Regurged worms, okay with crickets?

[Griffinej5]

About my Leo:
Sex- unknown
Age & weight- age is young, not exactly sure, but a baby. Weight unknown
Obtained 5/27 from chain petstore


Health-
I have not physically handled our held as of yet. Was acting lethargic a few days ago and hanging out mostly in the humid hide a few days ago. Appears to have more energy and is moving about more now.
Fecals look normal, not runny. I have had bearded dragons in the past and by comparison the Fecals look normal, just much smaller. Went last night/this morning.


Problem:
I got the Leo on 5/27. They were feeding crickets in store. I bought mealworms to feed at home. On 5/28 it ate a few mealworms, regurged one. Ate 4 mealworms on 5/29 or 5/30, regurged all. They were partially digested. The next day ate one mealworm and one waxworm, regurged both, undigested. I would have thought they were uneaten if I didn't see them get eaten and pick them up. I initially did have the tank too hot, and corrected this on 6/1. Did not eat any worms after this. I began feeding turkey baby food by dabbing it on the nose on 6/3. That has been eaten, and was passed normally. I got crickets yesterday and smaller, mini mealworms. Both were refused yesterday. I offered two crickets 6 hours ago. One was eaten, and has stayed down so far. The Leo did not chase it down, but did eat when the cricket walked up to it. I tried the other again just now, it was not eaten.


Housing- 10 gallon glass tank with reptile carpet. Was on carpet in store. 3 hides, one on each side, humid hide in the center.
Temp- 90.4 hot side, cool side 79.
Heating- UTH and CHE. Temps measured with digital thermometer with probe. CHE now on a dimmer switch. Lighting provided by lights in the room, no special lights on tank.


No cage mates now that it is with me. Dish of calcium (exo terra) left in tank, and calcium in food dish, crickets were dusted. Mealworms constantly available, crickets offered as described above dropped into tank, will offer again tomorrow. Gut loading with human rice baby food.

 

[Griffinej5]

Update- as of approx 11 hours after eating the cricket, I see no evidence of regurg. I checked everywhere but in the humid hide- where he/she is currently hanging out, though it's usually in the same area as poop would be. I only have one cricket left right now because I just bought 3 as a trial, and one was eaten, and I accidentally crushed another trying to get it back out of the tank yesterday. I'm going to try another one in the morning and see how that goes.

 

[indyana]

If cricket feeding continues going well, I'd try one mealworm only and see what happens now that you have the heat correctly regulated. Not certain how large the worms are versus the gecko, but most can handle mealworms without issue. It's common for geckos to be a bit "off" for a while when they first come home, but usually, the stressed out behavior resolves within 2-4 weeks.

It would be a good idea to get parasite testing done by a vet if your gecko continues regurgitating food regularly.

 

[Griffinej5]

If cricket feeding continues going well, I'd try one mealworm only and see what happens now that you have the heat correctly regulated. Not certain how large the worms are versus the gecko, but most can handle mealworms without issue. It's common for geckos to be a bit "off" for a while when they first come home, but usually, the stressed out behavior resolves within 2-4 weeks.

It would be a good idea to get parasite testing done by a vet if your gecko continues regurgitating food regularly.

no regurg on the cricket, so I'd say it's good at this point. The third cricket died overnight, so I'll have to pick up some more on my way home from work tonight. The mealworms have not been touched. The first worms I had were just a regular size container from ++++++++, so maybe a bit big. +++++ has minis, which is what I'm giving now and haven't been touched. Maybe they were a bit much and not having to chase them down was a bit much for a tiny guy who was used to hunting. I was hoping not to have to keep crickets, but if all goes well with the next trial, I guess I'm keeping crickets.

 

[DrCarrotTail]

I feed my newly hatched babies normal sized mealworms and they have no issues. They easily switch back and forth from worms to roaches. There is definitely something going on if your baby is okay with crickets and not mealworms. Hopefully correcting the UTH temps resolved it but if he continues to regurg any type of insect food I would get him to a vet ASAP and/or test for crypto. He should be able to eat either easily. Not touching the mealworms could just be because he ate a cricket and is not hungry. I would not resort to feeding baby food so quickly unless he is seriously thin and then I would try mealworm or cricket guts (gross I know) dotted on his nose for a day or two before heading in that direction. The protein in baby food is not the same as the insects they are built to eat and can do more harm than good in the long run. A picture and accurate weight might help people give better advice as well

Good luck I hope he starts doing better for you!!

 

[Griffinej5]

I think my picture is not working. I tried to attach something, but it doesn't appear to want to work. I posted pictures before from on my iPad but it doesn't always want to work. I have poop! Yay! The cricket was passed without incident. I couldn't get him, and I'm just saying him, I don't know, to eat earlier before pooping but he just scarfed three small crickets. The dish of worms is still in there but untouched. He's going to have to eat worms tomorrow if he wants something, because unless I have a cancellation tomorrow afternoon for work, I get off after any stores with crickets close.

 

[leolover7]

Your leo may have just tried to eat too many at one time. if the worms are whole, you can bet that's what it is. One of my leos had same prob. To help, just feed him less at a time. Your leo is probably fine so I would say he'll be okay with crickets, good luck!

 

[Griffinej5]

Crickets got regurged. I'm going to try a single cricket or worm in a bit. Otherwise, I haven't had him two weeks yet. I may take this guy back, though I really do like the color, and see if I can get to Hamburg on Saturday for the herp show to get one from a breeder.

 

[DrCarrotTail]

IMO there's definitely something going on. A hungry little guy that can't keep things down isn't normal. Your best bet would be to get a chunky healthy looking guy that's 25 grams or more from a breeder. If you're keeping leopard geckos for the first time they can take some "setup experimentation" much better than the little ones can. Good luck!!

 

[Griffinej5]

IMO there's definitely something going on. A hungry little guy that can't keep things down isn't normal. Your best bet would be to get a chunky healthy looking guy that's 25 grams or more from a breeder. If you're keeping leopard geckos for the first time they can take some "setup experimentation" much better than the little ones can. Good luck!!

I think he's going back tomorrow. He's a cute little guy, but there's obviously something wrong, and there probably was the day I got him. It's 89.1 inside my warm hide right now. It was 90.4 until I turned my fan on so I wouldn't sweat to death tonight. There's nothing about my setup that should be causing a problem at this point. I'm corresponding with a breeder about going to pick one up later in the week. I'd get something shipped, but I just don't get animals shipped. I had a rankins dragon shipped once and it was a bad experience. I picked out my beardies always right at the breeders' house, and it always went well. Thanks for your help.