food drama/not eating

[Desdemona]

So, when I first switched to mealies my gecko would hide under a fake tree with a big opening. She could look out and see the worms crawling around when I fed her. She has since moved into a rock with a hole in it and a hide corner..so she doesn't see into the cage. So, she doesn't see the worms move and by the time she does crawl out they are all just laying about in a very uninteresting fashion. I gathered all of the uneaten worms up and put them in a container with food so they would be gut loaded but they don't seem to move much in there either.

Thoughts? Switch to crickets, different worm food (carrots and cherry tomatoes right now), take out the dark corner hide?

 

[LZRDGRL]

Your mealworms might be too old and ready to develop into beetles. When they're young, they move around a lot. Older ones hardly ever move. When you buy them, you might pay attention to how big they are already. Or, you could create your own colony (just use an old plastic trash can, put flour, dry dog food pellets, apple cores, and newspaper/paper towel in, and in a couple of weeks you'll have black beetles, and soon after, young squirmy mealworms!

Chrissy

 

[Desdemona]

this might be a good question for a new thread... but I don't think I use enough mealworms to make a colony worth the effort. I only have the one gecko. Since I have had quite a few crystalize (I only kept 4) then they probably are too old. I plan on going to the reptile store today so I will probably get a new batch (almost out anyways) and a couple of crickets to perk her up.

 

[Daedric1]

In my experience, my geckos have learned when it's "meal time." They hear the dusting/shaking of crickets or the noise of the tweezers grabbing mealworms, come out of their hides, and look really excited. They walk over to their bowl waiting for me to fill it up, staring straight up at me the whole time, lol.

If he hasn't learned this yet, try putting mealworms in the dish when he's out and about, or show him the mealworms wiggling when they're fresh.

You're right though - if they sit too long, they'll stop moving and most likely won't get eaten. About 80-90% of my mealies get eaten overnight, and then the rest I hand feed to them the next day.

 

[Desdemona]

She's still new so I don't think she is comfortable with coming out yet. If she see's me walk in (sitting on the warm rocks or whatever) she runs and hides. She is young, roughly 4 months.

 

[GothicGurrrl]

That colony idea is a good one! I might try it.. because the batch of mealies I just bought hardly move. also some people say that you have to crush the mealies heads because they can eat their way out of a leos soft tummy? this isnt true is it?

 

[Eureka]

Nope, mealies eating out of a gecko's stomach is a myth. No worries. :main_thumbsup:

 

[GothicGurrrl]

okay thanks lol