[J3nn]

Today, at the local wal-mart, I found these little blended fruit packets called "Buddy Fruits" (Healthy Fruit Snacks, Buddy Fruits).

I know some people like to use baby food for feeding, but this seems like it's just as good (and it's a lot cheaper, it only costs ~97 cents). I'm considering giving it a go, but wanted to see if anyone had any objections or experience with it.

[daggekko]

Never tried them. You'll probably get lots of objections just because it is similar to baby food(so it seems from looking at the labels). I would add some vitamins and calcium to it if your going to give them a go. I wouldn't object to an occasional feeding of this or baby food. My geckos LOVE baby food. I am exploring other options though(Repashy Day Gecko MRP, insects, Clark's Gecko Diet, and some home made recipes for FGD diets).

Does anyone know if the passion fruit juice is toxic to the geckos? I read a while back about how passion flowers can be VERY toxic.

[J3nn]

I meant as sort of a supplement to their crickets dusted w/ vitamins and calcium.

I would love to do home made fruit mashes and other recipes, but I'm currently living in a dorm so my little Deek gets mostly oranges (which she loves) and crickets dusted with vitamins and calcium. I just wanted a cheap way to add a little variety and maybe find a "treat" she enjoys.

[hexentanz]

Originally Posted by J3nn

I meant as sort of a supplement to their crickets dusted w/ vitamins and calcium.

I would love to do home made fruit mashes and other recipes, but I'm currently living in a dorm so my little Deek gets mostly oranges (which she loves) and crickets dusted with vitamins and calcium. I just wanted a cheap way to add a little variety and maybe find a "treat" she enjoys.

Citrus fruits like oranges, grapefruit, lemons, limes to name a few should be avoided like the plague due to the citric acid content. Baby foods with a lot of citric acid added in addition to the 'safe' fruit should also be avoided. The same with baby foods containing rice or pasta.

Safe fruits for example are:

Banana, Mango, Peach, Grapes, Passion Fruit and Figs.

Apple should be avoided and Banana should only be given on occasion as too much can cause liquid stools or constipation.

Fruit mashes should only be given as a once a week or once every two weeks treat and never relied on as a staple (Personally, I never offered them more than once a month when I did use them).

If you are going to rely on Baby Food make sure there is not a lot of sugars or salt in them. The Fruit Snacks which you linked to contain quite a bit of sugar and salt, not to mention are inappropriate fruit combinations for a gecko.

A lot of people have moved away from Baby food with the introduction of safer alternatives like Repashy MRP, Clarks Diet, etc. It is not only cheaper in the long run, but safer, as there is no guess work like with baby food of how much of this vitamin or that vitamin to add just to make the stuff semi healthy for your animal. With these replacement powders all the right vitamins are already in there.

[daggekko]

Yeah, Maureen summed it up pretty good! When I first got my geckos I was using baby food a lot. I always looked at the bottle and usually went for the organic kinds. These didn't have anything but the fruit and some asorbic acid(Vit. C). Well, at least they say they don't have anything else in them.

I agree completely with Maureen about the price as well. I wasted SOOOOO much baby food. For about the $1 I would use the jar once, throw away the majority of it, and have to get another jar(I don't like to let food sit around so I tend to throw it away at the slightest chance of it being bad).

I was looking around last night at Clark's Gecko Diet and they have a sample offer for a 1oz bag for $1 shipped at pmpreptiles.com. I am going to be getting some to try it out, but that should last you at least a few feeding if not 5+ feedings. This should help you out though in getting cheap food.

What kind of gecko is Deek?

Why can't you try the FGD mix? Home Made Fruit Mix (Frugivorus Gecko Diet)
Here is a link. (Thanks to Passport!!!) Also, I have been using the Repashy MRP and it is super easy and lasts a long time. You could get an 8oz bag and it would last you a few months easy. Maybe 6 months or so. You'd probably spend about $15-$18 shipped to your place. Geckoranch.com is where I buy mine. Julie(at Gecko Ranch) is awesome!