New Leopard Gecko Owner

[scm133]

Hi everyone!!
I bought a very young Gecko at PetSmart two weeks ago. This forum has been very informative.
My Gecko only weighs 3 grams. There has been no weight gain since I got him two weeks ago. He is pooping and eating sparingly(one cricket ever other day). He has already shed once. He is in a 30 gallon tank with UTH (ZooMed 30-40 gallon size). Digital thermometer to read warm side. The warm side is 90-92 degrees and the cool side stays between 75-80. I have a water dish, calcium dish, worm dish. One dry hide on warm side and one dry and one moist hide on cool side. I do have a infrared bulb on top, but only use it, if temp drops. No bright lights. I offer him crickets ( coated with calcium and vitamins) and mealworms. The handling has been minimal (twice weekly). He does not appear sickly (bright eyes,etc.). I have turned off all heaters at night, because house is around 76-78 degrees.
I guess my question is..am I doing everything correctly. I would love to start seeing a weight gain. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

 

[robin]

oh where should i start?

 

[Wowoklol]

Make sure you are gutloading your insects. Otherwise they aren't all that nutritious. A few will probably advocate super worms for packing on the pounds. There's a good deal of protein in that little package. Some are weary of them as they could possibly be linked to injuring animals. But so have crickets when misused so.. I also don't see you mention what you are using for a substrate. You using a digital probe thermometer? So the surface of the substrate is 90s? Everything seems pretty good to me. Robin?

 

[scm133]

I am using the carpet....no sand. Yes the digital probe thermometer is on the hot side and reading 90.2 right now. I was first using just a red infrared bulb on top to heat. But, after reading this forum switched to the UTH last week,because of the need for belly heat. I have been feeding the crickets the Fluker's Orange Cube. I would love to get Dubias, but they will not ship to Florida. Thanks for the info.

 

[geckoluver4evr]

I think your setup sounds very nice. If your little gecko is the baby in your avie, he's very small! And adorable. My baby didn't like crickets that much at first, and when I put mealworm in a bowl he didn't see them much. If you drop a wriggling mealworm in front of him at night, he should eat it.

 

[scm133]

I will post a big HOORAY when I finally see him eat. He was very active last night. He is finally getting use to his surroundings. Maybe tonight he will eat!!!

 

[scm133]

Well, God bless America!! He is finally eating. Roaming the cage like a little hunter and attacking the crickets. I never in a million years would believe that I would get so excited. His "weigh in" is this Saturday. I hope to start finally seeing some weight gain.

 

[geckoluver4evr]

Yay! Thats fantastic, great job!

 

[Wild West Reptile]

Your husbandry sound fine. But what I can't believe is that you can by a 3 gram leo at petsmart! Are they breeding them in the back room and putting them for sale the same day they hatch?????? That's insane! I just hatched one that weighed 4.9 grams! Good luck with your little one, keep varying the diet of crickets, meal worms and when he gets bigger supers, silkworms, dubais, etc......GUTLOAD, GUTLOAD, GUTLOAD! Give the crickets kale, carrots, potatoes, as well as the orange cubes if you already have them. Keep us informed if you have any issues.

 

[scm133]

I had no idea that he was so young. I did not believe my scales and verified it with a Nickel (5 grams), and he has been 3 grams for the last two weeks.

But I see some progress. Today he gulped down 4 mealworms. The routine of here comes human with food, has set in. He was waiting for me this evening. Good poops and very active at night. And yes, I am Gutloading!! Thanks and will keep posting the progress.

 

[scm133]

[/IMG]

Great weigh in today. 5 GRAMS!!! I have had him for one month. He is still afraid of the crickets, but loves the gut loaded worms.

 

[geckoluver4evr]

5 grams?? Wow! That still seems so very small. But he looks very beautiful and healthy. Keep feeding him as much as you can.