How much?

[Eko/Kim]

Sorry to ask, I'm sure every Newbie does this but I'm getting more and more confused. Everybody seems to say different things....my seller said he ate like a pig: 15 crickets a day??? Some say 2 prey items a day???:main_huh:

My gecko is a juvie (42g) so I'm feeding him everyday. At the moment he has mealworms in there all the time in a dish and I try him with 1 or 2 crickets. he also gets a couple of waxworms a week as a treat.

Soo, How many prey items should he be getting?

Does anybody leave mealworms in there all the time or does it make them bored of the food?

He seems interrested at first when he sees a cricket/mealworm and then loses interest after a lick at them....:main_angry:

Thanks

 

[Tony C]

I like to feed them as much as they want to eat while they are growing. I used to keep a bowl of mealworms in their cages, but I don't anymore because the mealworms had a tendency to stop moving and pupate. I mostly feed crickets now.

 

[sammer021486]

Feed as many as they want to eat and as often as they eat. So if they are eating every day continue to feed every day until they no longer eat every day.

I never feed more than 6 crickets and 15 mealworms in one feeding, because I found that if they ate more I normally had a regurge.

 

[Eko/Kim]

Thanks, I feed him as much as he wants but I'm worried it itsn't enough...
What's too little and when should I get worried?

Thanks,

 

[Bellalee]

There are a good amount of people who leave mealworms in their tanks all the time, and yes I think they get bored with food, my geckos rarely eat anymore when I put their food in. Usually it's superworms, but I just don't like the way they bite the geckos when they are trying to attack them.

If you don't think it's enough feed more! Crickets are really lean feeders, if you want to put some more bulk on you girl/boy try dubia. Best feeder bar none.

 

[Eko/Kim]

he has as much as he wants, but it's only 2-3 prey items a day probably. Sometimes a bit more sometimes a little less. He won't eat when I put the food in except if it's waxworms, he'll jut get the mealworms when he wants.

he looks like he should be shedding soon would that make him less likely to eat maybe?

I'm from the UK, for some reason I can't find anywhere to get Roaches over here which is a pain?

Thanks,

 

[sammer021486]

try locusts if your in the UK, they are a good feeder and nicer then crickets.

How old is your gecko, 2-3 feeders a day seems low, but it really does depend on the gecko.

 

[Neill]

Here is what I have noticed.

My "big girls" which where rescues where only fed once every 3 weeks. I personally feed mine right now every 3 days sometimes every 4th day. I have tried EVERY day but seems like they are not very interested. Of course you need to think when they where fed once every 3 weeks they where animals!! 24 crickets for 2 geckos. Feeding them every day 3-4 crickets maybe not even. Mine seem to want food look for food and are willing to hunt it if i do it 3 days so i stay about there.

Look at the animal to its a slow clumsy animal that stores fat/water in its tail. It doesn't go out hunting every day if it did it wouldnt have a storage container on its bum. It wouldn't be designed the way it is ether (little legs fat belly rolly polly).

Also keep in mind the age of the animal Babies feed often! They are fast so you know they travel to find food and also you notice the last thing that grows is there tail width so they don't have any storage, they are using there food for growth. A female that is going to be breeding feed often because she needs the weight for her eggs. (once a day here at least I spoil babies every chance I get haha!)

Also think of the animals metabolism. Example the "big girls" I have I brought them home, found this sight, and started reading about food. OH WOW!!! I NEED TO FEED THEM EVERY OTHER DAY THEY HAVE BEEN STARVED!!!! I made them so fat in like a month they where so lazy. One girl hit over 80 grams and looked silly. Because there metabolism was so slow from them being fed just once every 3 weeks. I have now put them on my setting of once every 4 days and they are around 65-71. Still rather large for a normal gecko female.

All in all its up to you its easy to notice if your not feeding them well enough. Or feeding them to much.

Another personal method i use is. Drop in crickets let them go to town on them. Then run just your finger tip around the bottom of the cage (making it look like food). If the gecko follows your finger hes still hungry drop in a few more. Fe he kinda looks at your finger but doesn't give chase. STOP don't drop in more food if anything it will stress him out food walking all over him.

Last comment keep what ever method you use Constant again for the metabolism you stop or start piling on you will notice your animal will change drastically. One day of week your giving steak and then veg. Then next month every day steak, steak, steak, veg, veg, veg. You would throw on the pounds.

PS I don't recommend once every 3 weeks LOL!

 

[RoninSTi]

My gecko is a baby (15g) and I feed him daily as much as he will eat. He takes down 1 smallish superworm, or about 6-8 medium mealworms. When he's had enough he just ignores whatever I plop in front in of him.

If he's not out and about when I go to feed him (7pm everyday) I just put 7 or 8 mealworms in his dish and when I wake up in the morning they're usually all gone.

I've read on these forums to feed everyday when they're juvies then every other day once they're adults.

Hope this helps.