bronxzoofrank
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Thanks so much for the kind words and for sending along the links. much appreciated, Frank Indiviglio
Feeding a gecko with enigma syndrome
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Thanks so much for the kind words and for sending along the links. much appreciated, Frank Indiviglio
It's still in the 90s and not getting dark until 8:30, so I don't really think its weather related lol
She's always eaten everyday, however much she wants. Sometimes its just a bite or two, sometimes she can eat a dozen or two. She's always stayed a good weight, and never got too chuncky. Orchid on the other hand is good at packing on the pounds. She's not as active as Amelia is. Amelia is quite the trouble maker, and likes to bulldoze around her tank and rearrange things lol. If she doesn't eat every day to every other day, she loses weight after a few days. Like I said, she's real active, and she's already a teeny bit under weight to begin with. I will post a pic of her in a bit. She's not bad, but she could use a couple more grams. She keeps her weight stable provided she eats regularly, which is why she's fed often.
She's always eaten everyday, however much she wants. Sometimes its just a bite or two, sometimes she can eat a dozen or two. She's always stayed a good weight, and never got too chuncky. Orchid on the other hand is good at packing on the pounds. She's not as active as Amelia is. Amelia is quite the trouble maker, and likes to bulldoze around her tank and rearrange things lol. If she doesn't eat every day to every other day, she loses weight after a few days. Like I said, she's real active, and she's already a teeny bit under weight to begin with. I will post a pic of her in a bit. She's not bad, but she could use a couple more grams. She keeps her weight stable provided she eats regularly, which is why she's fed often.
indyana
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Thanks for reminding me about this. My little guy's appetite has decreased a bit in the last few weeks, and I was getting a bit paranoid. Should have realized that, like my skink, geckos might also be less active during the winter.
DrCarrotTail
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I don't have any experience working with enigmas. They're just not something I'm interested in getting into. I've spoken to several experts about my own geckos and have had them tell me that they do not believe it is healthy for adult leos to be fed every day. I tend to feed my babies every day or two to 25g, then every 2-3 days to 40g and every 3-4 days past then. I do feed breeding females every day although they tend to go a week on and then week off food as they get ready to lay eggs over and over. All in all, my adults eat next to nothing, especially when compared to hatchlings who tend to eat 2-3x as much as them even though they're a fraction the size. If you want to feed yours everyday I don't think it's bad and don't get me wrong, I think variety in their diet is awesome and needed but I wouldn't go out of your way to entice her to eat novelty food items or feed waxworms regularly. If she's a good weight I would assume she's not eating because she's just not hungry and weigh her every 7-10 days to make sure she isn't loosing a whole lot of weight quickly if she's not eating as much as you think she should.
Even if you don't think its weather related the gecko could have an internal clock or be picking up on very subtle clues in the environment that we don't even notice. Their metabolism is highly variable depending on what temperature they spend the majority of their time at and how much they move. Most of mine at this time of year start gravitating toward the cooler end of their bins as they start to slow themselves down. Once I notice this behavior I start decreasing the light by about 30 mins a week (the light is on a timer) and cool their heat tape down a couple degrees starting around November and at that time the snakes go in the chilly closet to brumate. Also around March or April I have a lot of girls go off food as they begin to ovulate. They more or less eat next to nothing from October-February. I'm astounded each year at how little they eat and how little weight they lose -- especially the snakes!! My male last year fasted for 7 months and lost less than 5% of his body weight. They are amazing creatures!! Again, not saying this is what's going on with yours but it could be part of it!
Even if you don't think its weather related the gecko could have an internal clock or be picking up on very subtle clues in the environment that we don't even notice. Their metabolism is highly variable depending on what temperature they spend the majority of their time at and how much they move. Most of mine at this time of year start gravitating toward the cooler end of their bins as they start to slow themselves down. Once I notice this behavior I start decreasing the light by about 30 mins a week (the light is on a timer) and cool their heat tape down a couple degrees starting around November and at that time the snakes go in the chilly closet to brumate. Also around March or April I have a lot of girls go off food as they begin to ovulate. They more or less eat next to nothing from October-February. I'm astounded each year at how little they eat and how little weight they lose -- especially the snakes!! My male last year fasted for 7 months and lost less than 5% of his body weight. They are amazing creatures!! Again, not saying this is what's going on with yours but it could be part of it!
