Interested in AFT's, how different from leos?

[Jordan]

Hey ive been into for leos for a while now and breeding and what not but im also interested in African fat tails. because they can look awwesome too.

So just a few simple questions.
i see a lot of people coming onto this site as new leo owners and care sheets on the internet have told them all sorts of nonsense, so im a bit reluctant for looking on the net for AFT care sheets and becoming one of them people that goes for the wrong info, if you get what i mean.

So can i just ask, is it the same as looking after leo's? cuz if it is then i already know how to look after them.

If not. What sort of different care needs do they need? and what is different that i need to know.

and if you dont feel like answering lol, a helpful reliable and good care sheet would do



oh and if im gonna learn about them a good morph reference could be handy too

cheers guys, i know im asking a lot lol.

 

[GeckoGurl]

I am new to the AFT and so far differences have been (basic list):
1 ~ They need higher temps and humidity
2 ~ pickier eaters (My leo loves it all... my aft only crickets)
3 ~ AFT are calmer.... mine sleeps a lot and my leo wanders and climbs more
4 ~ I believe my AFT to be easier to tame though shy and at times just wants to chill out lol

I am still learning as everyday I find out something knew... Im sure someone can give you more detailed and accurate discriptions but that is kind of a basic look... I think the main differences are in personalities rather than care... I also use Coconut Fiber (in brick form) as a subtrate to help with humidity and also she loves to burrow!

 

[Jordan]

I am new to the AFT and so far differences have been (basic list):
1 ~ They need higher temps and humidity
2 ~ pickier eaters (My leo loves it all... my aft only crickets)
3 ~ AFT are calmer.... mine sleeps a lot and my leo wanders and climbs more
4 ~ I believe my AFT to be easier to tame though shy and at times just wants to chill out lol

I am still learning as everyday I find out something knew... Im sure someone can give you more detailed and accurate discriptions but that is kind of a basic look... I think the main differences are in personalities rather than care... I also use Coconut Fiber (in brick form) as a subtrate to help with humidity and also she loves to burrow!

Okay cheers, well thats helped alot. its nice to know theres not MUCH difference
cheers.

 

[T-ReXx]

Generally, AFT care is identical to that of leos. There are a few differences:

Humidity. These guys like it a tad more humid than leos. Some provide a humid hide, me I use a humid substrate for the whole tub, a coco fiber/peat moss mix.

Feeding. Most AFTs won't take worms. That being said, all of mine do. It just can take a while to train them to mealworms or supers. They pretty much will all take crickets, and most will take roaches.

Incubation. AFT's need slightly higher inc temps than leos, I wouldn't go below 82ish for them.

Breeding. AFT females usually start ovulating around December, as opposed to the Jan/Feb of leos. They also produce fewer eggs.

Here's a basic morph list, I'm probably forgetting something, so anyone feel free to correct me.

Normal Banded
Striped
Patternless
Amelanistic
Tangerine
Granite
White Out
Zero
Zulu
White Socks
Axanthic
Oreo
Caramel

 

[GeckoGurl]

Feeding. Most AFTs won't take worms. That being said, all of mine do. It just can take a while to train them to mealworms or supers. They pretty much will all take crickets, and most will take roaches.

I was curious if you or anyone else may have some tips to help train my AFT to mealworms. She will not touch one I have left her with them for a few days as soon as I drop a cricket she is after them... I don't mind it but sometimes its easier for me to put worms in a dish before I go to work... with her I worry the crickets will pester her so I don't feed her unless I will be there to supervise. But either way I go back and forth between the two for my Leo so I guess its no big deal just curiousity

 

[T-ReXx]

I was curious if you or anyone else may have some tips to help train my AFT to mealworms. She will not touch one I have left her with them for a few days as soon as I drop a cricket she is after them... I don't mind it but sometimes its easier for me to put worms in a dish before I go to work... with her I worry the crickets will pester her so I don't feed her unless I will be there to supervise. But either way I go back and forth between the two for my Leo so I guess its no big deal just curiousity

I usually start all my babies off on mealworms and then offer supers and roaches so they are used to a variety of prey items. Changing over adults can be a bit trickier, but it can be done. First step is to not feed them for a few days so they get nice and hungry. For adults I wait about a week, for younger animals 3-4 days. If they are of good weight and health it won't hurt them to wait a while to eat. Put some meal worms in a large shallow clear sided dish so the gecko can see them easily and put in a bit of carrot or apple so the worms will feed and be more active attracting attention. Leave them overnight. If the gecko doesn't eat any, next step is to wait until dark when they are active, then break a mealworm in half and spread some of the juices on the lips of the gecko, usually they will lick it off and figure out that the worm is delicious! If that doesn't work, I take a roach(or cricket if that what's your using) and smear some worm juice on it and let the gecko eat it. Then I try the worms in a dish again in a couple days. If after all that they still won't take worms then you've got a particularly stubborn gecko that may never warm up to them and you have to stick to crickets or roaches. But I find once the geckos are hungry and the worms move around, they will eat them. They aren't stupid and they won't starve themselves. It can be a little tricky and may take a few tries but I've always been successful eventually.

