help!!!!

[janie31]

Hi,

I am new to owning reptiles. I have a few questions about feeding, wanna make sure I'm doing everything right.

I was told to give my young leopard gecko 3 crickets twice a day, but he/she isnt eating them. This morning I noticed two still in there.
Oh, i'm dusting them in calcium.

Is 6 a day too many for approx a 3 month old?

Also today I got some meal worms, and I am now thinking I made a boo boo, i just tipped the whole tub in. ( I aint touching no worms lol)

Would really appreciate any help, as obviously want to do the best I can for the little guy/girl. (We dont know yet)

 

[Yamori]

Hi and welcome to GF,

First off there is no science or direct guidelines so to speak when it comes to feeding your geckos. How long have you had it?
Geckos when first bought to their new home take a while to adjust. They may not eat for days or a week sometimes more.

You probably know that you should only give them food that is no bigger than the space between their eyes. One reason for this is that it will be difficult for them to digest something bigger than they can physically handle and that can lead to impaction.

A good rule of thumb is to put 1-3 feeders in there be it crickets, mealies or roaches.
if they are all gone when you check on them say the next day then you may want to put one more in next time. If there are 1 or more left in there then either they are not ready to eat or thats too many so in that case put a little less in there.

Also, when dusting feeders with calcium make sure there isn't too much, just a light dusting will suffice as too much tends to discourage the geckos from eating it due to the taste(so i have read). lol i know how it is. i take bodybuilding supplements and they taste absolutely disgusting. Back on topic, what are you using as a substrate? is there water in the enclosure?

Could you take some pictures of your gecko and of its underside so we can tell you the sex.

Just remember that geckos need to be left to themselves when transferred to a new home as its quite a stressful time for them. Try not to handle them for a while at first.

peace-

Darren

 

[hybrid]

First i want to conrats you on the new leo! You are now hooked, trust me =)

2ndy...I feed my little one as much as she wants. They will stop eating them when full *usually*. If they keep eating they will regurgitate the over the top 1 or 2 and will learn from it. =)

3rd..some leos wont eat mealies. Mine have no probs but some on here have prob feeding their leos them. As for dumping them into the cage..i don't recommend that. I would get an ashtray(small glass) from walmart. they are like .97 cents. Put a few in there and let her decide. The mealies loose will stress her out and that can make her not eat as well.

Remove any food other than the mealies in the dish after you *feed*. Crickets are known for nipping at them and causing more stress.

Also your leo may not eat right away if you just got her/him. They seem to be shy eaters at first but eventually will come around.


I hope this bit of info will help. Post a pic of your little one...we would all love to see it!

 

[hybrid]

wow i think we posted at the same time...lol

 

[Yamori]

lol yeah

 

[janie31]

thanks!
We got him/her thursday afternoon, so still settling in.
I did see him eat one cricket, was amazed how far across his tank he pounced to get it!

Right so now I gotta go fishing for worms, YUK!!!

I have a hidey hole type cave, a water bowl that looks like a rock pool type thingy, wood chips and paper based stuff. Oh and a log with holes in (menat for a hamster but is easily big enough for him for now) and aplastic trailing plant.

Ive heard conflicting things on he should be left on kitchen towel, he shouldnt, he should, etc etc, so wasnt sure on that one.
Also been told to get a moss ball and keep it in his cave and keep it moist, so am popping out later to find one of those, got his heat pad under the tank too.
He's in a small(ish) plastic starter tank for now, but I am already looking around for a nice proper viv(cant spell the whole word lol)

Have to admit to putting a fair bit of calcium on the crickets when dusting, so will cut back on that too, and remove all the crickets, and start again!!!

Thanks for the replies, really do appreciate ALL advice, and yeah I think I am already hooked LOL!!!

 

[janie31]

sorry, another question, should I remove everything from the tank and comepletely clean it out or jsut try and fish the worms and crickets out????

Wasnt sure what would be less stressfull!

Thanks

 

[hybrid]

If you can, the 20 gal long tank from any petstore will be awesome for your leo. even as an adult! They grow fast so get what he needs now if can.

I keep all my leos on paper towels. Wood chips/sand can cause impaction and you do not want that at all! Trust me ive been through it with a rescued leo i obtained. Also paper towels make cleaning a breeze and are very inexpensive!

If you have more questions...PLEASE ask. Dont be scared of us. We are here to help you and your leo!

 

[hybrid]

Thats up to you actually. But if it were me, and it does happen often, i leave the mealies i cant find for the next day...more times than not the mealies end up under the leos "hide". they also seem to stay off the heat source as well. Hope that helps!

