African Fat Tailed VS Leopard Geckos - Which is the Better Pet?

These two exotic pet reptiles are terrestrial geckos available captive bred in many countries. African fat tailed geckos and leopard geckos share a lot of common traits, but they do have some notable differences that may sway which you choose from price and size to coloring and availability. Which do you prefer? MORE FROM ME:
Shop Merchandise • goherping.com/shop
Instagram • / go_herping
Purchase a reptile • emeraldscales.com
Support my vids • / goherping
REPTILE STUFF
10% off feeder insects • bit.ly/GoHerping_FEEDERS
Supplies I Recommend • kit.co/goherping
KZbin STUFF
Caption your videos! Subtitles help the hard of hearing, non-English speakers and boosts you in the algorithm. Get a $10 coupon with my link • www.rev.com/blog/coupon?ref=a...
*Affiliates links above support the channel

[@GoHerping]

Check out the merch! goherping.com/shop

[@geotheleo2716]

Ok

[@heidrage]

ok bruv

[@Iluvmitski_]

Congrats on being so close to 500k 🥳🥳

[@noxisz2965]

Good vids

[@deannaknezevich2126]

Does emerald scales ship internationally?

[@alexbenavidez4500]

You forgot to mention that both species only have about 10 brain cells that they're sharing between them

[@the_renaissance]

That's just a commonly known fact

[@EATONWILDGAMING]

Not big brain,but do they have a bigger brain than a ball python?With my ball python,no

[@EATONWILDGAMING]

I mean yes,they do

[@punanyologist]

we have humans with many more brain cells and beLIEve they come from a man in the sky so intelligence is subjective

[@Firefly-Simp-HSR]

You mean two braincells spread between the two species

[@AverytheCubanAmerican]

I used to have a leopard gecko named Art so I'm biased and will pick leopard gecko. Called him Art because I thought of Art Deco and it sounded similar to gecko. So his full name was Art Gecko

[@christinabrown7308]

User name checks out

[@level7000]

Christina Brown how?

[@icyiyes4846]

I had a stoke while reading this 😂

[@silversugar2140]

Awww tell your boy I love them! Adorable name and a lovely art style!

[@imvvcool7661]

Icy guy ah yes, a stoke 😻

[@caidalee1994]

Me, immediately after laying eyes on the gecks: “oh my GOSH, they’re /so. dumb./ I love them so much”

[@LittleIcarus]

Psst. You can use underscores in the place of slashes to make italics. :)

[@katysullivan3192]

Just some Karen with internet access wait can I just _test that out real quick_ Edit: that’s incredible thank you

[@leogeck7350]

Aw, they are not dumb 😂maybe a little derpy but they are very perky. The ones I take care of peek out of their hides every time they hear I'm around. It's food time! They can also be vocal (they can make whirring and clicking sounds if the protest) and some hunt like their name-giver the leopard, wiggling their tails in excitement if they see prey items. Also, they sometimes sleep in such adorable derpy positions, I sometimes wake them up just to check if they're ok, lol.

[@leogeck7350]

@thecasualtrollingpuma lol, okay, i give in. they can be hella daft.

[@Hirabeatz]

-damn-

[@GoHerping]

Thanks for 500,000 subs :))

[@arathearapaima7107]

No problem

[@noxisz2965]

You make great videos you deserve it

[@BentleyS6336]

Am I tripping cuz I see 499k

[@amongus-qs1pi]

ALMOST. But congrats !

[@NissanSkylineGT-RV-SPECR]

@@BentleyS6336 it's basicly 500k

[@casual4937]

I remember someone saying you can house them together, the leopard geckos will literally bully the fat tailed geckos.

[@mywhitepearlies]

im sure you know this, but they absolutely cannot be housed together, not even because of aggression, but because of the differences in natural environments. the fat tails need a higher humidity and that humidity, like alex said in the video, can cause respiratory issues in the leopard gecko. there are also slight temperature differences but that is a little more negligible.

[@prcervi]

you can house fat tails with more of their own, they don't seemingly fight as much as leos but why would you house fat tails with leos? there's no benefit to it and plenty of damage to be had

[@rosepayton7430]

my fat tail attacked my leo during play time-

[@lexibutkovich175]

To be honest I like fat tails more cause they look like little bandits.

[@rockyc6480]

My leaped gecko has a mask like mark on his face makes him look like a bandit 👀

[@fayfay3152]

i have a leopard gecko, but i love aft's too, they are so cute!!

