Mice (pinky) ???

[mcvancleave]

Ok I did a search on the forum then went to the web to once and for all try and solve this age old question 1 more time. I see posts, videos, articles, etc on feeing leopard gecko’s pinky mice. I would like to see some feed back here on this question.

 

[dprince]

What is your question? Are you asking if you should feed pinkies?

I do NOT feed my geckos pinkies. I'm a wuss, for one, and I personally find it unnecessary. I feed my breeders waxworms every few weeks to help with their weight; if a female gets too thin, I remove her to a single tub and feed her there. I've had no problems with this method.

Just my thoughts.

 

[mcvancleave]

Is it wise or even necessary?

 

[RoyalCityReptiles]

feeding pinkies to a male will quickly lead to gout. I feed my female leos a pinkie very occasionally, usually right after laying.

-Nate

 

[dprince]

Is it wise or even necessary?

It's definitely not necessary. Some breeders feed them to their breeders occasionally during breeding season. I *personally* don't do this, and haven't had any problems so far.

 

[fallen_angel]

It is hard to watch a little pinky get eaten or almost get eaten.. The first time I ever got one, I was so distrubed by the whole thing that I just wanted to raise the pinkie on my own and keep it!! But then I realized how close to impossible that was.. I finally got over it because it is nature, and so I bought another one.. However, I've never had a gecko eat a pinkie! So I'm not going to buy any ever again since they're just a waste for us..

Pinkie mice are also high in fat, it's supposedly equivalent to eating a whole cake! So if you do feed pinkies, only feed them once in awhile

 

[david13]

they have bones, leos aren't suppose to eat animals with bones i think
If i was you, i would not feed my leo a pinky

 

[fallen_angel]

David, leos actually can eat pinkies - they are nice and fattening, good for females that are laying but bad if implemented into a normal, every-day diet

 

[HepCatMoe]

my geckos eat pinkies like a fat kid eats twinkies!

i know its not necesary, but they love it, and at least it ads some variety to their constant diet of crickets and mealworms.

im curious though, whats the deal with males getting gout from pinkies? what is gout and how does eating pinkies lead to it?

 

[david13]

Jess, I know they could eat them, i just didnt think they were too great becausen they have bones and the bones are harder to digest, but i guess if you only fed them once in a while so it pooped out its first one before you gave it another one, it wouldnt be too much of a problem, i was just thinking fo impaction but that probably wouldnt be a problem inless you fed them almost everyday if it could even be a problem

sorry, don't listen to me mcvancleave

 

[fallen_angel]

David, that's a good thing to think about, I hadn't thought about it before

 

[fallen_angel]

my geckos eat pinkies like a fat kid eats twinkies!

LMAO that was just the funniest thing to read for some reason that'd be a pretty good signature!! Or even a business slogan, hahaha

 

[david13]

haha, i didnt even see that, that is pretty funny

 

[killagreen]

I feed pinkies to my female leos after they lay only once in a while. It is a nice treat after a good clutch of eggs on occasion. They are very useful to help get there weight back up. Which is the only reason i feed pinkies.

If you do not like feeding live pinkies, perhaps try frozen. I haven't tried frozen but i'm sure they would go for it.

For those who think the bones of pinkies are bad for leos. Think about it like this, in nature leos will eat anything small enough that comes their way. Anything that fits in their mouth and slow enough to catch they will go after. I'm sure in the wild leos do not eat mealworms and crickets everynight.

 

[fallen_angel]

Very true.. has anyone ever inspected the poo for bones? Maybe you could find the whole skeleton or something..

 

[Ccrashca069]

I don't know the nutricenal values of a pinky but I would think the calcium would be high. I am of the same opinion as Debbie. I know you can feed pinkies to leopards but I don't. I feed wax worms and phoenix woms when I need to for the extra fat and calcium.

 

[StinaKSU]

I feed prekilled (generally frozen/thawed) pinkies very occasionally...good for fattening up.

 

[RoyalCityReptiles]

Gout (also called metabolic arthritis) is a disease created by a buildup of uric acid. In this condition, monosodium urate or uric acid crystals are deposited on the articular cartilage of joints, tendons and surrounding tissues due to elevated concentrations of uric acid in the blood stream. This provokes an inflammatory reaction of these tissues.
(taken from wikipedia)

-Nate

 

[david13]

ooo

 

[blizzard]

I've heard too many pickies or feeding pickies too often can lead to gut, liver, and digesting problems.