My geckos only want to eat waxworms?

[jthompson]

I have been feeding them pretty much only waxworms for about the past 2 years. They are both over 4 years old. If I put crikets or other food in there, they seem to ignore it. They will eat the occasional mealworm, but pretty much all they want are waxworms. What can I do to change this? I read that only waxworms are not good for them.

Also, when they shed, they always end up with skin on their toes that doesn't come off, so I have to pull them out and get tweezers and try to pull it off for them. I do not use a shed box because I tried it once and it didn't seem to work. Maybe I didn't leave it in there long enough?

One last thing, how can you "gut load" mealworms and/or waxworms? I know how to do it for crickets, but not for worms.

Any advice for any of the questions? Thanks for any help

 

[rhino43grr]

i leave a moist hide in all the time and haven't had a problem yet.

phoenix worms might work to transition them to mealies.

i use oatmeal, whole wheat pancake mix and vitamins blended together as gutload for my mealies, carrot slices for moisture if they're out of the fridge.

sorry for the slow typing (like you could tell)... my other arm is being used as a gecko perch at the moment

 

[jthompson]

Never heard of Phoenix Worms before. Just went and did some research and ordered 400 of them. Can't wait to try them out, hopefully they eat them.

 

[moosassah]

Good luck with the transition. From what I've read, you've got a pair of wax worm junkies & it'll take tough luv to get them through it.

 

[Stitch]

You should stop feeding them the waxies and just offer the Phoenix (as you plan on doing). The geckos may hold out, they call this a "hunger strike". You just have to be tough and not give in. If all they were eating was waxies then they should be able to go a couple of weeks without any food. Sooner then later the geckos will give in and eat what is offered. Just remember that most reptiles feed off of sight, so if the food item is not moving they probably won't eat it.

One other "trick" is that when they eat a waxie, gently stick a phoenix in their mouth as well. This should help them get a taste for them.

 

[jthompson]

Thanks for the advice, I will quit the waxworms and keep giving them the phoenix worms until they give in and eat them.

 

[crayolaskies]

Also a moist hide should work as long as it's in the heated side of the tank so the heat will cause the water to evaporate, creating humidity in the hide. In my experience, when the entrance to the moist hide is too big, the water evaporates out of it too quickly, defeating the purpose.

 

[Ishtar]

You have been feeding your geckos oreo cookies for the last two years. lol

Phoenix worms are a great idea. In the past my geckos have really liked them.

good luck!

 

[The Gecko Guy]

something similar happened to me. What I did was each time I fed them I would put in a mealworm in place of a waxworm. I kept adding a meal worm instead of a waxworm and eventually they made the transaction.

 

[MichaelJ]

i actually started pinching the head off the mealies and basically inserting them into wax worms. Which they still riggled around enough for the Leos to grab them and not know the difference. Over time I'd use smaller wax worms and larger mealies, and after about a month of violating poor wax worms he came around and is a champ now.

 

[rubym]

I have the same problem with our male. He was on the skinny side when we bought him and the breeder said to give him wax worms for a couple of weeks to fatten him up. The couple of weeks turned into a couple of months because he wouldn't eat anything else. I stopped cold turkey about 4 days ago and he has been on a hunger strike. I put the mealies in and he looks at me like : give me the twinkies, mother" and walks off from the dish. I weigh him weekly and he has only lost half a gram so I am hoping that he will come around soon. I am going to a show this Sunday and was told that Horn worms are good for picky eaters. i plan on stocking up on those.

 

[jthompson]

Horn worms huh? Let me know how it goes. Mine have not eaten the mealies or the phoenix worms yet.

 

[crayolaskies]

What about silkworms? Anyone have success with them? I've heard they're extremely nutritious and taste better to your gecko.