I know they can sense atmospheric changes and what nots. My Uro, Rex, didn't eat much last winter, and continually got into all kinds of trouble trying to hole up in things he should be, because he was just doing what comes naturally to him, despite inside temps not changing. Had to break an $80 piece of decor because the crazy nut dug under it, and then wedged himself up inside it after more than a year of having it in his tank and never having done that before! I just don't think, judging by her actions (no behavior change, and eating still), that this is the case with Amelia. Or at least not all of it, since it is almost what we Floridians call "fall". It won't be ruled out, though!
Anyways, Amelia loves the warm side of the her tank. Given its small size (10 gallons), the wet hide is on the warm side for humidities sake, and the dry on the cooler side. She'd rather spend most of her time in the wet hide, though does spend a decent amount of time in her cave, as well. However it could just be that she likes the open shape of the wet hide (a 3/4 gallon fish bowl) over the bumpy, triangular shape of her cave.
She's a normal weight for her, right now, which is on the low side for normal geckos. Looking at her, and looking at Orchid, who is 5 months old (about 1/3-1/2 Amelia's age) you can see that Orchid is larger. Both are healthy, though. As soon as she starts coming out for the night, I'll get a pic. Won't be too long, looking at the time.
As for lighting, my room doesn't have any windows (was a garage) and the main light source when I'm not home are 4 aquariums (40, 50, and two 6's) on timers from 11 to 11. They are heavily planted with high light plants, and need a proper photoperiod, so that can't really be changed. She's got a 50 watt night heat lamp (the purple kind-- the red bugs me lol) that comes on at 8 or so, and goes off at 6 (really haven't timed it in a while. That seems too long, so I don't think thats quite right), as the rooms temp drops at night, and I keep the ceiling fan on for air movement. The heat lamp shouldn't bother her, though. She shouldn't be able to see it, or very much of it. Does lighting need to be cut back during the cooler months?
Anyways, Amelia loves the warm side of the her tank. Given its small size (10 gallons), the wet hide is on the warm side for humidities sake, and the dry on the cooler side. She'd rather spend most of her time in the wet hide, though does spend a decent amount of time in her cave, as well. However it could just be that she likes the open shape of the wet hide (a 3/4 gallon fish bowl) over the bumpy, triangular shape of her cave.
She's a normal weight for her, right now, which is on the low side for normal geckos. Looking at her, and looking at Orchid, who is 5 months old (about 1/3-1/2 Amelia's age) you can see that Orchid is larger. Both are healthy, though. As soon as she starts coming out for the night, I'll get a pic. Won't be too long, looking at the time.
As for lighting, my room doesn't have any windows (was a garage) and the main light source when I'm not home are 4 aquariums (40, 50, and two 6's) on timers from 11 to 11. They are heavily planted with high light plants, and need a proper photoperiod, so that can't really be changed. She's got a 50 watt night heat lamp (the purple kind-- the red bugs me lol) that comes on at 8 or so, and goes off at 6 (really haven't timed it in a while. That seems too long, so I don't think thats quite right), as the rooms temp drops at night, and I keep the ceiling fan on for air movement. The heat lamp shouldn't bother her, though. She shouldn't be able to see it, or very much of it. Does lighting need to be cut back during the cooler months?
DrCarrotTail
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I keep a full spectrum bulb in a floor lamp in my geckos room. I keep it on a 12 hour timer during the breeding season and start cutting back around now and will eventually turn it off until January or so. Not sure it's 100% necessary but I also keep hognose snakes that are diurnal so I like to think it does something 
I only used a heat lamp on my geckos when my room dropped below 65 degrees in an old house I lived in for a year. Since I moved into an apartment that has way better temp control I haven't used one.
