Knob-tailed geckos heating and tank size questions

[Reptiles101]

Would Pet Shops sell that type of red sand?

 

[Rogue5861]

Petshops sell red sand 20kg for like $50. Alot cheaper to go to a landscape place as their is no brand name red sand.


Rick

 

[Reptiles101]

So my checklist is: Exo terra terrarium (90x45x45) LxDxH, Exo terra heat mat, Exo terra digital thermometer, thermostat, red desert sand, x2 hides, a water bowl, fake plant, a piece of driftwood, and 2 thick-tails, oh and my licence.
What do u think guys?

 

[dickyknee]

For thicktails you dont really need heating , but a low wattage heat mat wont hurt , sand will not need to be deeper in one end as they do not borrow , red desert sand is not essential either so save your money and buy bunnings play sand ...
A 900x450x450 exo is a massive over kill for a few thickies , you could keep them in some thing a third that size ...

 

[Reptiles101]

What is an appropriate wattage for the heat mat? Can I ask whats wrong with the size of the tank? I thought that bigger was better. Thanks dickykeen

is it still ok if I use the red desert sand? as I love the look of it, but doesn't sand course impaction?

 

[Reptiles101]

I've been looking around on the net and in some books I've got lying around, but can't find any information on how big Thick-Tails can grow, so how big can/do they get, with tail?

 

[Rogue5861]

Normally about 16cm max i believe, between 20-30g.


Rick

 

[Reptiles101]

Wow that's big

 

[Reptiles101]

.

 

[Rogue5861]

That is snout to tail tip, they have a decent tail length.


Rick

 

[Reptiles101]

So my checklist is: Exo terra terrarium (90x45x45) LxDxH, Exo terra heat mat, Exo terra digital thermometer, thermostat, red desert sand, x2 hides, a water bowl, fake plant, a piece of driftwood, and 2 thick-tails, oh and my licence.
What do u think guys? Just making sure I'm purchasing the right things

 

[Rogue5861]

Do you already own the tank? As said a smaller tank will help then find their food alot easier and probably suit them better, maybe a 60x45x45 exoterra.


Rick

 

[dickyknee]

So my checklist is: Exo terra terrarium (90x45x45) LxDxH, Exo terra heat mat, Exo terra digital thermometer, thermostat, red desert sand, x2 hides, a water bowl, fake plant, a piece of driftwood, and 2 thick-tails, oh and my licence.
What do u think guys? Just making sure I'm purchasing the right things

I think you should start listening to what people are telling you
900x450x450 is massive for a pair of thicktails .... seriously you are wasting your money on some thing that big , get a 45x45x30H or even a 30x30x30 would do for a pair.

 

[Reptiles101]

I will feed them in a separate container to avoid impaction of sand and so they can find there food easily. The reason I'm paying a bit so I don't need to buy another tank if they get bigger. Oh yeah the thick-tails I'm getting are sub-adults to adults.

 

[Rogue5861]

Its not a beardie, shouldnt be handling it for feeding. Geckos are mostly a display animal, handling just for inspections of condition and sheds.

They will not get impaction on sand, this is what they live on. Mine were on sand after 3 days of hatching, never had any issues. Add a bit of water to the sand then pack it down if ya worried, wait for it to dry off a bit before you add geckos.


Rick

 

[Reptiles101]

Thanks Rick, so I can feed them in the tank?

 

[Grogshla]

yes feed them in the tank

 

[Rogue5861]

Yep. I had 5 juvis in a tub and only now seperating them now as i had 3 males that started to show. They were feed in their tub and i only had to seperate one for 1 week as he was a little slow, their about 10 months old.

Just sold off 2 males and a female from this group.


Rick

 

[Reptiles101]

Cool thanks guys

 

[mad_at_arms]

Normally about 16cm max i believe, between 20-30g.


Rick

30grams ??
I would like to see that. My biggest WA female gets to about 25grams prior to breeding.