I am a first time lizard owner and I have a question and I am hoping that I can find help here.
I bought a African Fat-tailed Gecko yesterday (10-14-05), I had his habitat ready and was set up for a week prior. The pet store told me that it had ate that morning. The temp in the tank (10 gal) is about 82 degrees, at night its about 73 to 75 degrees. This morning (10-15-05) I decided to put three crickets in its habitat, and as of now it hasn't eaten, it has stayed hidden in its cave which has some moss in it and it moves back and forth from that cave to another hide. I have not observed it drinking any water or attempting to eat. Is this normal, due to the fact its a new habitat and its stressed? Should I leave the crickets in there during the night seeing how they are suppose to be nocturnal, at least that is what I was told, but I have read that they are sometimes Diurnal. I have been told to only leave the live food in the habitat for a day and what ever wasn't eaten to be taken out!
I just want to make sure that I'm doing everything right.
Thanks ahead for any help!!!!!!!!!

congrats on the new gecko. i'm not too sure on the care for those guys but I do know that it takes an animal about a week to adjust to its new environment. just let him/her settle in. definitely take the uneaten crickets out. they can bite your gecko. don't want that to happen. if you have another container to keep them in put them in there until next time. since he's adjusting thats probably why he's hiding and not drinking.

do you have a warm side and a cool side of the tank? he/she will need that.

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yes i am a she ^_^

~My Babies~

1 Rosy Boa (male) Chaos
1 Snow Corn (male) Blizzard
1 Anertherystic Corn (male) Bullet
1 Senegal Parrot (male) Shadow
2 dogs (male) Spot and Bear

i replied as best as I could to your other thread where you posted this. i'm sure someone else will be along to help too.

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yes i am a she ^_^

~My Babies~

1 Rosy Boa (male) Chaos
1 Snow Corn (male) Blizzard
1 Anertherystic Corn (male) Bullet
1 Senegal Parrot (male) Shadow
2 dogs (male) Spot and Bear

yep got a warm side and a cool side, I'll take out the crickets, should I put the crickets in there everyday?
It's taking me a minute to learn this forum, I didn't know where to post, so I posted twice.

No worries, it may take a couple of days for your AFT to settle in. These wee teddy bears are pretty easily stressed, so give him some time to get used to his new surroundings and he'll eat when he's ready.

As for taking out the uneaten crickets, that's usually suggested because the food that the crickers are gutloaded on is usually gone in a few days, leaving little nutritional value for your AFT. Also, the crickets can be pretty nippy and can further stress your new animal, but in my experience, this hasn't been a problem with only two or three crickets in the enclosure. If you can, try and fish them out, but don't bother with them if it's going to stress out your gecko even more for you to chase them around. Just make sure you're offering fresh crickers every couple of days to make sure he's getting the nutrition he needs.

Aside from that, give him a bit of time to adjust to his new surroundings; no handling unless absolutely necessary for a couple of days, and he should be just fine. By the way, post some pics ASAP, I'd love to see him!!! (lookit my sig, you'll see why )

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I give up! I've officially lost count of the critters...

I posted back to you in the AFT forum...

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I give up! I've officially lost count of the critters...

I see your pic dee, thanks for the help, this has been a challenge, it has taken alot of research, and I feel like I have picked the right Gecko, I worry that I might miss something. I have taken out the crickets, and I didn't stress it out, and I call it "it" cause I don't know what sex it is and I don't know how to check.
It is very beautiful and I am amazed how soft it is, and I am very happy with it, this is my first reptile, so I don't want to fail it!
I'll get pics and post them as soon as it starts to get settled and eats.
Thank you for your help and hopefully I can come to you again for help!!!!!!!!

you may wana try sticking the crix in at night?

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"wow and your mom lets you have all these animals?" -my grama

0.0.1 Ball Python, Akua 27"
0.0.1 Okeetee Corn Snake, Seismo 22"
0.0.1 Snow Corn snake, Sleet 27"
0.0.1 grey rat snake, Issa 31"
0.1 German Shepherd, Zanny 90 LBS
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Wish list.... atleast some of it ;)
MORE CORNS!!!.......

Is 82 to 85 degrees ok for the warm side of a habitat for a AFT?

great news, my AFT finally ate, now I can stop sweating. I'm glad he is settling down.
He had three crickets, I'm happy!!!!! My son has named it reptar off of the cartoon, then he asked me if it is a boy or girl, I don't know, how do I tell?
Thank you all who told me to be patient(which I'm not good at)!!!!!!!!!!