 

[janie31]

thanks, you've been a massive help already

Am just sitting here getting the camera ready to try and get some shots.

Anyone want tonnes of paper bedding and wood chips? They were on 3 for 2 at pets at home, so got three bags of each lol!!

BAck to paper towels me thinks, for a while at least.

I'll be getting the biggest tank I can afford that is suitable, I'd like one on a cabinet stand, think they look great.

Righ, I'm a going worm huntin' !!!

 

[hybrid]

You are already hooked! Trust me, this wont be your only leo. lol I know what ur thinking....yeah yeah im not going to give in...but trust me i said the same and i now have 9 leos. And babies are being incubated as we speak! lol

Go take some shots of that leo!

 

[janie31]

OOOH no, i am saying the opposite, I ALREADY want more!!! Lol

Cool, incubating babies, do you have much success with that?

I took some piccies!!!

 

[cwazy]

You probably know that you should only give them food that is no bigger than the space between their eyes. One reason for this is that it will be difficult for them to digest something bigger than they can physically handle and that can lead to impaction.

this is just a mater of opinion... i personally dont beleive it as we have a lil guy who has a field day with super worms... infact most of my geckos love supers... i dont know of any gecko with eyes that far apart... as its been stated on this board a few times... think about a leo in the wild... do you sapose he goes OH LOOKIE A WORM... OH SHOOT CANT EAT THAT ITS BIGGER THAN MY EYES ARE WIDE... :main_rolleyes: :main_laugh: its common sence to me... *shrug*

about how much to feed... as already stated with a juvi gecko, feed them what ever they will eat... if by chance they eat too much they will reguritate some and will learn there limit... its a learning experience but they are growing kids and need to be eating

sand/woodchips... heh... just read around on GF... you will see

a 10 gallon starter tank would be fine for your gecko... 20 long would be better but a 10 will work...

not touching a worm... well your all set then... mealies are larva not worms
seriously though... maybe invest in a pair of feeding tweezers... but i have found hands work best

so with all that said, welcome aboard to GF... only the best place around to get gecko info... poke around the many many boards here and be ready to be amazed at the info this place offers! never be afraid to ask questions as we are all here cuz we share the same passion... enjoy your new gecko and say hello to your 3rd one soon enough :main_thumbsup:

 

[geckospots]

feeding

i don't no why your lizard/lizards aren't eating. i usually feed my lizard 3-6 crickets every other night.

 

[rubym]

I take tweezers and smash the heads of the crickets that way if one doesn't get eaten and gets away...it doesn't go too far and it won't nip anybody. I know it was aweful the first few times. 2 years and 40 geckos ago, I had a HUGE bug phobia. I know raise mealies, supers, roaches and anything that seems to make my little guys happy. We use tile in our tanks and I really like it. Easy to clean and it looks good too. As for the addiction part that everyone has mentioned...it is true. We had every intention of having an "only gecko" when we got Leo.....that lasted about a month then we got him a her.....the rest is history.

 

[THE WHISPERER]

Just wanted to add, make sure you have vitamin D3 to go with your calcium. I too use tongs just because I have a hard time picking up mealies. (fingers are to big)

 

[janie31]

Thanks for all the great info, keen to learn as much as possible.
I'd not been told about the viamin d3 thing, so thanks for that tip too.
I think 3 crickets twice daily was just too much, so earlier I cleaned out the tank , put the worms in a little tiny tub (kinda scooped them up without touching, bu I did get brave and TRY picking them up, theyre just too small) and then changed Echo (the gecko) onto kitchen towel, and she (he) immedatly strutted around the tank as if to say "yeah much better than them stoopid wood chips" and has since munched a few worms!

Now he crickets are another story, my ten year old was on cricket watch while i scooped the dead ones out of the kriket keeper, and a good 15-2 escaped. Kept us entertained for oooh about two hours trying to catch them. SPrightly little critters arent they!!

As for THIRD gecko, looking for the ssecond first lol

 

[ariana]

oh yes
tyke was going to be my one and only gecko
now i have tyke AND belle
and on the way would be yuki...
and im already thinking about maybe another female!!
addicting they are.
best of luck with the gecko!!

 

[canadiangecko]

yeah best of luck with him also maybe get ride of the wood chips
but you don't have to listen to me though

 

[janie31]

wood chips are 95% gone now. Kitchen paper mostly. Dunno why I put any wood chips in, to look pretty i suppose!!!