Feeding Mealworms to Young Leos?

[Kystaubi]

I know pet store employees probably don't know the specifics, but the particular girl that helped get my gecko out of the cage was the one who captive bred the hatchlings. She told me that feeding them mealworms can lead to them being blocked (the same with sand) and that I shouldn't feed him with them often?

I just got my leo about 4 days ago now. He only ate 2 crickets the first couple days, and then yesterday I got a couple mealworms, placed them in front of him after he slept for a few hours and he ate 4 of them! Since this seems to be easier than crickets (which he will look at, seemingly start to "hunt" them, and then leave them alone), I'm wondering how often I can feed mealworms to him?

I don't know how old my leo is, but his body is only about 2-3 inches long (plus about a 2 inch tail) and still has full striping. After feeding them to him, I upped the temp to around 97 because on another thread, someone said 97 is best for digestion. ANY INPUT WOULD BE GREAT! Thanks!

 

[sammer021486]

I have feed 2 of the 3 geckos I hatched with only mealworms when they hatched. Never had an issue with either, the 1 never saw a cricket while in my care before selling it. It was actually sold at a month old with 3 sheds and was eating like a champ.

 

[Eric1969]

I have tried on several occassions to give mine mealworms and he only at 1, one time... He pretty much only wants crickets, I wish he did want those, they are alot easier, just leave them in the bowl, they last forever in the fridge..

 

[bman123]

My Leo was raised on mealworms, now he won't eat them. I have tried 2 days in a row and he won't touch them. The big breeders feed their leos mealworms I don't see why you would have a problem. I would personally feed them crickets since it makes them active and they chase their food.

 

[acpart]

I start all my hatchlings on mealworms for 2 reasons:
--they aren't as fast as crickets so the babies can catch them more easily and the crickets don't escape the cage
--many people who buy young geckos don't want to deal with crickets.

That said, all of my adults are eating crickets or superworms with only an occasional mealworm meal. Some of the juvies don't get the hang of eating mealworms from a bowl and I end up switching them to crickets or supers.

Aliza

 

[bman123]

I wish my boy would eat the mealies, it would make things a little easier for sure. I don't understand how he was raised only on mealies and now he don't want anything to do with them.

 

[Eric1969]

I wish my boy would eat the mealies, it would make things a little easier for sure. I don't understand how he was raised only on mealies and now he don't want anything to do with them.

When I got my sparky from the previous owner, they just told me about the crickets.... I think back now how they had him set up in his 10 gallon tank, and he only had a water bowl and a log hide, and a few rocks... No UTH, they had a lamp on the lid, no moist hide.... and hey had him for a few years.. Makes me wonder how he survived seeing how we need all the other stuff for them.... But when I finally offered meal worms, he ate one, and never was interested again. I had that whole container of them in my fridge that was a waste. Maybe some time I will try again. My pet stores around never seem to sell wax worms or super worms for me to try.....

 

[Kystaubi]

Well, it's been 2 days now since he ate the mealworms, and he isn't seeming too interested in them anymore. I don't leave them in the cage though in a dish because I don't have anything that they don't crawl out of yet. He seemed to digest most of the worms well, but the last one was almost whole...

I don't know, he's young but isn't seeming as "hungry" as everyone says young leos are--I don't know if it's because I don't give him enough time to eat or what, but before with the mealworms he ate them right away when I put them in front of him?

 

[yellermelon]

I start all of my geckos on mealworms...from the hundreds Ive had Ive never had a problem. I also dont worry about them crawling out, granted my enclosures are pretty simple....the lil geckos get a sense of "hunting" if they have to find and capture their meal that as escaped from the Gatorade lid.

 

[T-ReXx]

I also start all my hatchlings on mealworms. I never use crickets at all. Once they're eating mealworms, I add lateralis and dubia roach nymphs for variety, and once they get about 20 grams or so I start them on supers and larger roaches. Never had a single case of impaction from mealworms in the 14+ years I've been keeping leopard geckos.

Some geckos are picky. Although I start all of my babies on mealworms(and they all eat them just fine for the most part) I have several adults who prefer supers, some prefer roaches, and some won't eat anything besides mealies. As long as prey is properly gutloaded/supplemented and the appropriate size for the lizard I don't really see a huge problem with feeding any of the common feeder insects as staples, i.e. mealworms, superworms, roaches of any species, or(even though they are oh so annoying to deal with) crickets. Waxworms are an occassional thing, I haven't tried pheonix, silks, or horns with my leopards so I can't comment on those. But, yeah, you are what you eat, and as long as it's a small enough prey item baby leos do just fine on a diet of all of the above.

 

[Kystaubi]

Thanks for the info!

I tried to put a little dish in with the mealies in it, it's a little high/steep so I put some rocks around it so he can climb up and see whats inside. He didn't check it out at all today, but I put some next to him and he ate a couple tonight.

He doesn't seem very aggressive about food, but is definitely funny to watch when he does focus in and take a bite at the worms, haha. Hopefully it's just that he's not "settled" in yet in the new cage and he'll get more easy going with food soon.