One Aggressive Gecko: How much to feed?

[Cassandra Tweeks]

I posted all information over on a different site, I don't feel like posting it all here, so I will link to the information!

http://www.forums.repashy.com/diets-live-foods-supplements/36136-one-aggressive-gecko-how-much-feed.html

*EDIT*

The reason stated that I -did not feel like posting- is that the write up took 3 hours with putting pictures and video and ect on this HUGE post. I didn't think it was too much to ask to click a link provided.

**EDIT**

So I guess it supports everything that Repashy does and it wouldn't be hard to post, which was what I was afraid of doing because I didn't want to take hours dealing with coding, as long as it works i'm good ^^

Alright, so, I've dealt with a little bit of aggression, one being with my Crested Gecko Goliath. it's food aggression, he's a sweety when you get him out and he's growing like a tiny flame weed. But he isn't the focus..

I've recently gotten myself a Leopard gecko, whom was called 'jumbo' by the man at a very small petshop in town about twenty minutes away. Now this wasn't planned, I called the shop first to see if on the off chance he might have some red eyed skinks, it was a no, i wasn't surprised, but he did tell me about a leopard gecko he had. Now I wasn't expecting much... I went there first to see what kind of feeders I could get from him and to see what the gecko looked like. What caught my eye was this tank with sand in it and a little hide.

After inquiring further I found that that was the gecko tank and I couldn't see it well, but I kinda shrugged it off and went home after hearing the price, $50 for the gecko, $100 for the tank and gecko and $120 for the tank gecko and light.

I figured I would wait a little bit and called a week later and see if it was still there, it was, and I had the cash, come to find out things had changed.. he wanted $120 for tank and gecko and $140 with added light (I'm like WTF!?)

With a tiny bit of talking we got it to $125 for everything because he wanted it gone (AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN THAT WAY BEFORE DAMMIT..NO.. LESS THAN THAT DAMMIT..anyway...) I found that the moment he grabbed the leo, it chirped and about screamed (wasn't grabbed hard either) and once out he calmed and was put in my critter keeper with moist towel at the bottom and the tank in my car, I drove home.

He was fine, seemed like he acted like nothing happen, the guy told me he was an excellent eater and loved crickets and was handle-able. So I first let him (it's male) settle into the new home after cleaning out the tank (lots of poop) I put him in my room with a UTH to keep him toasty.

After a few hours I removed him (which he seemed fine with) and measured him and weighed him.

• 52 grams
• 8 inches long
• Seemingly underweight for his size
• 2 1/2 years old

Took a few pictures.

Rather cute.

Tail is not fully filled out.

Face.

Better look at the tail, rather fat toward the base but I don't like that it's so thin further up, I'd really like to fill that tail out.

Better picture, he looks rather thin toward the middle as well, again, this was when I first got him, I hope to improve this.

Him at the water bowl.

Anyway that was a bit of back history, he's been here about 1 week and 2-3 days and I've run into a little road block.. he's AGGRESSIVE! He attacks everything that moves without hesitation. Now once you get him out of the tank he's fine, but before that.. well...

YouTube - Jumbo Hannibal's Agressive Introduction.

Also how MUCH should I be feeding a gecko his size? He's been eating a LOT and this isn't one of those things where -if the gecko stops eating well, he's full duh- no, JH KEEPS eating. He has pooped every night for me (large poops) and is eating everything from black crickets (caught outside and inside my home and gut loaded for a week) to normal crickets to super worms to canned grasshoppers and meal worms.

He's had in one sitting...

• 8 meal worms, 4 supers -juvie-
• 9 meal worms 1 superworm -juvie-
• 13 meal worms, 4 superworms -juvie- 1 canned hopper
• 10 canned hoppers, 1 black cricket

Even after eating all of this he is STILL hungry. I cut him off when i think it's a bit much but I wanted to know what do you feed your adult leo's, especially one with insatiable appetite.

