How do I get my baby gecko to feed?

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unknown0

Guest
I got a baby gecko from Petco. He seems to be getting used to his environment so that is good. I am having some problems feeding him. This is mostly because I never seem to find him awake, I am guessing when he is awake I am not there or sleeping. Can I leave the crickets inside the tank and just wait until he eats them? I usually take the crickets back legs off, that way they don't jump around as much, but I am a little scared that the crickets will attack him, or that he won't find them. He is pretty small, so this makes the tank seem huge (24x12x16). Anyways what should I do?

http://i191.photobucket.com/albums/z237/unknownrick/S7300458.jpg

http://i191.photobucket.com/albums/z237/unknownrick/S7300455.jpg
 
U

unknown0

Guest
Also, I tried feeding him in a smaller container but he gets all stressed and doesn't notice the crickets. How do I know when he is hungry? Also, returning him is not an option because I like him and want to keep him.
 
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Firebirdgeckos.com
Messages
346
Location
Phoenix, AZ
Try feeding meal worms. Put them in a shallow dish with some calcium that is easy for the gecko to get at and leave them overnight. Take count and check in the morning. Being nocturnal animals they are normally most active at night and being so small it might be easier for him/her to feed that way. A lot of people keep a dish with mealworms at all times in their enclosure so they have food when they want it. You can also try wax worms too they are a softer bodied worm and the also move around a lot.
 
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JConley

JConley

New Member
Messages
281
Location
Central Illinois
How long have you had him? He may still be getting use to his new tank.
Leave a mealie dish over night. Crickets are not good to leave in the tank for long because they nibble on your gecko. Although not always if you feed your crickets.

If you do leave some in, leave them in at night and leave only what he will eat in one night. exp (2) or (3). In the morning take them out.

Wax worms only feed 2 or 3 a week! <---Very fat filled!

My Geckos eat Mealies, Super worms, Crickets and wax worms.

Make sure you gutload and dust all food items.
 
U

unknown0

Guest
When you say sick, do you mean like just needs more love, care and proper nutrition that the people from Petco lacked to give it. Or do you mean an actual disease that I need to get him medicine for?
 
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Nigel4less

Guest
That thing definitely isn't up to par. You should get him to a vet ASAP. Thats the simple answer, just get some weight on him and we`ll all try to help you from there.
 
goReptiles

goReptiles

New Member
Messages
2,639
Location
Georgia
A lot of Petco reptiles are sickly. The one isn't right... I'd definitely find a vet. Usually Petco has a vet they use. If you don't know one, ask them. And if it's within you 14 days, you can get them to pay for the vet trip, providing them the reciept. Make sure they are aware of this first. I used to work at PetCo. It's a policy when you sell animals, that if they think something is wrong, either they can take the animal and bring a receipt or they can give the animal to them, they take it, and pay for it, call you to come pick it back up. Just ask them about it first. But, this is only within your 14 days.

On another note- it may not be eating b/c of stress of moving, improper temps, or sick. I'd check the temps and make sure that they're at or around 90F.

The gecko looks like the patternless I got from Petsmart years ago. She was never really healthy. Always small. She ended up dying 2 years ago, under 3 years old. There was never anything medically wrong with her in terms of parasites, she was just poorly bred, inbred, or something that caused her to be small and lethargic all the time. I'd recommend if you're go the pet store route in buying reptiles, to buy larger ones, not the cute hatchling sized ones. Those tend to fair better.
 
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