quickly.

 

[Stitch]

Crickets are high in phosphorous and that counter acts calcium (well atleast that's the best way I can explain it). So when feeding crix you'll need more calcium intake to balance the Ph:Ca ratio. That could be part of the reason, but I doubt it.

 

[ALGeckos]

I just bought an AFT from Jonathan (SFGeckos) and asked him the same question a few days ago. He said: "Fattails tend to grow slightly slower than leopard geckos but they can eat just as much. They also tend to get a "growth spurt" around 4-6 months."