Keeping Mealworms Lively?

[98XJSport]

Ive been trying to catch my geckos eating, but other than about the 2nd week of having them, I never do. So, to make sure they were eating about 2 weeks ago I dropped a mealworm infront of the hide they were in. As long as the worm is moving and active, they scarf it right up. Both of them, they will eat as many as I will give them that way (usually 4 or 5) but never bother with the ones in the dish.

Is there a way to keep the worms more active so they will attract the gecko's attention? I keep them with a tiny bit of gutload, with carrot or apple or potatoe slices for food, but it doesn't seem to help much.

 

[Stitch]

The warmer they are the more they move. Sit the dish over the heating pad and that might help. It may just be the fact that the leo hasn't learned to eat from a dish yet.

 

[Ipsl]

But doesnt keeping them warmer make them more likely to "shed" and pupate? I was curious about this too.

 

[Stitch]

Yes warmer temps allow them to grow faster. The amount that is placed in the dish should be eaten in 24 hours. If they are not eaten in that time period most if not all the gut loading that you did would be for nothing. Warmer temps will not cause them to pupate that fast unless they were ready to, to begin with.

Any uneaten worms get trashed and new gut loaded ones are placed in the dish.

 

[moosassah]

caffeine!

Yeah, I'm joking. I'm guessing that your leos are being stubborn or simply haven't realized there's food in that dish. Try balancing a mealie on the side of the dish along with a bunch in the dish. Hopefully your leos will see the others & go for them too.

 

[98XJSport]

I have a clear ashtray as a dish, hopefully they can see the movement through that. I built a tile staircase and observation platform so they can easily see what's there and get into it. It's in sight of thier hot hide, where they spend 99% of thier time. It's 90-92 under the hide, the dish is within 8" of that. Cold side is ~73 on average. It's a 40 gallon feeder.

I think hey know they are there, they just don't have any interest unless they are moving. I can put 2 not moving ones in front of thier hide, they will lick them at most. But if I squeeze a worm and make it move a little, they pounce. Which leads me to believe that if they aren't moving in the dish, they aren't going to get attention.

However I have been leaving 30+ in there at a time, and then picking the dead ones/aliens out and putting them back in the gutload and replacing with 30 or so "fresh" ones. Perhaps doing this is at this point just recycling inactive ones that are quick to pupate?

 

[Gecko Ranch]

Keep the mealworms gutloaded properly (feed them at least 24hrs before feeding to the geckos), give them a source of moisture (fresh greens, carrots, potatoes, etc.) and then select the "soft" mealworms to feed. Rotate out as described above! You should have no problems with "liveliness!"

 

[98XJSport]

As I wrote, I do all of that. But they never really touch them, unless I pick out the livliest of the bunch and put them in front of the hide.

My problem may be heat related after all. After Stitch's suggestion, I emptied the hot side of the tank, the ~8" square I have the thermometer on is warm enough, everywhere else is high 70's at best. Looks like my UTH is junk, not heating anywhere but the center.

I attached another UTH, see what that gives me after a day of heat testing.

 

[Bodon]

Did you say you haven't had them that long? If they are young it might just take them time to realize a meal worm when they see it. I had this same problem with mine, she would only eat the moving ones. Now she eats them moving or not because she knows what a meal worm looks like and she knows where to get them.

 

[98XJSport]

Ive had them a little over a month I think? Something like that. They were raised on mealies and are ~ 6 months old I think? I have the info at home.

 

[Bodon]

Well that would be old enough for them to tell a meal worm by now id think.

 

[98XJSport]

It may just be in part due to the time of year, food has to be moving to be interesting. Im going to get a new UTH to see if keeping more of the tank warmer will help with feeding and general activity.

 

[Gecko Ranch]

Are you putting the mealworms in a dish? If you are putting them on the cage carpet they will just crawl off and go under the carpet.

Be very careful about UTHs, especially when they are not working right. I have had more than one person tell me about a fire caused by them! Stick to a good quality brand like Ultratherm. I send folks to the Bean Farm to get their heating needs met as these folks are specialists, and every situation is different as to the best way to heat.

 

[cassadaga]

Try putting a few waxworms in the bowl too. The gecko will probably be attracted to their smell, and discover the mealies.

 

[acpart]

My geckos who are eating mealworms now (and somehow even though I bring all the babies up on mealworms, the adults seem to want to eat crickets) don't seem to be eating very much --the mealworms stay in the dish for awhile. However they are pooping on occasion and also gaining weight. I have a few geckos who need to be personally introduced to their food and if there's any way to keep from getting into that habit it will be to your advantage, unless you really enjoy hand feeding (it's fun and rewarding unless there are too many geckos needing this). Since I am the source of Ryan's geckos, I can say that they definitely know about mealworms in the bowl and may just be at the weight where they will eat less when left to their own devices. Enjoy.

Aliza

 

[98XJSport]

Thanks Aliza

They are growing, pooping etc I just don't see them dig in with the appetites often described on here. Maybe it's the season.

Im also at the bottom of the barrel for this batch of mealies, maybe a new batch will help. Ill try a few wax worms for the fun of it if I can find some locally.

I also added a smaller UTH to cover more floorspace until I pick up a bigger new heater. I don't mind hand feeding, I just want to make sure they will eat if I go away or don't get home until late.

 

[Gecko Ranch]

Hand-feeding destroys the natural feeding response and has to be unlearned by the owner and the gecko. Leave hand-feeding to sick geckos that really need that kind of attention. Leave more days between feedings to increase the natural feeding response, change up the diet too. They'll eat when they are hungry. Let 'em get hungry!

 

[98XJSport]

Hand feeding in this case being picking out a lively mealworm and putting it near the enterance to thier hide.

 

[GeckoRing]

You can throw a small slice of carrot in the dish with them, that might liven them up!

 

[98XJSport]

Carrots, Potatoe, Apple Ive tried all 3.