Views on feeding Pinkies

[Reborn]

I've always wondered on this. I've read do and dont. Live and thawed. I'd love to offer more variety in there diets but from what i've read leos arent disigned to digest bones. I have a REALLY picky eater that eats very little(doesnt loose much weight tho if any) and thought maybe try it out but i wanna hear from some people who feed them and who dont. the picky eats at 80 grams, male so i think he can handle one.

ps i know there strickly treats and should only be offered once or so a month.

 

[T-ReXx]

I don't think feeding pinkies to leos is a good idea. They are insectivores, and are designed to eat insects. For weight gain and picky eaters, try roaches or super worms. Wax worms are usually pretty sucessful as well. Wax worms are high in fat but pinkies are VERY high in fat. That being said, I do feed pinks to my tokay adults, but they are known to regularly feed on vertibrates, leos are not.

 

[Reborn]

I don't think feeding pinkies to leos is a good idea. They are insectivores, and are designed to eat insects. For weight gain and picky eaters, try roaches or super worms. Wax worms are usually pretty sucessful as well. Wax worms are high in fat but pinkies are VERY high in fat. That being said, I do feed pinks to my tokay adults, but they are known to regularly feed on vertibrates, leos are not.

Yeah i feel the same but then everyone i know who feeds them HAMMERS me with on youtube "Dink the 26 yr old leopard gecko" who was fed live pinkies most of her life. I do offer 2 kinds of roachs, supers, waxies, mealies, crickets, ive even tried butterworms and pheniox worms. The little booger just doesnt wanna get big! lol He's goin on 4-5 months and only at 35 grams. My others at this age were going on 45-50 grams.

Lol just for the record out of the 19 i keep only about 6 will take wax worms. They all much prefer roachs or supers. Waxxies go to waste often:main_laugh:

 

[Retribution Reptiles]

I'm with T-Rexx on this one. Plus some geckos are slow growers. Not all geckos are created equal. It will grow in time just be patient with it.

 

[T-ReXx]

Yeah I have to say I've had limited success with waxworms as well, with multiple species. For my larger ones(tokays, giant leaf tails, halmaheras) I've actually found horn worms go over much better(especially with the tokays, they go NUTS for horns). I'd say your variety is just fine, haha. 35 grams at 4-5 months isn't all that off, I've had plenty of geckos arounfd that size at that age, some grow differently than others, and not all will end up being large adults. As long as his body condition is good I'd say he's doing just fine.

 

[Reborn]

Yeah I have to say I've had limited success with waxworms as well, with multiple species. For my larger ones(tokays, giant leaf tails, halmaheras) I've actually found horn worms go over much better(especially with the tokays, they go NUTS for horns). I'd say your variety is just fine, haha. 35 grams at 4-5 months isn't all that off, I've had plenty of geckos arounfd that size at that age, some grow differently than others, and not all will end up being large adults. As long as his body condition is good I'd say he's doing just fine.

Thanks thats reassuring. The little boogers been giving me a head-ache with his off eating, eating 2 days then off@.@ i think he enjoys watching me get frustrated. I'll look into horns. I've heard good things about them(unlike butters) just gotta find a local seller or a online seller fast. Temps are droppin here in MN. 35 at his age is small for me lol mine are all big guys/girls. My Jungle RAPTOR at 7 months is nearing 80 grams now. She's a big pretty girl;D Definatly crossing pinkies off the "to try list"....good thing too coz i wasnt looking forwards to risking his life with it nor hearing the pinkie cry.

 

[T-ReXx]

I've seen leos over a year old that topped out at 45 grams. Healthy, fully grown animals. Size has been bred into leos over the years, but in reality the species doesn't necessarily have to get that large. With leopard geckos(and most reptiles actually) general body condition is a better indicator of health than an actual weight number since there can be so much variation within the species.

 

[Reborn]

Thats true, i have a female at 1 year and only 43 grams small little girl. I didnt raise her bought her off a "breeder" on craigslist. But i think her size is more due to neglect then care. I guess I'll just keep trying with him, hope he eats a bit more. He's still gaining weight(like 2grams every 2 weeks or so) and growing tiny bits. :main_laugh:haha im just used to living with big ones i suppose.