Nephrurus Diet...

[skycock]

With crickets being the universal staple food item in the gecko world, my question to all whom apply:

What other food items do you offer to your Nephrurus species? Also, list any positive/negative experiences have you have encountered.

My Blaptica Dubia colony is doing quite well and my animals seem to have taken to them more so than crickets. This is my first delve into the "alternative food items" list with my Nephrurus and I have to say I am pleased with the results I have had. The personal experiences of seasoned hobbyists and breeders speak louder than Google search results, I figured this may be helpful to all of us.

 

[DDReptiles]

I feed mine pretty much Blaptica dubia and crickets, they seem to eat both readily and they grow and do well eating just them.

 

[skycock]

I was formerly a strictly cricket feeder before adding Dubia to my arsenal. Many, if not most keepers feed a solitary food item alone. Being that animals thrive when subjected to a wide variety of food options, what variety in captivity fills this void? Should more care go into feeder gut-loading and supplementation rather than a varied diet? Any thoughts?

 

[GoldenGateGeckos]

I feed mainly crickets, and I have some N. levis that go crazy for roaches and a couple that are stressed by them. I can tong-feed superworms to most of my adults, and they enjoy them a lot.

 

[Riverside Reptiles]

My levis pretty much all enjoy both dubia and lateralis roaches. Some show personal preference over one or other. But they'll all eat both. I gave up on messing with crickets at all once I discovered roaches several years ago.

 

[Amazing_Reptiles]

In addition to crickets, I occasionally give my Nephrurus worms. Great for fattening them up during breeding season. I have used Waxworms, Butterworms, Silkworms, Mealworms, and Superworms. I generally use the first 3 worms listed at least once a month, and only use the supers and meals if I dont have many crickets left and have nothing else to feed them, which is very rare.
-Steve

 

[DDReptiles]

Forgot to say, I have read of some people feeding the odd pinkie mouse to their adult amyae and wheeleri.

 

[Casey Lazik]

mice!

Hey Trey,

I feed my N. amyae Blaptica dubia and crickets. Occasionally I supplement the diet with a mouse, but that is rarely (less than once a month). I feed mice only for fun. :biggrin: I've raised generations of N. levis and N. amyae on crickets only so I do not think it is important to add other food items as long as you are gut loading your crickets and giving them vitamin and calcium supplementation (dusted crickets).

I fed this rather dull colored female amyae a hopper mouse last night. She got very excited, chasing it around her cage; the mouse hiding behind her hide box. One bite crushed the mouse's head. She then dropped the mouse as it laid there with it's feet twitching. Within 20-30 seconds it was dead. The gecko, still eyeing the now dead mouse, then grabbed it and preceded to swallow this rather large meal. It was the largest mouse I've fed an amyae. I thought it was very interesting that the gecko took the mouse after it had stopped moving.

Happy New Year!

Casey

 

[skycock]

That's all I need...something else that feeds on rodents! I am trying to rid my collection of anything that feeds on mice and rats (which is why all my BP's are out on loan), but with 1.1 Nu Ana Leachianus coming in next week it appears I will be back on the rodent trail. That is pretty neat though, your Amyae should add a few grams to her weight after that one.

I have some Phoenix Worms which I will be picking up in an hour or so and a group of Lobsters and Hissers coming in next week. Apparently the hissers' nymphs are extremely soft shelled, 1/4in. or so, and more meaty than other roach species and the lobsters are so prolific, last minute dashes to the pet shop for overpriced crickets should become obsolete. I will keep the forum posted on the feeding habits of my Wheeleri, Levis, and Deleani on these items as soon as I can get a feel for how they respond to them. I have a tendency of making things more difficult than need be but at least there is an ever-present hint of benevolence for my animals. Thanks for the post Casey--enjoy that West Coast weather!