 

[GeckoGurl]

Ok thank you cause she did not eat for a week... would not touch the mealworms. The previous owner claimed he fed her both but I doubt it... cause after a week I decided to go buy more crickets (my supplier was out so I was forced to go to a chain store) and she ate them no problem and was eager so I now know it was not something wrong she just did not want worms... but she is extremely healthy weight... I need to get digital scales but not sure where to find them.

 

[Jordan]

Generally, AFT care is identical to that of leos. There are a few differences:

Humidity. These guys like it a tad more humid than leos. Some provide a humid hide, me I use a humid substrate for the whole tub, a coco fiber/peat moss mix.

Feeding. Most AFTs won't take worms. That being said, all of mine do. It just can take a while to train them to mealworms or supers. They pretty much will all take crickets, and most will take roaches.

Incubation. AFT's need slightly higher inc temps than leos, I wouldn't go below 82ish for them.

Breeding. AFT females usually start ovulating around December, as opposed to the Jan/Feb of leos. They also produce fewer eggs.

Here's a basic morph list, I'm probably forgetting something, so anyone feel free to correct me.

Normal Banded
Striped
Patternless
Amelanistic
Tangerine
Granite
White Out
Zero
Zulu
White Socks
Axanthic
Oreo
Caramel

thank you, very helpful again.

with regards to the morphs, are any of those combination morphs or are they all the single trait morphs?
and i presume Amel is albino in AFT's then?

but again thank you, i will be copy and pasting that onto a word document for my own personal notes if you dont mind

 

[T-ReXx]

These are all base morphs. There are some combos like Patternless Whiteout, Tangerine Amelanistic, etc. Yes, Amelanistic is also known as albino.

One thing to know is that the Amelanistic gene seems to be lethal when combined with any of the other genes except Tangerine, Granite, White Socks, and Striped. There's still a lot of test breeding to do, but no one has managed to create a amelanistic patternless, amelanistic whiteout, etc. The embryos either die in the egg or soon after hatching.

This is how the genes work:

Amelanistic: simple recessive
Caramel: simple recessive
Axanthic: simple recessive
Whiteout: Codominant
Zero: Codominant
Zulu: simple recessive
Whitesocks: simple recessive
Tangerine: polygenic
Granite: polygenic
Patternless: simple recessive
Oreo: simple recessive

 

[Jordan]

These are all base morphs. There are some combos like Patternless Whiteout, Tangerine Amelanistic, etc. Yes, Amelanistic is also known as albino.

One thing to know is that the Amelanistic gene seems to be lethal when combined with any of the other genes except Tangerine, Granite, White Socks, and Striped. There's still a lot of test breeding to do, but no one has managed to create a amelanistic patternless, amelanistic whiteout, etc. The embryos either die in the egg or soon after hatching.

This is how the genes work:

Amelanistic: simple recessive
Caramel: simple recessive
Axanthic: simple recessive
Whiteout: Codominant
Zero: Codominant
Zulu: simple recessive
Whitesocks: simple recessive
Tangerine: polygenic
Granite: polygenic
Patternless: simple recessive
Oreo: simple recessive

well thanks again, a lot of help again... seriously lol... cheers.
one more thing... lol im really milking you for info now lol.

do you know any websites with good pics of these morphs?

and also what sort of price range are these morphs and what are the 'rare' ones?
and have many combinations been made? (part from with amel)

appreciate it dude.

 

[T-ReXx]

Top fat tail people out there are Craig Stuart with The Urban Gecko http://www.theurbangecko.com and JMG http://www.jmgreptile.com. If they don't have it, it pretty much doesn't exist yet. lol

Pretty much all of the fat tail morphs are pricey right now as they are still fairly new. The only one's under the $500.00 mark are amels, granites, tangerines, stripes, normals, and white socks.

There are a few combos out there, Whiteout Patternless, White sock Amel, Whiteout Zero, but most are still very rare and in the development stage.

 

[Imperial Geckos]

Ted did a great job explaining all the morphs and difference in care! However, if you would like a care sheet, I have one on my site, http://imperialgeckos.com/care.html

 

[Jordan]

OKay well thank you Ted for all that information its helped alot, i think i'll be looking into a pair of AFT's for next month
also thanks Alejandro, seems like a really good care sheet

cheers guys.

ooh one more, might get shouted at for asking this, but only one way to find out, can female AFT's co-habit with female Leo's? ... its just that would be handy, and there so similar. im presuming no, but i thought id ask anyway. lol

having trouble finding a UK breeder too lol.

 

[T-ReXx]

No, th specie's can't live together. Fattails require a higher humidity and they are less aggresssive that leopard geckos and will often get bullied by them.