Rescued Gecko

Question
Hi Thea - I am really hoping you can help me with a concern I have.  A family member just passed away last week and as a result, we have inherited an African Fat tailed Gecko.  The sad part about the story is that the family member was very ill and was not caring for himself, and I am more than sure was not caring for this poor creature.  I think it may have gone weeks (maybe even a month) without food and water.  When we got it, the cage was rancid and the crickets inside had been decomposing.  We were actually surprised to find the little fellow alive. It was living under a rock and probably waiting for death.  As soon as we got it home, we gave it water and cleaned the entire cage and bought brand new carpet (it was in dirty clay sand) and have noticed some movement.  It is adjusting pretty well and seems to be eating some mealworms and perhaps a cricket or two.  I don't know because I don't look in the cage but my little one seems to think that they have been eaten.  I bought the electrolyte drops for its water and even some baby food which it doesn't touch, but maybe it doesn't like banana.  It has since shed some of its skin and is just hiding in the cave or behind a log. We have seen it climbing the log too which is nice to see. We are misting the moss and making sure the water dish stays full.  Should there be anything to watch for?  I am really concerned and would hate for it to die since it is the only thing left of our loved one that she can care for.  Any advice would help.
Thank you.

Answer
Hi Jillian, How lucky for the little guy to have ended up with a compassionate person like you. Lucky for you that your relative had a small, charming and easily cared for reptile like an African fat tail rather the a full grown iguana!
The key thing that you did not mention that your gecko needs is an external heat source because reptiles do not produce their own body heat. All of their metabolic functions like appetite, digestion and immune system function rely on this external heat source. If he is in a glass tank the easiest way is to use an under tank heater. This is a thin adhesive heat pad sold for reptiles that goes under one end of the tank. That will provide a temperature gradient ie. a warm end and a cool end, to allow him to regulate his body temperature. You can also use a lamp over one end of the tank but it is less ideal for nocturnal geckos like fat tails. He needs access to a temperature between 85 - 90 F in one portion of the enclosure, it is equally important that he be able to get away from the heat.
Fat tails are quite hardy and it sounds like he has weathered this period of benign neglect. I think you should notice a dramatic improvement once he gets the proper warmth.