Crested babies wont take CGD, harm of feeding only crickets?

[Reborn]

I bought two little cresteds from my pet store. I felt bad for them they cant be more then a month old. They both weigh a mere 2 grams! and Kashi is bigger then Ushi so its really worrying me. The pet store said he was feeding only crickets and that thats what i should do too(hahaha) So since i've gotten them(a week now) ive had to rab it on there noses and even then there only takin a little bit at a time. So questions are
1 should i offer them crickets more often just to ween them off and still offer CGD(there still lively and active)
2 side effects of crickets more then once a week
3 should i try fresh fruits?

:main_laugh:haha i feel like a dullard asking!XD

 

[your gecko guy]

Try the C.D.G. dry this works for us.

 

[T-ReXx]

Once babies are stuck on crickets it can be tough to get them to take cgd, that's why I don't feed any bugs at all for the first 3 months. Usually they grow out of it, but there are a few tricks you can do to speed things up:

Continue to offer CGD. Babies should be fed at least 4x a week, so I would start off with 3 meals of crickets and one of cgd, then over a 4 week period gradually lower the number of cricket feedings and increase the cgd. So like, week one 3 cricket meals, one cgd, week two 2 cricket meals, 2 cgd, week 3 1 cricket meal, 3 cgd, etc.

While the babies are stuck on crix, dust the crickets with cgd each feeding. Feeding crix often won't hurt them, but they'll need to be supplemented, so dusting with cgd ensures they get what they need.

Stick with it. Monitor their weight and watch for them eating the cgd. Don't be afraid to feed more crix if they start losing weight. Eventually they will switch completely over to the cgd, as adults are more inclined to eat fruit than bugs.

 

[your gecko guy]

C.G.D. sorry

 

[Reborn]

Mk ill try both your ideas. Kashi is alot bigger(like almost doubel Ushi's size) and weighs the same as him so im really worried about him. But he does take the CGD easier then Ushi. I'll try it dry first and see if maybe they'll take it. But if not ill switch to givin them more dusted with it.

So is there any long term effects to feeding bugs only? Coz if there is im seriously considering buying the remaining babies, just for there sakes. I know i could find them better homes then that place.

 

[T-ReXx]

There's nothing wrong with a long term insect diet as long as it is properly supplemented with cgd, either in mixed or dry form. CGD contains the vitamins and minerals cresties need as well as the fruit aspects of their diet that are required. Feeding a heavy amount of insects along side this will not cause any problems, just is often more difficult and expensive.

 

[Reborn]

Mk thanks T-ReXx lol your answering all my questions;D I wont worry now if they only want them. Think i should still try some fresh fruits?

 

[T-ReXx]

You could try it, wouldn't hurt. My cresties get a puried fruit mix every so often as a treat, some like it, some don't. As long as they are getting cgd, there's some room for experimentation. It's when you feed a diet of only insects or only baby food, or only fruit without the added nutrients and supplements found in cgd, that problems start to arise.

 

[Reborn]

I thought baby food was bad for them?:main_huh:

 

[T-ReXx]

baby food is pretty much sugar. Some people use it added to cgd for flavor, and a little (like junk food for us) won't hurt, but it doesn't add anything nutritionally.

 

[Reborn]

So as a staple diet nope. I'll have to give that a shot. Im thinking of getting the 2 parts CGD just to see if they'd like it more. But for now ill try the CGD dry then if they dont take that i'll do the dusting of the crickets

 

[CrestedNation]

i'm doing the crix dunked in wet cgd and feeding it to my little ones so they can get used to the taste.

 

[Dron2124]

Just a quick question So feeding crickets dusted cgd is ok for long term use becuase when i feed my cresty once a week soem cricketgs he goes crazy fro them. Then when there all done he looks at me sad liek there r no more i wana jump and catch more.

 

[darkridder]

You state that your geckos are small and are not eating it. But small geckos also are hard to tell if they are physically eating. If you cut the crickets totally out of the diet for awhile, and focus on the CGD, if youre seeing feces, then your gecko is eating. Remember little bellies dont eat a whole lot, and it can be hard to determine if a small gecko is actually eating or not.

 

[Eureka]

I don't believe you mentioned what kind of enclosure these tiny babies are in? That can influence their appetite as an enclosure too large can cause them to not eat very well. Though it sounds to me they are hooked on crickets and just being stubborn. Excellent advice has been given. You can try offering just the CGD and weigh them often on a gram scale so you can know for sure if they are eating it and gaining weight. Like darkridder, it can be hard to determine if they are eating. I have a hard time telling sometimes with my big 54 gram boy.

 

[Reborn]

Haha sorry I didnt include the set up. they got branchs, plants, and one paper towel. The size is about 9x5x10(lxwxh). There now eating the CGD just fine i made a little "mushroom ledge" and now I catch them eating all the time. Maybe its coz they didnt wanna go to the floor to eat. I dunno really but there eating fine now! One's gained(the bigger one) a gram and a half and the other a gram. the smaller one had a nice shed too I cut the crickets out all together for now i think in a month i'll let them start on them again. I really dont think they knew what the CGD was. It took a bit of hand feeding them but now they know its yummy food.

the pet store still says i shouldnt be feeding them CGD at all and should just be giving crickets=-= thanks everyone there eating now just fine :main_thumbsup: sorry if it came off worrisome but i've never had such tiny guys

 

[Eureka]

That is excellent! My guy loves his mushroom ledge too.

 

[Reborn]

Mines not a real mushroom ledge just a cheap thing we made out of styrafoam and hot glue. Its temporary till there big enough to sex and get moved into bigger cages then they'll get a nice fancy one lol. But it gets the job done:main_thumbsup: Kashi(named after pastry in japanese), Ushi(short for ushishishi a laugh from a anime characterXD) and Doshi(short for hakudoshi off Inuyasha) are all injoying cheap made ones Doshi's bigger so he gets his own:main_thumbsup:

Doshi's the adult, Ushi's the littler one(idk what morph he is) and Kashi is the nice Harly;D