[@Dragonemperess]

Sahyu had a bandit scarf-like pattern when she was a baby. It lightened up, but you can see it if you know what to look for. Slightly deeper mac and cheese yellow.

[@NissanSkylineGT-RV-SPECR]

I like both

[@amongus-qs1pi]

They both do lol

[@sydneys2859]

The self-restraint to not say nice at the mention of the temperature. A god among men.

[@kona6957]

The way lizard always look so curious makes me love them even more

[@artemsokolov8101]

Sorry but their gekos

[@cutelizard3593]

bmx racing geckos are a type of lizard...?

[@jazminvarga1052]

@@artemsokolov8101 geckos are lizards..geez think before u talk

[@artemsokolov8101]

The ones a mother fucking leopard geko

[@heysaucemikehere1804]

bmx racing Geckos are lizards, my guy.

[@subzero2488]

As a South African I can confirm that geckos are a lot less cute when you have a giant one leaping off a wall at you 😂

[@PageShearling]

I really like fat-tails that have the stripe down the back.

[@Ily_t4e_]

Me too 😍

[@Olivia-mi7nh]

I have one!

[@sabrinaflanagan7721]

Hi! I own an African Fat Tailed gecko for the reason you mentioned: they’re cute looking. I researched pretty well into both before making my decision. I noticed the most differences with their bioactive enclosures and DIY backgrounds. Leopard geckos have more arid set ups and opportunities for climbing up on the backgrounds and grout rock. African Fat Tailed geckos have more floor space and underground hides because they tend to like burrowing and hiding more. They can’t climb as well as leopard geckos can.

[@emilymitchell9357]

Can I house them together?

[@oliveleary661]

@@emilymitchell9357 Depends; you can never house a male and a male, a male and a female, a hatchling and an adult, or gecko that has been in the enclosure longer than the other. Two females both introduced to the enclosure at the same time should be okay, just have a separate enclosure just in case one gets territorial over the other. EDIT: If you are talking about housing two different species together, the answer is no. Leopard Geckos are bullies sometimes.

[@nomaidens7740]

this is the earliest i have ever been to a goherping video

[@witchyhobbit]

Same!!!

[@Potato2mato]

Lol same

[@SmokeyEdits]

"it's been a while since I've done a video like this" you mean one about reptiles? smh alex you're slippin "goherping" more like "noherping" amirite

[@TobyCreates]

Lol I like his noherping videos

[@Beth_Amphetamine]

Toby Creates me too!

[@avrilmarine3098]

Perfect timing, my friend and I were just talking about which one to get 👌🏽

[@xMJJMoonwalker]

Which one did y'all decide on? The people would like to know

[@avrilmarine3098]

Luna Moonwalker Lol, we didn’t decide on one. The convo just drifted into something else. I still suggested a fattail to him, and he still wants to get a leo.

[@xMJJMoonwalker]

@@avrilmarine3098 Why not both 👀

[@avrilmarine3098]

Luna Moonwalker I mean.. 👀

[@garetnugget5891]

I have a African fat tail because it is so humid is Missouri

[@M_u_t_e96024]

Ur house ain't got a dehumidifier?

[@garetnugget5891]

TRex Bait my house was all ways humid even with a dehumidifier it was 30% to 50% humid. Also I agree with that African fat tail geckos are cute

[@arnicamoana7861]

Garet Nugget I mean, that range is fine for leos. But fat tails also have adorable little stubby hands ❤️

[@prcervi]

a fair reason, humidity is rather easier to keep up when you're always drowning in it

[@Gvjrapiro]

Have to go with the Leos. They're just so dumb, it's insanely cute.

[@vanengelhardt7586]

5:41 you have achieved comedy

[@yorickbrown5297]

Why am I watching this I can’t even own either in my country lol

[@vanengelhardt7586]

Sad.

[@madwoots]

Australia?

[@ramennoodlesuwu1762]

0:19 It has such pretty eyes

[@28RodrigoO]

Which morph?

[@guadsucks4872]

@@28RodrigoO bruh

[@28RodrigoO]

@@guadsucks4872 ?

[@Finchsaviary]

alec: african fat tailed gecko me: mmm rocky road ice cream

[@HMXVI]

Ahh yes, time to lie down and listen to Alex talk about reptiles for +10 minutes 😌

[@augervongaribaldi]

My first and only reptile was an African fat tailed gecko. He interested me because his tail was shaped exactly like his head. He was the most chill guy ever. He would just chill on my shoulder as we watched tv or just when I was doing random things like homework. Was never bolty and instead very curious. Only problem was that he was a picky eater. He ate plenty but all he ever wanted was crickets so trying to get him more variety was a pain.

