Choosing a gecko can be pretty hard if you don’t have the space to get more. They can all be very adorable and interesting to observe. They also act differently and some of them are easier to handle than others. Tokay Geckos and African Fat-Tailed Geckos are some of the most popular in the world.
If you’re not sure about which one to choose, you should take into consideration how many geckos you have had so far. While they’re both pretty easy to maintain, one needs more attention than the other. You should also think about whether you want a single gecko or multiple geckos in the same enclosure. In this article, we’ll help you figure out which one it’s ideal for you.
Tokay Gecko: The Tokay Gecko is the second-largest gecko in the whole world and it’s one of the most beautiful ones as well. They can reach up to 15inches in length (including their tail) and they’re known to move pretty fast. Sadly, these beauties are also pretty aggressive, especially if you’re interested in a wild-caught one. It’s always better to look for a captive-bred juvenile and avoid wild-caught geckos at all costs.
African Fat–Tailed Gecko: The African Fat-Tailed Gecko is a distant cousin of the well-known Leopard Gecko and it can get up to 10 inches in length. These geckos have various patches of various shades of brown and their bellies are white. They’re also known for the white strip that goes from between their eyes to their tail. And the best thing about them is that they are the most docile geckos in the world.
Tokay Gecko vs African Fat Tailed Gecko – Which One Is The Better Pet?
Deciding which one is the better pet depends on what you need. The space, the security of the enclosure, the number of geckos you want to have in the same cage, the time you’re willing to spend with it, your experience with lizards, and if you have kids or not are a few of the things that help you make your final decision.
Tokay Geckos are ideal for people that had at least 2 geckos so far and are confident in what they’re doing. They’re more territorial and stubborn. On the other hand, the African Fat-Tailed Gecko is excellent for first-time owners and even children. They’re even more docile than Leopard Geckos (which are known as the number 1 beginner geckos.
Temperament and Habits Comparison
Tokay Geckos are known for being quite aggressive and very territorial. If you don’t have any experience with lizards, this can be quite frustrating and it can lead to the gecko attacking you. And while most gecko bites are not harmful at all, a Tokay’s bite will hurt a lot. And it can bite the flesh off a child’s hand. This gecko is definitely not for a child either.
They are very active during the night and quite vocal. You will find yourself spending hours just watching the little guy move around. But when it comes to handling, they would rather be alone. It requires lots of experience and patience to befriend a Tokay Gecko, but it’s 100% possible. But only if it was bred in captivity. Wild Tokay Geckos are impossible to tame.
African Fat-Tailed Geckos are the opposite of the Tokay Gecko. It’s very docile and it spends most of its time sleeping. It’s extremely rare for one of these geckos to bite if they’re handled gently and with patience. With time, they will get used to you and will even look forward to spending time with you. But it’s not very interesting to observe as it spends most of its time hidden away. It also walks very slowly.
While Tokay Geckos are ideal for experienced lizard-owners that want an active and interesting gecko, the African Fat-Tailed Gecko is perfect for first-time owners. These geckos can also be owned by children as they’re very sweet and docile.
Can Tokay Geckos and African Fat Tailed Geckos live together?
While African Fat-Tailed Geckos can live with other geckos of their own species (as long as there’s not a male around), the Tokay Gecko will attack and attempt to kill almost any lizard that makes its way into its enclosure. You might be able to find a mate for the Tokay, but be very careful as they’re known to start fights. They live best on their own.
And when it comes to keeping a Tokay Gecko and an African Fat-Tailed Gecko together, DON’T ATTEMPT IT! They will fight to the death and the Tokay will most likely prevail as it’s bigger in size. Geckos will only accept other geckos that belong to their own species. And even then, there’s lots of fighting, especially between males.
Diet Comparison
Tokay Geckos get very excited when they see food and they’re quite interesting to observe while they eat. They can eat a very wide range of insects as they’re pretty active. But it’s still recommended to only use insects that contain lots of fats as traits.
On the other hand, African Fat-Tailed Geckos are much less active but they store all the excess fat in their tail. This means that they can eat fatter insects without any problems, as long as you don’t notice any significant weight gain. They need their calcium so make sure you’re never out of it.
Comparison – Cage Requirements (size, substrate, heat level, humidity)
Tokay Geckos are arboreal, which means they need lots of vertical space. A 15-20-gallon tank is ideal for a single animal, and if you lack the space, don’t get one that’s smaller than 10 gallons. If you want to get a pair, a 25 or 30-gallon enclosure would be recommended, and make sure you never keep them in a cage that’s smaller than 20 gallons.
These geckos need a humid environment that’s up to 70% as they naturally live in rainforests. You will also need to offer a quite warm environment and a basking area of around 80F. But avoid getting the cage too hot. Cypress mulch and orchid bark are excellent as a substrate to maintain humidity.
African Fat-Tailed Geckos are terrestrial, which means that they need more space on the ground than in height. A 15-gallon tank is perfect for one animal and a 20-gallon or bigger is ideal for a pair. Despite being found in the desert, they spend most of their time in humid hideouts. This means their humidity requirements are up to 60% and you need to make sure their hiding places are always a bit wet.
You should keep the temperature around 90F to 95F on one side of the cage, and the other side at around 80F or cooler. This will help the gecko regulate its body temperature by walking around. These geckos spend their time on the ground so make sure you’re not using sand or other substrates that they might eat by accident. Orchid bark is ideal as it helps maintain a humid environment.
If you don’t plan to spend a lot of time with your gecko and you’re more interested in the way these creatures look than becoming friends with them, a Tokay Gecko is definitely the best choice. It doesn’t require any affection and it prefers being left alone. It’s also quite smart and fast so make sure the cage is secure.
But if you’re looking for a gecko you can pet whenever you want, you should definitely opt for an African Fat-Tailed Gecko. They’re very docile and you can befriend one within a few months. They’re also pretty slow but they will make a run for it if they somehow escape their enclosure.