Sense JH has been here he has gained 16 grams and is currently 68 grams.

He has eating every day but is now being moved to every other day to be the same as my crestied's and to have a schedule. Any input would be nice.

Oh and YES he's on sand, small what looks like play sand and he's been on it sense he was a babe (so I'm told) XP

Awesome it worked.

 

[Imperial Geckos]

Copy & Paste :main_thumbsup:

I think if your posting on here, you should post the info, not a link to another forum...IMO

 

[M_surinamensis]

I posted all information over on a different site, I don't feel like posting it all here, so I will link to the information!

http://www.forums.repashy.com/diets-live-foods-supplements/36136-one-aggressive-gecko-how-much-feed.html

I posted my answer on a different site, I don't feel like posting it all here, so I'll let you do google searches to find the information.

 

[Cassandra Tweeks]

Copy & Paste :main_thumbsup:

I think if your posting on here, you should post the info, not a link to another forum...IMO

I would have copied and pasted but it is a lot of information, I provided the link because it's organized and won't look like a mess. It has pictures and video and thus took me 3 hours to do over there, it would take me 3 hours here. I'm not trying to be rude but copy and past wasn't exactly something that would have worked well.

I posted my answer on a different site, I don't feel like posting it all here, so I'll let you do google searches to find the information.

You can keep your snappish attitude at the door Sir and or Madam. It takes two seconds to click the link which I provided with painstakingly hours worth of information and photos. I wasn't rude to you, so please don't be rude to me.

 

[Tony C]

Repashy's forum and GF use the same software, you should be able to easily transfer your post. Click the "Edit" button over there, select all and copy, then paste it into a post here. Your links and formatting should remain intact, and if you like I can move it to your initial post in this thread once it is posted.

 

[Grip Fast]

goodgreef :main_rolleyes: you TOOLS

thanks for posting the link:main_thumbsup:

8 meal worms, 4 supers -juvie-
9 meal worms 1 superworm -juvie-
13 meal worms, 4 superworms -juvie- 1 canned hopper
10 canned hoppers, 1 black cricket

did he eat all this in one sitting:shocked: or are these examples of what he ate during separate sittings:main_huh:

i would say let him eat all he wants for a few days and he may calm down with the gorging.

Grip

 

[Cassandra Tweeks]

Repashy's forum and GF use the same software, you should be able to easily transfer your post. Click the "Edit" button over there, select all and copy, then paste it into a post here. Your links and formatting should remain intact, and if you like I can move it to your initial post in this thread once it is posted.

Might as well, I didn't think it was a big deal...

goodgreef :main_rolleyes: you TOOLS

thanks for posting the link:main_thumbsup:

8 meal worms, 4 supers -juvie-
9 meal worms 1 superworm -juvie-
13 meal worms, 4 superworms -juvie- 1 canned hopper
10 canned hoppers, 1 black cricket

did he eat all this in one sitting:shocked: or are these examples of what he ate during separate sittings:main_huh:

i would say let him eat all he wants for a few days and he may calm down with the gorging.

Grip

All separate sittings, he's been here about 1 week and 3 days now and still eats like that, I only offer what he wants, and he eats, and I give him a cut off point cause I worry he'd explode. He'd possibly KEEP eating if I let him.

 

[Stl_Greaser]

I think if you want to solve the aggression issue you should first, stop making videos where you poke, prod and rub him till he reacts. You are causing the aggression! Let him be for a few weeks. Feed him all he wants for those weeks and then start trying to handle him. Start of by laying you hand in and letting him come to your hand. AND BY ALL MEANS STOP DOING THING TO MAKE HIM STRESS OUT AND GET AGGRESSIVE!

 

[Cassandra Tweeks]

I think if you want to solve the aggression issue you should first, stop making videos where you poke, prod and rub him till he reacts. You are causing the aggression! Let him be for a few weeks. Feed him all he wants for those weeks and then start trying to handle him. Start of by laying you hand in and letting him come to your hand. AND BY ALL MEANS STOP DOING THING TO MAKE HIM STRESS OUT AND GET AGGRESSIVE!