[@viridhornet5722]

I really hope I wasn’t the only one in a cuteness overload here, I literally couldn’t stop looking at the geckos in “awe” they were so adorable

[@quesnelsistersgaming4688]

I'm getting a leopard gecko this month thx u for all the vids on leopard gecko I've learned alot from u 😊

[@willowthwolf3215]

leopard geckos are great i hope you have fun with it

[@cactusfruit5835]

I have had one for over a year and he is the goofiest thing ever😂. He’s so cute.

[@beansauce2371]

I just got mine, so cute!

[@randomuser2212]

Congrats! Leopard geckos are amazing

[@thiccmanwillis]

5:42 :exists everybody watching this: nice.

[@helloiamtiredallthetime.631]

_nice_

[@xmipad-rafaelxaverianmulya6084]

Nice indeed

[@superapplesauce5218]

Nice

[@james_7718]

_nice_

[@tmaxim2651]

Me living in Australia where I can’t get either.

[@Luca-ch5uy]

Sry they r so bby

[@shadowspectrum]

@Jacobs Herps I'm not Aussie, but I believe you can only keep native species in Oz

[@helloiamtiredallthetime.631]

RIP. They’re baby and enjoy cuddling

[@tmaxim2651]

Jacobs Herps Yes you have to have a licence and can only get natives. Internationally you’d know of bearded dragons and blue tongue lizards. They are the most popular lizards here too. Frogs and turtles are kinda common. Carpet pythons or children’s pythons are the most common snake(s) I think

[@akio_kuro]

They both always look either confused or just plain derpy and that only makes me love them even more.

[@birchbarks550]

Adorable 10/10 would boop the nose

[@helloiamtiredallthetime.631]

My leopard gecko licks your finger when you boop his nose •́؈•̀ ₎

[@docprettynails8485]

@@helloiamtiredallthetime.631 If you boop their nose with your own nose it gives you a kiss :D

[@helloiamtiredallthetime.631]

@@docprettynails8485 😌 I love that thank you

[@leean333chey]

Leopard geckos are now actually thought to be “Cathemeral” meaning their sleep cycle is very sporadic. Pretty crazy stuff. My leos like to sleep all day anyways 😂

[@aquadraco20]

I'm always looking for more fat tail content! What great timing!

[@AnonymousAnonymous-ms2hr]

Congrats on 500k man!

[@MikaaaTube]

Ooo another gecko video! I will enjoy this

[@cokepop434]

Lmao my leopard gecko has HUGE eyes. Idk what morph he is but he’s absolutely the cutest thing and I just HSDGYDGEGYGDY

[@zomdalein3327]

Since I moved out a year ago I miss having animals around me and after a long search I found interest in reptiles and amphibians. That's how I came across your videos because I wanted to find out which reptiel would fit into my life. Now i have 2 terrariums with 2 happy male leopard geckos

[@xMJJMoonwalker]

You have no idea how happy it makes me to read comments about people keeping their leos in separate enclosures. So many people keep spreading misinformation about cohabbing and a small part of me dies inside when I see people house leos together. Anyway keep up the good work, pal!

[@zomdalein3327]

@@xMJJMoonwalker tbh when i started i read a lot(!) about put 3 leos (1male & 2 females) together. But in some videos ppl say " please keep them separate!". At the biggining it was really hard to figure it out and confusing even the zoo shops didnt know what to do. Im happy that i did the right thing and listen to a lot of youtuber channels like GoHerping!

[@inyoGuts.]

hey im steve and i want to say thank you my tortoise had shell rot and the video you made along time ago helped me and he's doing good and still has the mark but it was small

[@aquadraco20]

All reptiles should have UVB, including nocturnal and crepuscular. UVB is always beneficial, and nocturnal and crepuscular animals with perform cryptic basking, where they will expose part of their body during daytime hours to receive the beneficial rays. Just use a lower wattage like 5 or 6%, and dapple the light with decor.

[@arnicamoana7861]

Or even lower % for albino or reduced color morphs! Even things like super hypos or hypos should have lower uvb on account of a lack of pigment to protect the DNA in their cells from damage!

[@buggy9124]

I've had my leopard gecko for fifteen years and he's an excellent boy. I'm obviously biased, but I'd definitely choose a leopard gecko over a fat-tailed gecko. He's super easy to handle and he's still a great eater, but I do have to feed him with tweezers since he's a little slower than the crickets now, lol

[@puffery6419]

Love your vids and thanks for making reptile vids again

[@gbd6222]

Congrats on 500k!!!

