Savannah vivarium

[acpart]

I just got an african fat tail gecko and am planning a naturalistic vivarium for him (and a female I'll be getting in May). These geckos come from a savannah environment in West Africa. So far, based on my research, I'm going to be using dracaena marginata or deremensis, hawthornia and possibly some jade plants. I'm tempted to add some peperomia or pilia moon valley because I really like the leaves. I wonder, though, whether either of them really belongs with the others because of where it comes from and the humidity requirements. Any opinions either practically (as in "they won't do well together") or philosophically ("they come from different continents")

Aliza

[Ajax]

Sometimes natural settings can be harmful. We try to perfect the lifespan of any captive bred animal by using things that are safe.

Sand, just like in some settings for example, can get into the genital areas and also lead to compaction. This is just an example since I have seen it with leopard geckos and Fat Tails. Some might be lucky and live years without being affected, but there still is a chance.

Just keep that in mind about making a "natural" habitat for a captive bred animal. Animals in the wild most likey lives shorter lifes in thier natural habitat.

~~*~ Also, I would research or ask some experienced fat tail owners about housing a male and female together. I beleive with leopard geckos if you house a male and female together, the male always wants to mate making the female stressed---and if the female mates and lays constantly, she will surely die of exhaustion, maybe illnesses, or deficiencies.

Also, you just got this fat tail. I would wait to do anything until you fully know their care. I am not saying that you don't know their care. Just make sure before you go out and buy another.

Sincerely,
Ajax

[acpart]

Thanks for your input. I wanted to clarify a few things about my situation. I am an experienced leopard gecko breeder (just starting my 4th season). The leopard geckos, coming from a desert environment, are all housed on ceramic tile. The males are kept with the females from Jan. through October. Their interest in the females usually peaks and wanes by July and they could really be kept together all year except that I recombine my pairings and don't want anyone to jump the gun. I also have phelsuma and a crestie in planted vivariums (not in the same one, obviously). I have recently decided to expand my gecko breeding to fat tails and have done quite a bit of research. I have just acquired the male, who is quarantined on ceramic tile to insure he is healthy. Since fat tails require more humidity than leopard geckos, I thought of a planted tank to hold humidity well. When I say "savannah" I am not planning to reproduce an actual savannah, but to come up with something in the ballpark that will be attractive, somewhat authentic and safe for the gecko. I am not planning for my substrate to be sand. I was originally thinking of eco earth alone (my crestie's substrate is eco earth and the leopard geckos' lay boxes are eco earth with no ill effect). Since it turns out that I may be using some succulents, I will probably mix in some cactus soil (not sand) which is a light, aerated soil, similar to the eco earth. The fat tail's hides will actually be partially buried in the substrate but will have solid bottoms, not substrate bottoms. It seems to me that this should be safe for them. My specific question is whether it makes sense to add a more tropical, South American plant to the succulents which appear to be native to Africa (although, unfortunately, probably not West Africa). As far as adding a female, by the time I get her at the end of May (I have identified a female from a rescue society that will hold her till then) the male will be in the planted viv. The female will then be quarantined for at least 30 days before she joins him. I have a pair of SW banded geckos that are together all year and with them I have seen a lot of mating behavior during mating season, which then trails off just like with the leos. If I find that the fat tails are getting stressed, I will, of course, separate them and one lucky one will get the planted viv.

Please let me know if you still think my housing plan has problems, and if you (or anyone) has any thoughts about my plant question.

Aliza

[mreynolds55]

About the plant question... I felt a need to chime in here..Look up a member of the grape family called Cissus rotundifolia- of African origin & I've found it very adaptable to a wide range of humidity needs, trainable , simple & sturdy. I found it at an online nursery as a small plant but was a fairly fast grower for impatient me.
M.

[acpart]

Thanks for your suggestion. I looked it up to see what it looked like. At this point, a lot of the space in the tank is taken up by my second attempt at an african violet that seems to be doing well this time. I don't have any room in there for a climber, but I think I'm going to plant some grasses to give it a really Savannah-like feeling. The fat tails seem to like the place and the crickets who are unintentionally breeding like it even more.

Aliza