AFT Substrate

[SerpentLust]

Alrighty, I WAS planning on Cypress Mulch, but I heard from a number of sources now that it's not a good idea. Now, for the hatchlings I will eventually have, I will have a little rack system with paper towel, no problem with that. But for the breeder tank, other than paper towel and newspaper, what kind of substrate should I use?

Someone told me that I should use reptile carpet. I have no problem with that, but would like either other suggestions or reasons WHY I should use reptile carpet. (I'm SOOOO excited, I might be getting a breeding QUAD now) lol


So anyways, input is, as always, greatly appreciated.

Jenn

[NiagaraReptiles]

I have to say that I am thirlled to see you so excited about your upcoming Fat Tail project, Jenn. I'm sure you won't be disappointed either......we all know how I feel about Fat Tails

Now to your questions.....I have tried many things over the years and have always come back to paper towel as a substrate. I would love to offer them a more natural environment and I'm sure they would do well in it, but that would allow for multiple nesting areas and being that I keep my animals in small groups it would also make it much more difficult to keep track of who laid what and when - I have a hard enough time now when more than one female lays in a small nest box at the same time -

I guess you need to come up with whatever suits your situation. There are many ways to properly provide for the needs of these Geckos, non of which are really all that difficult. I would suggest trying different things until you see what works best for you.

Best wishes,

I keep all of my Fat Tails of all ages on paper towel.

[SerpentLust]

Hey, you just sprouted another question from me...if I have my trio and/or quad, how do I tell which female layed? lol

And yes, I am SOOOO excited, I'm hoping to get one or two from you sometime and then some from somewhere else, get some more blood lines in there

I'm assuming the only way to tell which female layed is to pay close attention to which are gravid.

Jenn

[NiagaraReptiles]

It can get kinda crazy trying to keep track of who laid what. I minimize the chances of me getting confused, I check nesting boxes at least twice a day. I also keep an eye on females developing folicles and I can get an idea of when they are due to lay this way as well. But occasionally two females will lay overnight. This has happened twice to me already this season.

The first time this happened I was able to narrow it down to the two girls that had laid, and I can tell which two eggs belong together, but that's about it for now. They are different colour phases and I'm hoping that I can tell once babies hatch and start to develop colour. This only really matters to me as I like to keep records for each female and keep track of thier offsrping, but both girls that laid are 100% hets and were with the same male, so at least there won't be any confusion as to thier genetics.

I have intent to keep more groups int he future, some with more complicated genetics to keep track of and I am a little afraid of multiple females laying at the same time then.........hahaha, more for me to screw up

[Dragon_Slave]

I'm pretty sure I was the one who said to use reptile carpet, hehe.

I have used reptile bark (BAD), sand (BAD), paper towels and reptile carpeting. I definitely prefer reptile carpeting just because it looks more appealing to me. It's pretty simple to keep clean and it's safe. Just make sure if there are any threads hanging off that you cut them. Paper towels are nice too, but I only use them if I have a sick animal. That's just my opinion though.

You are gonna LOVE your AFT's! They are SO sweet!

[SerpentLust]

Haha yeah Dragon Slave you were one of the people

Niagara: OMG you should definately get into some leucistic and some melanistic breeders (That is if you don't already have them hahaha)

Jenn

[NiagaraReptiles]

Anything I have ever seen labeled as leucistic (as far as Fat Tails are concerned) are merely light phase Amels. I don't see the term to be accurate, so I don't use it. As far as I am aware, Amelanism and Striped are the only two simple recessive genes to be proven out. I have heard rumor of a couple others, but I don't think they have been proven to be genetic.

As for melenistics, I only have one, and honestly I don't plan to do much with that line by itself. I like bright colours and contrasting colours so most of what I'm working with will reflect that

[SerpentLust]

Hahaha ok you do that and I'll work the melanistic side lmao Yeah, I was looking at "leucistic" pictures and non of them were really completely WHITE...

Jenn

[NiagaraReptiles]

Actually, my melenistic girl is the mother of my broken pattern boy........so perhaps I'll end upw ith more than expected when playing around with that project

[SerpentLust]

Haha awesome. I might have to come see you guys. I know my better half and I are planning on travelling to Niagara in February. Probably Friday the 20th lol

Jenn

[silent_truth]

Just to contribute to the discussion on choice of substrate, I keep my sub-adults/adults on a mixed substrate of terra fibre, organic potting soil and the side that has the water bowl also has a light layer of cypress mulch just to allow for drainage. If the water was to spill on the soil then there would be a muddy situation, so just a little bit of mulch around the dish removes that possibility, plus they seem to enjoy the variety of terrain. As for my upcoming hatchling tanks, I only use outdoor carpeting cut to size. I also use this in my quarantine tanks for sanitation purposes.

Best of luck with your AFTs!

[Painted Desert]

My breeding het group of fatties are on slate tile cut to fit the tank, with the "cracks" filled with sand.... all except for the laying area in the back corner, which is a mix of peat and potting soil covered by cork bark. I do have a pic, but i don't know how to post it.

[Reptiles4ever]

In Response to the reptibark is bad it is not bad what make su say that i have been using it on my 7 geckos for 4 years and it is great