[@oo63pies00]

Congratulations on 500k Alex. I hope your doing well and life is good.

[@ajtheskink4072]

Congrats on 500k subs🥳 I hope you and all your reptiles celebrate 🎉🦎 your videos are so helpful and funny. Keep up the fantastic work

[@iiobamnaxxiithethird3498]

Congrats on 500 k

[@emma-dk5zf]

every time i look up a random specific question you have a video about it

[@conormcmullen6437]

"Because you're gonna lower their temperatures, to about, *69"* Me: Ayyyy 😏

[@superapplesauce5218]

Nice.

[@breadytrashcan8508]

s a m e

[@bigsam8597]

Nice.

[@vanengelhardt7586]

Keep this comment at 69 likes xD

[@dexterwood1239]

keep the comment at 69

[@Thurston86]

Congrats on the 500k, Alex!

[@karen_3]

CONGRATS ON 500K!!

[@rararasputin1847]

Super knowledgable, good job bro

[@rararasputin1847]

~ and good job on half a mil ~

[@salem2878]

me and my aft are chillin watchin dis together :)

[@fizzarolli4958]

Great guide

[@TobyCreates]

Congrats on 500k! 🎉

[@BornAgainFarmGirl]

Excellent job , I feel I’ve learned a great deal about these animals . I own a 9 yo bearded dragon .

[@xMJJMoonwalker]

Thank you so much for this video! I've always wondered about these. One thing you didn't discuss that I would have liked to see though was differences in diet (or maybe you said they're the same and I missed that part)

[@TeenDream888]

me in the middle of another video when I get the notification GoHerping has uploaded you bet I paused what I was watching and jumped straight over!

[@wolfygrl24]

Love the video! I have a Fat Tailed named Striker. He’s a great lil guy and is pretty good about letting me handle him. If I haven’t held him in a few days he gets a little nervous at first but once I pick him up he calms down and is fine. I love Leopard Geckos too though.

[@JosuesExotics]

Leopard geckos are probably one of my favorite reptiles! I’m definitely getting one later this year! Thanks for the great information!

[@samfish2550]

I will say that wild type fat tails are absolutely gorgeous. The clear brown bands and the white stripe look awesome.

[@jeremiaht7273]

Personally I use UV on my leopard gecko and he enjoys it and will lay out and sleep in it at certain parts of the day

[@arnicamoana7861]

XxSpyroX As you should. All reptiles should have UV.

[@jeremiaht7273]

Arnica Moana not necessarily but it doesn’t hurt most species so I mean why not

[@arnicamoana7861]

XxSpyroX It doesn’t hurt any species, and it’s beneficial to all reptiles. If it improves the quality of your care (almost) unconditionally, all reptiles should have UVB.

[@rebeccadyson9063]

I had 2 albino african fat tails about 10 years ago! I loved them!! They are so calm and gentle in comparison to leopard geckos, I also had 2 of those! Amazing animals!

[@punkrockshitface8734]

Congrats on 500k!

[@rachelstoltman7282]

Congratulations on 500k!

[@mscameron22]

Goherpes! Always informative dude 😁😁😁

[@aidenmooney1855]

I recently adopted an AFT from someone, and she is the sweetest thing! She actually has no earthy tones, and is a light cream color, with like a peach pink and white underbelly! Her previous owner named her Peaches and it fits so well! In my case it seems like she has a much bigger personality than most Leos that I've seen, and she's wayyy more social and handle-able. But it may just be her as an individual! Either way, highly recommend AFTs!!😁

[@yeahyeah5446]

just a solid channel tbh

[@Benjamin-cs2tl]

Congrats on 500k! :)

[@dmatthews1290]

I was already watching one of your videos!

