I NEED HELP WITH LEO HEALTH!!!

So after experiencing all the annoying things associated with crickets (smell, escapes, noise, deaths), I decided to try some local mealworms. I bought 50 in total, most of which were normal worms that I'm storing in the fridge, but some were a special Repti-worm species which the lady told me are exponentially more nutritious, and they're sealed in compost on my desk. Leo will not TOUCH the Repti-worms, even after I rinse them off! They just don't appeal to him. He will eat the regular mealworms if I hand-feed him, but won't seem to realize they're there otherwise. Anyway, today I tried this new liquid vitamin because I know he can't just get what he needs from feeders and calcium:



I put it on a regular mealworm. He chomped on it once, spit it out, and was DISGUSTED. Licking his lips, grinding his mouth on surroundings, sulking in the corner, and eventually hiding under his rock. I've already tried giving it to him directly in the mouth, and he wouldn't even open for me. I feel like forcing him more than I'm willing to would be traumatic for him. So how can I give him his vitamins when he hates the taste? Is there a better-tasting powder you guys recommend?

Also: as convenient as the worms are, I don't think they're a good idea long term because he won't eat the healthy ones and the regulars lack nutrition. So I was thinking of ordering like 500 crickets bulk online to save money and time. What's that about? Do they provide housing for all of them? I have food and gel water, but I don't know how much 500 would need! Also how do you get 5 out a day with so many in there??

I'M OVERWHELMED! I just want him to be happy and healthy.... Also his heat pad is set to 91 day and night, just wanted to check if that's good....

I'm guessing that by repti-worm, you mean phoenix worms(soldier fly larvae). Although I've never had them myself, most people say that leopard geckos will not eat phoenix worms. They're very high in calcium, but a lot of reptiles hate them. What is his age and weight?

There's nothing wrong with feeding mealworms. I do. The most important thing is that they're properly gut loaded. I feed mine a mix of crushed cat food, cheerios, and chicken feed for laying hens, with carrots for water. Adding some variation is good, so crickets, mealworms, roaches, silkworms, waxworms, whatever you want. My staple is mealworms, though, and I've never had a problem with properly fed mealworms. I've had leopard geckos for almost 10 years now.

That liquid calcium is meant to be diluted in their water. Putting it directly on a bug is probably far too concentrated and might have a taste. I use Repashy Calcium Plus http://www.+++++.com/product/121224...eLxk7IqApwDUrmzw2WJkUreef6JSSaubmgaApmA8P8HAQ. It has vitamins and calcium all in one. I use it every feeding for all my herps. Hatchlings should have a bowl of pure(no d3) calcium at all times. Adults don't need it.

91 is fine for his warm side temperature.

I heard that diluting it in the water also doesn't taste good, so don't I run the risk of dehydration? Also I didn't know you could have calcium and vitamins in the same supplement, is that for real? Is it less nutritious than giving them separately?

I've never used liquid vitamins, so I don't really know. That supplement I suggested is perfectly fine to use. I doubt it's any less efficient than using them separately, and you wouldn't have to use several different supplements on different days. If you want to do that, though, you can. There are powder vitamins you could use instead, if that's what you prefer. I like Calcium Plus. I use it every feeding and have not had a problem. It also smells really nice, so maybe that says something about the way it tastes.

Would feeding a main diet of superworms be okay if I just bought them from a store and used that Calcium Plus stuff? I don't know the first thing about proper gut-loading

For gutloading, you don't have to get fancy. You can buy pre-made gutloads at the pet store, but I like using fresh veggies and fruit. If you want to go that route, here's a list of good foods to use:
Much Ado About Chameleons: The Anatomy of Gut-Loading | Ingredients & Nutritional Info

You just feed those for a day to gutload.

Besides that, Repashy Calcium Plus is great to dust with. I use it as well, and my geckos love it.

I like to store my mealies in Pro Gutload, and pop them in a separate part of the fridge between gutloading days. Once it's time to feed the leo's it's pretty easy to pick them out and pop them in a small container for dusting, also a user of Repashy Calcium Plus. Normally I'll stick a carrot wedge in the feeding dish so they have have something to munch on and stay hydrated too.

All my leo's absolutely hate phoenix worms, which s a shame. Would like to find some other type of worm feeder, or maybe some roaches once an apartment is no longer an issue.