Suprise out of town trip!! What to do about feeding??

[CProctor]

I have just been informed that I have to leave to go out of town for the weekend next week. I have a juvi gecko and an adult gecko. I know my adult will be fine for the 2 days that I'm gone. But what do I need to do for my juvenile? I know it is supposed to be fed daily.. Is there some kind of a food I can leave in a bowl for it for the weekend? or would it be fine with out anything for 2 days? I'm worried and don't know what to do. Please help.


EDIT: I have 500 mealworms and 50 waxworms otw to my house today. I was wondering what is the best way to house these worms? I do not want to breed, I just want to buy and feed.

 

[OhioGecko]

If it is a juvie, then missing 2 days of feeding will not effect it at all. I would leave an extra 6-10 mealworms in a dish and add an extra water dish for your time away.

 

[CProctor]

Ok. good! Thank you very much! I was worried. and do they need to be small mealworms for him?

 

[OnlineGeckos]

Medium mealworms are fine, only hatchlings require small. I would get an escape proof dish, and fill it up with 10-15 mealworms before you leave. Make sure you give them fresh dish of water also before you leave. They'll be fine for 2-3 days, no problem at all.

 

[CProctor]

Whew! Thanks guys! I do appreciate. What would be a good escape proof dish? i was gonna get the exo terra mealworm dish but its too big to go in my tank it would block a lot of stuff. its like 4x5x1.5 inches

 

[OnlineGeckos]

The ones I like the best are these simple plastic dishes:

Small Worm Dish 50 Count - TSK Supply

But since you probably don't need 50 of them and may not have the time to get them shipped to you, you could settle with something like:

http://www.+++++.com/product/111699...px?CoreCat=MM_ReptileSupplies_FoodWaterDishes

I used the +++++ one when I got my first leopard gecko, it kind of works but mealworms can escape sometimes. But it's small and can probably work for what you need them for.

Edit: That's weird, this forum censors that giant retailer "pet" "co" word.. Anyways, go on their site and search for "lee's mealworm dish" and you can see what I was trying to link.

 

[DrCarrotTail]

I like ceramic ramekins or tea light candle holders for escape proof bowls. I tend to find them at somewhere like TJ Max or Ikea. Pretty much anything with smooth sides that are taller than the mealworms are long will work. Just make sure they're not too tall for the gecko to get into. Peanut butter jar lids also work well. A few worms often escape from the lids but most stay in.

I would agree with everyone else that he should be fine for 2-3 days. I only watch the size of mealworms for babies babies under 10g. I don't think they would hurt them but I wouldn't give a gecko huge ones until they're about 20g.

Hope your trip is fun!

 

[CProctor]

Thanks for all your help! I was sweating bullets. LOL. I'll just make a stop by a couple stores on the way home and grab some stuff see which works best for me thanks!!!

 

[CProctor]

I have 500 mealworms and 50 waxworms otw to my house today. I was wondering what is the best way to house these worms? I do not want to breed, I just want to buy and feed.

 

[OnlineGeckos]

Waxworms should stay in the container they come in, no need to change them out. They come in wood chips, they don't eat anything, and will eventually pupate after awhile. Unless they didn't come in a container, you can put them in anything really, they don't require much room.

Mealworms can be dumped in a shoebox sized bin, covered in wheat bran or oats, with slices of carrots for moisture/food.

 

[CProctor]

What is the need for refrigerating? or do you really need to?

 

[OnlineGeckos]

Refrigeration is to prolong them so they don't pupate as fast. It slows down their metabolism so they stay in the worm form longer. If you can feed them off before they pupate, then you don't need to refrigerate them. If not, you should refrigerate them, but make sure it's not too cold and that there's no condensation, or they'll just end up dying.

 

[CProctor]

Ok, the place i ordered from said if they come in a plastic container, I don't need to do anything to it but put the worms in the fridge as they are for 2 weeks then take them out for 24 hours and feed/water them.

 

[OnlineGeckos]

They usually come in a plastic container with lids already pre-drilled with holes. Those you can just keep the mealworms in. I wouldn't leave them in the fridge for 2 weeks, I'd take them out more often, every 4-5 days, and feed them carrots and such for 24 hours, then put them back in.

 

[CProctor]

Yeah I was asking a guy at the pet store about his worms and he said he only puts carrots in there and NO potatoes cuz all they do is give water.