[@tobias2375]

My first gecko I bought was a fat tailed gecko, and he’s my most favorite. On the other hand, my leopard gecko is very sociable

[@lyn3483]

Love your hair and overall personality 🙌

[@lg5872]

congrats on 500k

[@bansheerosebelle9848]

Cuteness overload! That fat tail with the white stripe is so handsome! I'd call it skunk lol I've been debating getting a leopard gecko or fat tail for awhile

[@craigisonychia]

Congrats on 500k

[@GoHerping]

thankya

[@Finchsaviary]

happy almost 500k

[@atrabutes]

Watched a bunch of videos past few days. Learned a lot, thanks for that. I’ve owned a bearded dragon for seven years now. I’m lucky that in my naivety at that age that I didn’t take care of the bearded dragon very poorly. The only thing he has a problem with now that I’ve learned so much is relatively clogged pores. Which I will now treat to your advice. Just a few days ago I came into possession of a kenyan sand boa due to the fact that he had no home and no one to take care of him. It came with a “technical” set up. But it was very unequipped, and I was able to find out everything I needed from your videos. And I’m now trying to do the best I can to take care of him. Looks extremely healthy, the only challenge is going to be switching from live to frozen. I’ve heard that he’s only eaten alive up to now. I’m hoping since he’s young that it will be relatively easy. Healthy size, healthy length, less than two years old. Very twitchy to handling when he first came in, slowly improving. Technically I’m fostering him but a part of me hopes that he’ll become part of my home.

[@brookpaige]

I was thinking about getting one

[@staceyroberts3468]

Great topic 👍🏻

[@kokadjooutdoors620]

Looking into one already have a leopard gecko. Like them both

[@Rakealia]

I had a leopard gecko and a fat tail gecko growing up, both were hand me downs from my friends who no longer wanted them. They were both pretty in their own right and both loved to be held and handled. xD I remember smuggling the leopard gecko to various places especially (got it first).

[@cxfiedrat6976]

I wanna african fat tailed gecc sooooo bad but i have a leo and hes my bby

[@Luca-ch5uy]

Same

[@cringeken5389]

Same! Aftg are so cute but my leo is my little bby

[@cxfiedrat6976]

@@cringeken5389 yesss

[@tanithalakai4538]

Well, you can technically get one. As long as they're not kept together and the husbandry is right there's nothing to worry about.

[@cxfiedrat6976]

@@tanithalakai4538 well true i didnt think housing them together was a good idea

[@icyiyes4846]

Hey! 500k nice job man

[@GoHerping]

thanks!

[@HickBoysTV]

Congrats for half a million subs!!!!!!!so fast

[@biancarenee5784]

Happy 500k! Also I really want an African Fat Tailed gecko now instead of another leopard gecko like I was thinking of getting

[@playboyy1903]

I love this channel

[@Tate.R.Tot.Hottie]

Aye what’s good Alex god bless you and your animals

[@Djshhshzhsjsksk]

Had them both and loved them. Local pet store got an African fat tail by accident and put it in with the leopard tank. The fat tail got her tail bit off so the pet store was gonna get rid of her(whatever that means) . So I bought the fat tail. She was on of my pets that I'll always hold close to my heart.

[@jessicabell3438]

Really licking that table. Lol

[@Nin-Ei]

I have both a leo (Ofelia) and an AFT (Toothpaste), and the big difference I’ve noticed is their personalities. My AFT is more calm and easy to handle, but he also doesn’t “ask” to come out like my leo does. Bit pickier about food too

[@coasterconfusion305]

They are both adorable.

[@mrscarolinehoran]

I love my AFT, she is the sweetest thing

[@tonytalks9027]

Congrats on half a million subs

[@I_love_dr_stone]

damm just checked, just started showing 500k, congrats

[@tinkytimby6715]

Very informative :)

[@nathaliel9592]

My sister used to have an african fat tailed that LOVED to be around you. All she ever wanted was to cuddle by your face or on your tummy. Im guessing it was for heat but she really seemed to like being around certain people, not all of course. She was five or so when we got her, so I dont know how frequently she was handled when little but in her older days she was out almost everyday for a good while 😊

[@GloriousSEAGRUB]

Cool video

[@megp3526]

500k! Congrats you chaotic katana wielding cactus killer!

[@MsLizzy2010]

I am eventually going to be getting a leopard gecko. I love their colouring. I have a large Exo tarra enclosure. I just have to save for everything that I will need

[@TimberwolfDan]

My first reptile was a Fat Tail. He was the best pet I ever owned. He loved to be handled, was never scared of me, never bite or even try.

[@justussanimaladventures7029]

Every time I watch your videos something bad happens to my phone now I can't hear trough my phone thanks 😂

[@Lyrabela]

I was going to get a fat tail but ended up falling in love with a bts. Watching this video im glad. They are still super adorable tho

[@philipjones2558]

I recently got a leopard gecko because I watched your videos and the gecko I got looks exactly like goldy

[@elianwolfert3879]

Never heard of African Fat Tailed geckos but I like them! I'm planning to get a Leopard gecko at some point but maybe I'll get an African fat tailed gecko, or both (in different enclosures of course!)