African fat tailed gecko

[Caliban07]

Does anyone know about these? My girlfriend has one about 10years old.

It has stopped eating and it's tail has gone very thin. It looks like it's trying to be sick sometimes and shakes it's head from side to side rapidly. My first thought was a parasite but reading in to them more I'm convinced it is temperature related. My gf has a heat mat on a thermostat that is measuring air temperature but it never reaches the set temp. This makes sense as I am under the impression that heat mats don't heat the air but whatever they are touching. If this is the case why are they designed to work on conjunction with this thermostat?

The air temp at the warm end last night before bed was about 25 degrees Celsius. God knows what it drops to over night now winter is here. The gecko spends all it's time lying on the mat as if it is trying to keep warm.

Last night my gf help him in her cardigan for about 15 mins. When she tried to put him back he was claiming up her hand away from the vivarium but was massively more active perhaps because he's blood temp was back up. He still didn't eat. I'm on my way to get a heat lamp for now as this will warm the air and the location on the warm side substrate.

What are your thoughts on lamps and heat mats? Should we use both or would that be too hot?

The Viv is about 2 and half foot by 1 foot wood surround with front glass panels and the mat is inside the viv. Substrate is green felt mat. He has water and a moss hide on his cool side with digging dirt.

My thought are that he is using all his energy and fat reserves to keep warm and doesn't have the energy to digest food properly. He is always getting bunged up too. My gf managed to pull a huge bit of skin out of his rectum (probably not the right word) he is struggling to shed. Is this all due to him being too cold? I'm sure it is.

Any thoughts?

Thanks


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[Coursair]

Check temps on both sides of tank. Heat lamps might work better or you may need a new heat mat.


Don't just pull old skin off. Gently soak it off.

You can make a humid hideout for shedding. We used margarine containers, cut an entrance and added moist moss or paper towels. You might put one at either end ?

http://www.theurbangecko.com/caring-african-fat-tailed-gecko

http://www.goldengategeckos.com/carefattail.pdf

http://jmgreptile.com/index.php/info/african-fat-tail-care-sheet.html

This video shows a good set up for a hospital tank. Put holes in the lid since you don't have a rack system.
http://youtu.be/VB1aii0pxH4

I hope her Gecko recovers.


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[Caliban07]

Check temps on both sides of tank. Heat lamps might work better or you may need a new heat mat.


Don't just pull old skin off. Gently soak it off.

You can make a humid hideout for shedding. We used margarine containers, cut an entrance and added moist moss or paper towels. You might put one at either end ?

http://www.theurbangecko.com/caring-african-fat-tailed-gecko

http://www.goldengategeckos.com/carefattail.pdf

http://jmgreptile.com/index.php/info/african-fat-tail-care-sheet.html

This video shows a good set up for a hospital tank. Put holes in the lid since you don't have a rack system.
http://youtu.be/VB1aii0pxH4

I hope her Gecko recovers.


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Thanks.
I should have said the skin was removed after a soak in warm water.

We have moss hides set up.

Warm side seems to be in the mid 70s and the cool side is much cooler. I think this is too cold.


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[Coursair]

Yes, warm side should be 90f. Cool side 70-80f.
Make sure substrate mat has no loose threads.


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[Caliban07]

What bulb should we use? We had a red one 60 watt until it blew. Temp was up then at 90s

Should we take heat mat out or use the Mat for night time?

Tanks about 70 litres


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[ProAquarist]

Red heat bulb (not shaped like a normal light bulb) is fine or a ceramic heat emitter.

 

[Caliban07]

Red heat bulb (not shaped like a normal light bulb) is fine or a ceramic heat emitter.

Thanks I'll go with that can you use then on a thermostat? We have a ministat 100 says for heat mats but the mat can never obtain a temp of 90 degrees so I really don't get that.



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[ProAquarist]

If you have a temp gradient in the tank and don't have overpowered heat you shouldn't need a thermostat controller. The gradient allows them to go where they need to. If it is too hot on the warm end they will hang out in the middle where the temp is right. Just have multiple hides for it.

 

[Caliban07]

Thanks. Yeh I think we have achieved a gradient now I have added the red bulb. Thinking of getting a ceramic though instead. He looked ok this morning but see how he is after work.

Thanks for your help.


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