I only used a heat lamp on my geckos when my room dropped below 65 degrees in an old house I lived in for a year. Since I moved into an apartment that has way better temp control I haven't used one.
Sorry this is so late! I was laying in bad last night waiting for pictures and videos to upload on my photobucket app (takes an eternity!!!!) and crashed before they were done LOL I woke up in the middle of the night thinking "what is under me?? Oh... My phone." Oops LOL
Anyways, here she is, looking in the completely wrong direction for her food lol You can see that her belly is flat and slopes up towards her vent. You'd have to feed her a diet of all wax worms to get an more weight on her. She simply loses interest after a while. Usually when she misses so many times, with her non-aim.
And for the giggles, here she is wanting all mommy's love
Anyways, here she is, looking in the completely wrong direction for her food lol You can see that her belly is flat and slopes up towards her vent. You'd have to feed her a diet of all wax worms to get an more weight on her. She simply loses interest after a while. Usually when she misses so many times, with her non-aim.
And for the giggles, here she is wanting all mommy's love
Phantom240
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That pose is adorable. lol.
Phantom240
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Once I snap a couple pics of mine (Without flash, typically), she always seems to saunter off where I can't get any good pics. Friggin tease.
Phantom240
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lol. Mine is a pretty typical reptile. She seems quite content on being alone. Whenever I catch her trying to climb the front glass, I walk over to her cage. She stops, looks at me with (what, at that particular angle looks like) her smug face, and as soon as I swing open the front doors and place my hand at the front of the entrance, she climbs on. I only keep her out for a few minutes at a time right now. Whenever I go to put her back in her cage, she tries to run up my arm, instead of climbing back onto her rocks. After about the third time trying to convince her to go, she chatters a bit then reluctantly departs. It makes me laugh every time.
So, a little update for you guys:
Shes eating really well on larger meal worms, Phoenix worms, and crickets (de-legged and held by the head with tweezers). Tried super worms tonight to see what she'd do, and she wouldn't even touch them. Even offered them first, so I knew she was hungry! Every time they moved, even if I was holding them three inches away, she'd flinch and move away. Offered her a cricket, couldn't even get it to the floor of the tank before she had it and the tweezers in her mouth. She may be half blind, and a little "special" but she can sure be a good hit when she wants something! She got full after 4-5 crickets, and lost interest, but she is never too full for her favorite treat: a nice juicy wax worm! She was so excited for that it took her a few tries to hit it lol She hasn't gotten a wax worm in probably 2 weeks?
Anyways, the crickets will not be a usual occurance. Mom hates them, I hate dealing with them, and hearing them, so they'll be for every few weeks or so, now that I know she'll eat them again. I picked some up Thursday, asked/payed for 20 (and that's really all I wanted- just enough for the night!) but got 40 or 50. Makes the girls happy, at least lol
I also got some canned grasshopper and caterpillars in my PetMountain order today. I plan on trying these as well.
Shes eating really well on larger meal worms, Phoenix worms, and crickets (de-legged and held by the head with tweezers). Tried super worms tonight to see what she'd do, and she wouldn't even touch them. Even offered them first, so I knew she was hungry! Every time they moved, even if I was holding them three inches away, she'd flinch and move away. Offered her a cricket, couldn't even get it to the floor of the tank before she had it and the tweezers in her mouth. She may be half blind, and a little "special" but she can sure be a good hit when she wants something! She got full after 4-5 crickets, and lost interest, but she is never too full for her favorite treat: a nice juicy wax worm! She was so excited for that it took her a few tries to hit it lol She hasn't gotten a wax worm in probably 2 weeks?
Anyways, the crickets will not be a usual occurance. Mom hates them, I hate dealing with them, and hearing them, so they'll be for every few weeks or so, now that I know she'll eat them again. I picked some up Thursday, asked/payed for 20 (and that's really all I wanted- just enough for the night!) but got 40 or 50. Makes the girls happy, at least lol
I also got some canned grasshopper and caterpillars in my PetMountain order today. I plan on trying these as well.
