Cage sharing

[Mr Metal13]

Hello all, I was wondering if An african fattail gecko and a crested gecko could share a tank. they have the same stuff right down to the bedding in their respective tanks. Plus the fat tail sits at the bottom and the crested is always up in the trees I have for her.

 

[chamguy]

I am not to sure, but as long as neither is to agressive, i dont see why not. The fat tail will stick to the bottom, and crested gecko will stick to the upper part ( hopefully) provideing a "behavioral barrier" as I like to call it.

Most will say "NO!!!!" due to the mixing of species, which is seen as a bad thing in the herp community. ( not sure why). I've seen water dragons and frilled dragons be kept together. It is alot harder though, as far as husbandry. It saves spaces but you have to ensure they are both eating, and neither is stressing the other out.

 

[millerman6401]

i dont know 100% but arent crested more tropicalwhile fat tails are more desert lizards? if so the humidity would cause problems.

 

[Mr Metal13]

Well everything I have read says they have almost the same humidity needs and I have a beardie and an Agama in the same tank and they have been fine for years. I understand they might stress eachother out (as far as the Geckos) So i did a bit of a test and put them in another setup tank together and all they did was stare at one another and then they ate out of the same bowl at same time(meal worms and butter worms) then they started fighting over the crickets i dropped in. I am going to keep they seperate for now and maybe introduce them to each other for a few minutes a day until I figure out if its a good idea or not. Thanks for any help guys.

 

[JackP308]

Crested geckos prefer way cooler temps in comparison to what you should have in a setup for fat tails. Which typically use under tank heat mats and provide heat gradients reaching in the 90's.

 

[chamguy]

Fat tails like more humidity than some think. Leopard geckos ( same genus) like drier temps, ALTHOUGH, I have noticed leopards even do better in higher humidity. My females spend most of their time in the humid hides ( when not gravid).

And as for the Temps. if you have enough vents to prevent heat build up the fat tail will seek out a warmer site. I'd say go for it.

I am super suprised you have a beardie and agama together. Is it an agma agama or another species? My beardies would always "attack" any other, smaller lizards other than other beardies.

 

[Mr Metal13]

It is a spiderman Agama(flares up with a solidish redheqad and body and blue legs and tail) I think the beardie leaves it alone because the tank is quite large(just under 200 gallons) and also they know who would win in a fight haha. The main reason I think they get along so well is because they were both babies when i got them.

 

[JackP308]

Fat tails like more humidity than some think. Leopard geckos ( same genus) like drier temps, ALTHOUGH, I have noticed leopards even do better in higher humidity. My females spend most of their time in the humid hides ( when not gravid).

And as for the Temps. if you have enough vents to prevent heat build up the fat tail will seek out a warmer site. I'd say go for it.

I am super suprised you have a beardie and agama together. Is it an agma agama or another species? My beardies would always "attack" any other, smaller lizards other than other beardies.

Crested Geckos want a COOL humid tank. African fat tails HOT humid tank. Mine as well throw your chameleons in too.


Crested geckos do best 60s-low 70s. Good luck

 

[chamguy]

Crested Geckos want a COOL humid tank. African fat tails HOT humid tank. Mine as well throw your chameleons in too.


Crested geckos do best 60s-low 70s. Good luck

Thats why I stated, with proper ventilation its possible. Crested Geckos are arboreal, while African Fat tails are terrestrial. You can keep the tank near 70F and place a heat pad on the bottom for the Fat tail.

 

[JRchameleons]

Most will say "NO!!!!" due to the mixing of species, which is seen as a bad thing in the herp community. ( not sure why).

Although I am not completely against mixing species if you know what you're doing, I want to play devil's advocate here and offer an explanation for why it is generally not recommended to keep different species together in captivity. The reason is because of the walls around them. They can't get away from each other like they can in the wild, and that can be very stressful. Being in a cage is stressful in itself for many animals (just talk to some people who free range their chams if you don't think it makes a difference), so imagine what it can feel like for them to be enclosed with another completely different animal. And they frequently aren't provided with enough space for each one, especially since lizards can be very territorial. And it's easy to say things like, "As long as they aren't showing signs of stress," but remember, lizards very commonly don't show their stress. It's their natural instinct not to show any signs of weakness, especially in the presence of another animal, AKA a potential threat. So oftentimes, you may watch them and think everything is fine while in reality, one or both lizards are actually constantly stressed over each other's presence.

 

[JackP308]

Lol ............

 

[JackP308]

......................

 

[JackP308]

"As long as they aren't showing signs of stress," but remember, lizards very commonly don't show their stress. It's their natural instinct not to show any signs of weakness, especially in the presence of another animal, AKA a potential threat. So oftentimes, you may watch them and think everything is fine while in reality, one or both lizards are actually constantly stressed over each other's presence.

Well thats if the animals actually live in the same climates you know. You don't keep your jacksons chameleons in the same cage as your veileds just because they don't show stress. Imagine some people can but its not the kind of advice id be giving people.

 

[JRchameleons]

Well thats if the animals actually live in the same climates you know. You don't keep your jacksons chameleons in the same cage as your veileds just because they don't show stress. Imagine some people can but its not the kind of advice id be giving people.

I'm not the one who made the comment saying as long as they're not stressing each other out. I was just responding to the guy who said that.

Obviously if you're keeping different species together they have to have the same habitat requirements. That was part of what I was implying when I said "If you know what you're doing."

 

[chamguy]

Well thats if the animals actually live in the same climates you know. You don't keep your jacksons chameleons in the same cage as your veileds just because they don't show stress. Imagine some people can but its not the kind of advice id be giving people.

You can't compare 2 animals and use that to reperesent everything else thats out there. Chameleons in general do not like cage mates, they are solitary. And the first question dose not even regard chameleons.

I'm not the one who made the comment saying as long as they're not stressing each other out. I was just responding to the guy who said that.

Obviously if you're keeping different species together they have to have the same habitat requirements. That was part of what I was implying when I said "If you know what you're doing."

Exactly. I was just giving my advice, and I also stated it's much harder to do. I don't mix any of my species. It's just to much to keep up with. It is possible, but difficult. I have seen it done before, with success. Even animals from different regions.

And, acctually I can see why it has been frowned upon, but I do not see why it is such a touchy subject. It is deffinately not for the inexperinced. Maybe that is what people are affraid of. New keepers wanting to throw everything together.

 

[Zen Reptiles]

In an article about mixing species with Cresties (I believe it was in a REPTILES issue last year maybe?), they said the best things to mix are medium-sized ground skinks (tropical of course), and giant black millipedes, also terrestrial hermit crabs, and giant african land snails.

These can all co-habitate and the insects will clean the poop quite well.



As for your African fat tail, that won't work because of the heat needed for the fat tail.

Also they are both active at the same time which can be a problem (nocturnal).

Whereas, depending on the skink, you will have a diurnal crowd and a nocturnal crowd, which will reduce any confrontation and problems....provided you have secure hiding spots for them to sleep in during the day and/or night as to not be disturbed by their counterparts.


PS: just looked it up...the skink species most crestie keepers keep together with cresties is the pink tongue skink.