I did that video to show what he's been like this past week, so I wanted the reaction, no I don't do this just for shits and giggles I wanted to show case the aggression (a aggression he's had for 2 1/2 years) and wondered if any other person has a gecko like this.

I have not sense done that, I only take him out to weigh, which as been 2 times, once when he got here, and once a day ago.

No I cannot feed him all he wants, his poops are so big already it could very well rip him a part, feeding him all he wants can be from 15 super worms which can't be healthy to 30 normal size crickets again, can't be healthy, letting him eat what he wants is just a bad idea, he does not have an off switch.

 

[Grip Fast]

sound like you have a very feisty guy on your hands! just keep doing what you're doing and he should be fine despite the aggression.

Grip

 

[fl_orchidslave]

It sounds like he had a hit and miss food source in his previous life. As an adult, it will take some time to grow secure and know that you will feed him regularly, and that he doesn't have to share with another animal. I've notice my boys (both 6yrs old) from a similar situation would stand with their head over the food dish every evening. That's when they noticed I was in the room with tongs in hand. If I didn't get to them fast enough they would push the dish into their water dish making a little clanking noise. I feed 2" supers to adults but give them only 3 a day. Adults feeding recommendation is every other day (obesity) so 3 is plenty. When I first got them they wanted more because their diet had been a pinky once a week Now, 6 weeks later, they have settled into a good routine and know they get food every night. Very soon they will be cut back to 2 since they're back up to a good weight and nice fat tails. Then I expect them to set themselves on every other day as all the others have. It helps to feed around the same time daily, they sense that with their little body clocks. Consistency in feeders with occasional treats lets them know what they have to look forward to at dinner time. They also sense a soothing voice. IMO your boy is feeling both insecure and still stressed from changing homes. Give him some time and patience, let him get used to his new life. He's a good looking guy

 

[Cassandra Tweeks]

It sounds like he had a hit and miss food source in his previous life. As an adult, it will take some time to grow secure and know that you will feed him regularly, and that he doesn't have to share with another animal. I've notice my boys (both 6yrs old) from a similar situation would stand with their head over the food dish every evening. That's when they noticed I was in the room with tongs in hand. If I didn't get to them fast enough they would push the dish into their water dish making a little clanking noise. I feed 2" supers to adults but give them only 3 a day. Adults feeding recommendation is every other day (obesity) so 3 is plenty. When I first got them they wanted more because their diet had been a pinky once a week Now, 6 weeks later, they have settled into a good routine and know they get food every night. Very soon they will be cut back to 2 since they're back up to a good weight and nice fat tails. Then I expect them to set themselves on every other day as all the others have. It helps to feed around the same time daily, they sense that with their little body clocks. Consistency in feeders with occasional treats lets them know what they have to look forward to at dinner time. They also sense a soothing voice. IMO your boy is feeling both insecure and still stressed from changing homes. Give him some time and patience, let him get used to his new life. He's a good looking guy

Aww poor things. I have no idea how often mine was fed but he always seems to try and stuff himself which worries me, I don't mind giving him a few and snakes between, but I absolutely cannot give him everything he wants, I could kill him.

I feed him around the same time every night usually around 7:30pm, he's really active during this time so I figured it was good to feed around then. He's been recently put on the every other day schedule with my crested geckos.

The first few nights he was here he would actively attack me if I got up in the middle of the night to use the restroom I'd hear a bunch of banging around, he's knocked over his calcium dish and tried to get at me. XD

Do you know what he is exactly? He's white with a little bit of yellow hue to him, I'm not good with morphs.

sound like you have a very feisty guy on your hands! just keep doing what you're doing and he should be fine despite the aggression.

Grip

Hopefully he'll chill out. He's a little glutton.