Phantom240
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Good to hear.
Tried the supers again last night (I'm persistant, what can I say?) after three nights of not eating (the second night she did eat a single canned caterpillar). Two of those nights she refused food, still full from the crickets (she's not used to such meaty feeders, I guess) and the third I had to get up at 6 a.m. the next morning so I really didn't have the time to feed them before going to bed several hours earlier than usual (besides, the only one out was Raven since she thinks it's feeding time every time I walk into the room :main_rolleyes.
Anyway, she actually ate them! And ate well on them, too! Took about 6 or 7 of them, big ones and smaller ones (1.5 inches). For being such a good little eater, I gave her a small wax worm to finish the meal up. I was really surprised when she struck out at that first one before I could even put it down! I guess she was just so excited about food that she didn't care what it was, and the. She realized what she had just eaten, and decided the weren't that bad after all. I got a little concerned about half way through when one did do its eye-staby thing (that's what made her stop eating them in the first place, because she started to be afraid of them), but she kept on eating them, even after that, so I'm happy
I may get some more crickets today. And ask for no extras lol The last time, I asked for 20, and got well into the 40's. I ended up with so much that after a few days of feeding them to the girls, I got sick taking care of the stupid things and they smelled so gross, so I ended up taking them to the neighbors bearded dragon. I figured I got my $1's worth and they ate about 25 between them, so I might as well lol On the other hand, I asked for 10 small ones for Raven, got about 30 instead, because 30 totally equalls 10, and that fatty ate every last one of them in about 5 minutes. I seriously have no idea where that little thing puts all the food she eats!!
Or maybe I'll buy some more Phoenix worms.... Hmmm.....
. Anyway, she actually ate them! And ate well on them, too! Took about 6 or 7 of them, big ones and smaller ones (1.5 inches). For being such a good little eater, I gave her a small wax worm to finish the meal up. I was really surprised when she struck out at that first one before I could even put it down! I guess she was just so excited about food that she didn't care what it was, and the. She realized what she had just eaten, and decided the weren't that bad after all. I got a little concerned about half way through when one did do its eye-staby thing (that's what made her stop eating them in the first place, because she started to be afraid of them), but she kept on eating them, even after that, so I'm happy
I may get some more crickets today. And ask for no extras lol The last time, I asked for 20, and got well into the 40's. I ended up with so much that after a few days of feeding them to the girls, I got sick taking care of the stupid things and they smelled so gross, so I ended up taking them to the neighbors bearded dragon. I figured I got my $1's worth and they ate about 25 between them, so I might as well lol On the other hand, I asked for 10 small ones for Raven, got about 30 instead, because 30 totally equalls 10, and that fatty ate every last one of them in about 5 minutes. I seriously have no idea where that little thing puts all the food she eats!!
Or maybe I'll buy some more Phoenix worms.... Hmmm.....
Phantom240
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excellent news!
Been eating pretty good on supers and mealies, and tonight she pigged out on crickets. She was doing so well with the maimed and half maimed ones that I gave her a couple able-bodied ones to actually hunt. She loved it! I haven't seen her move that fast in ages. I had to help her out some and keep them corralled in close to her, but she gave chase across the tank to one, and even rattled her tail at another LOL Had a couple good face plants, which is always fun to watch (I'm such a mean mommy, making fun of her "specialness" ). I tried giving her a superworm, but she snubbed it because she wanted more crickets lol I want her to eat these crickets tomorrow (I didn't even want left overs today, but Orchid wasn't very hungry), so I stopped after about 10 or 15. Usually, following these weeks of doing real good, she'll relapse and go back to not eating. Fingers crossed she continues on this path of doing so great!
). I tried giving her a superworm, but she snubbed it because she wanted more crickets lol I want her to eat these crickets tomorrow (I didn't even want left overs today, but Orchid wasn't very hungry), so I stopped after about 10 or 15. Usually, following these weeks of doing real good, she'll relapse and go back to not eating. Fingers crossed she continues on this path of doing so great!Visit our friends
