Feeding An Albino

[fsth]

I adopted my sister's albino leo about a week and a half ago because she wasn't providing the care and attention it needed. I'm new to geckos, but I really didn't want to see him die just because someone didn't give him proper care. I've been working on getting him a proper set-up as quickly as I can, but it's still in progress. If I wouldn't have taken him, I imagine it would have died in the very near future. He's about a year old and needs to gain a significant amount of weight. I can see his back-bone and shoulders very prominently.

The thing is, this little dude is having the hardest time hunting. I've read that albinos have it a lot rougher than regular geckos, but I was wondering if it should be this hard on him. I have been feeding him crickets because it's what I can afford until I get paid tomorrow, but the only way he's been able to eat is if I catch them with tweezers and dangle them in front of him. Unless I feed him like this, he doesn't even attempt to catch them. He hasn't been moving much at all. I imagine it's to prevent from burning more calories than he's consuming, but I remember when she first got him he was constantly moving around the tank.

So, basically, I have a few questions:

1. Would waxworms be good for helping him return to a healthy weight? I understand that he also needs nutritious food, but I also understand he needs to get closer to health and further from starvation as fast as possible. If they would be helpful, how many and how often should I give them to him?
2. Would mealworms be better for a primary diet? I'm not familiar with mealworms either and I'm just not sure how quickly they move or anything. If I put mealworms in his tank, should I put them in a bowl of calcium powder inside the tank?
3. Should I just keep a bowl of calcium powder with no insects in it? If he needs calcium, will he just eat the powder?
4. Are there things I should feed him that aren't insects?
5. Are there like nutrition supplements or anything I should put in his water?
6. Is there anything else I should do for him?

I am incredibly sorry for my lack of knowledge about geckos. I wish I was able to learn much more about them before I had one in my possession, but my situation didn't allow for that. I just want to get this little dude back to health as fast as possible because no animal deserves to suffer due to an owner that just wanted him for show.

 

[Wicked Geckos]

Waxworms can be fed weekly just to help speed up the process, but not too often as they can cause health problems within the gecko. It is best to give your newly adopted gecko a nice variety of food, such as mealworms, crickets, and super worms. Mealworms can be fed as a stable diet ,but remember it is best to have a good variety. Dust every feeding for about the next two weeks to assure he is getting some vitamins, after two weeks you can dust every other feeding. By the way mealworms are going to be a lot easier for the gecko to catch. Leopard Geckos will lick the calcium and you can just put little in a bottle cap next to his food bowl. There is nothing that you can't really feed him that aren't insects besides straight up calcium. Nothing for water either. If you have an under take heater that is best because they need proper belly heat for digestion. If you check on your gecko daily and the health is improving, then just keep doing what you are doing and it will be great! If not you can private message me.

 

[indyana]

Albinos sometimes have trouble seeing in light, but if he's in poor condition, his poor hunting could be caused by that. Tong feeding will help him get his strength back.

This caresheet has a really great rundown of simple leopard gecko care, including heat, food, and supplements.
http://www.onlinegeckos.com/leopard-gecko-careguide-caresheet.html

 

[Ruvik]

Crickets are often time better and healthier for them to eat and I feed my leos both. I have also rescued a few leos myself and have a different ways of doign things. Because he eats when you grab the crickets with tongs, I would really looking into Mealworms. Feed him meal worms til he gets his strength back and use the tongs to feed him. make sure to wiggling the worm on the tongs just a little bit to get his/hers attention. Another thing you can do is buy you repti+Boost which is about 7 to 10 dollars and feed him that for a while til he is up to normal weight. I would does with Calci powder and a multi vit supplement as well seeing as you don't want MBD to start in him/her.