Gatorade?

[bubblez825]

I have seen plenty of people on here suggest to give geckos baths of gatorade/powerade or pedialite. Is it ok to (as a treat) give a gecko a few drops of gatorade to drink? If they get baths in it it must be safe to ingest. Just wondering on your guys opinions .

Emily

 

[jaredm3624]

I think people just do it for dehydration purposes, but I know a few people suggest not doing that due to the sugars in it. I don't know if I would do it personally, but I'm not someone you should really get your opinions from on the subject.

 

[nats]

That's a new one for me!? :main_huh:

Just remember, their digestive systems are very tiny compared with ours.
So, all the chemical and color additives we injest, may not be so good for a leo.

 

[Morph]

i've heard of people doing it but i dont know if i wanna try it...i see nothing wrong with water

 

[bubblez825]

Ok, it was just a question out of curiosity . What if it is water with a few drops of gatorade, just to add flavor. You know? Water it down to decrease the amount of color and sugars..........opinions?

 

[Stevie]

I would never use these kinds of things (drinks or food items specially made for human consumption) for my animals for several reasons. Us being mamals and them being cold blooded is one of them. Apart from that: sugars, differences in digestive system and many many many other reasons!

Greets,

Stevie

 

[Baoh]

The primary concern should involve caution due to the possibility of wacking the beneficial symbiotic microflora (bacteria) out of balance in their digestive systems. I believe they have vitamin-mineral/electrolyte-amino acid supplements in chain stores for birds. I would consider looking at those. They are concentrated and will require dilution.

 

[jaredm3624]

I don't know if leos would really be greatful for the added flavor. I just think water is fine and there is no reason to add the gatorade.

 

[Baoh]

I don't know if leos would really be greatful for the added flavor. I just think water is fine and there is no reason to add the gatorade.

That reminds me. Artificial grape flavor is despised by waterfowl. This may have arisen earlier in phylogenetic history (like how "tastes like chicken" is actually "tastes like frog"), so it could be relevant to geckos and other reptiles. Something extra to consider.

 

[bubblez825]

I wasn't going to do it, i was just wondering, since when u give pedialite/gatorade/powerade baths the geckos most likely lick some up and are fine . Thank you all for your opinions

 

[bitterbeauty]

For the slurry I used flavorless (clear) pedialite. It has no dyes. If you want to use it I would use the flavorless and just water it down.

 

[Kellyr]

I was told to give gatorade to my gecko orally (lemon flavor he suggested) and this is by one of the vets that are listed as a recommended herp from the link provided many times on this site. After I did so she sneezed quite a bit for a day... other than that she is fine.

 

[Lady_Kiya]

When Kiya was ill the vet suggested giving her gatoraid to keep her hydrated. Though she was not a herp vet. I did use pedialite in slurry though. The clear, plain one.

 

[snowgyre]

I've used gatoraide in the past on dehydrated geckos, mainly because I drink gatoraide and it's more often than not easily accessible in my house. I think for one or two applications the sugars cause no harm to the geckos, but I wouldn't use anything other than water for a long term drink.

I also don't think reptiles in general have as many taste buds as mammals do, so I don't think taste is as important for them as it is for us.

 

[Haligren]

I couldn't find the clear, tasteless pedalite for Tiamat's slurry. I had to use the fruit flavored one. :\ But so far she seems to like the slurry anyway.

 

[Bellalee]

Pedialite comes in non-flavored.. I don't think that would be a problem.. since it is put in the slurry. But.. just my opinion although i wouldn't do it.

 

[Khrysty]

The only time I used gatorade is when my Morgan was on a two month fast...and I was getting scared. After her gatorade soak she actually started eating again, which I thought was strange.

I didn't have clear, though, so her belly was stained red until her next shed lol

She didn't lap it up, though...and as has been mentioned, I don't think she'd really care for the flavor if she did.