Spill the guts

[Cantus]

I recently purchased two leopard gecko babies from my local pet store. One is an absolute pig and has no trouble filling its belly full of mealworms. The second leo I was worried wasn't eating when food was left in the tank. It would get close to the mealworms and smell or lick them but didn't eat.

I read somewhere that if you cut a mealworm open and squish the guts out a little bit and get your leo to try it, you would have no problem getting it to eat.

Well I put it to the test tonight and it worked very well. I made a small cut on the side of the mealworm and rubbed the guts on my geckos mouth and almost immediately it snatched it from my tongs and ate it up. Then it ate about 4 more.

:main_thumbsup::main_thumbsup:

 

[LZRDGRL]

You were successful :main_thumbsup: It's disgusting, but if it works... :main_yes:

Chrissy

 

[madrv]

Why go through all that when you can just throw in some crickets, lol

 

[Hankj]

Because crickets are loud, dirty, and dangerous.

 

[madrv]

Because crickets are loud, dirty, and dangerous.

That's an exaggerated statement. Crickets are one of the best feeders for small herps. Buy from a clean place and a smaller size, done deal.

 

[Stamuetir]

I had the same with a hatchling of mine.
So i tried some small crickets and she ate them right away
Since then i tried giving her mealies about twice a month, she reacts to the wiggling but as sonn as she licks it she turns away and wont have any of it.
I didnt know leopardgeckos could be so picky.

 

[Hankj]

That's an exaggerated statement. Crickets are one of the best feeders for small herps. Buy from a clean place and a smaller size, done deal.

I agree the dangerous part was exaggerated for responsible herp keepers but I stand by the other ones. Crickets are a pain. I do feed them to add variety but I prefer worms.

 

[Hankj]

I had the same with a hatchling of mine.
So i tried some small crickets and she ate them right away
Since then i tried giving her mealies about twice a month, she reacts to the wiggling but as sonn as she licks it she turns away and wont have any of it.
I didnt know leopardgeckos could be so picky.

I have also done this with a gecko that was eating worms at first. Started it on crickets and then it started eating the worm a few days later. It would have been a lot easier to cut a mealworm open than going out and buying some crickets.
Stamuetir, if you want it to eat the mealworms I would try this technique so it can get the actual taste of the worm, not just the outside.

 

[wgparks]

Because crickets are loud, dirty, and dangerous.

actually crickets are an awesome food source for geckos man, and they love to hunt them. they aren't loud if you keep them covered, not dirty if you clean them and as long as you leave some cricket food in the tank they'll find it and won't bother your lizard :main_thumbsup:

 

[Stamuetir]

I have also done this with a gecko that was eating worms at first. Started it on crickets and then it started eating the worm a few days later. It would have been a lot easier to cut a mealworm open than going out and buying some crickets.
Stamuetir, if you want it to eat the mealworms I would try this technique so it can get the actual taste of the worm, not just the outside.

actually, every time i offer her a mealworm i cut it open first, but she just wont eat it

 

[Reborn]

Crickets are crap. Roaches are where the good food lies. Better for them and no pain at all. Crickets can infact be dangerous even if fed the right size and what not. If you all arent aware but some places are giving others the slip on the normal brown house crickets and selling Jamaican ones i do believe, Theres a good article of it in gecko times. They can bite you even! And there being sold all over the use. They have in fact taking gecko lives. Food in the tank or not. There NASTY boogers. Dealt with some here:/ Done with crickets. Roaches are better :3 I have yet to find a gecko that wont take roaches over crickets. Get some of the guts out and once they taste them they are happy campers:3 Just as fun to hunt too. ^_^ but the mealie trick does work