my dog found a baby gecko! now what?

[Turtlestork]

Very cute little gecko.

With crickets...I had the same problems you do. I am/was squeamish about them touching me and them escaping (got over that when my order of 1000 escaped into my house). So what I do is I have mine in a plastic cooler(I have a lot more than you so your kritter keeper works) and I put some of the eggcrate stuff or toilet paper rolls in there. I then take a large, gallon size zip lock bag and take my tube/egg crate and shake it off into the bag until I have about the amount of crickets I want. I just dump the surplus ones back in. And then I take the supplements and calcium and shake the crickets up with them in the bag. Then I use an old fishfood container and kind of herd the crickets to a corner of the bag and scoop them all up with the container. Mind you, I haven't come into contact with the crickets at all. I then open my animal's cage and just dump the crickets right in. Just make sure you either clean out the container or get a new one every once in a while so bacteria doesn't build up inside of it. It might sound hard when I type it, but it really isn't. I like it because unless you make a mistake there are no escapees and you never come in contact with the crickets either.

But anyway, have fun with your gecko. I love his coloring. Very cute.



TS

 

[Kairi]

It's just getting them from the critter keeper into anything without them jumping out. I'll figure it out eventually I called around and found some tongs though! We'll see how that works

 

[acpart]

Another way to catch small crickets is to use a shot glass, herd them against the side of their enclosure and "encourage" them to enter.

Aliza

 

[Kairi]

how many do you think he should eat a day? (and how often should i feed him?) the man at the store said he'd eat 10 a night... but poor Henry seemed very overwhelmed. We gave him two tonight.... he actually came out of hiding.

 

[Kelentari]

The general feeding rule I've come across most often is however much your gecko will eat within a 15-20 min. time frame.

 

[acpart]

I usually give my adult banded gecko (10grams) about 4-6 small crickets every other day. I have no idea how many she's eating, but except for a few that drown in the water dish, I don't see any in the cage and she's pooping regularly.

Aliza

 

[Kairi]

he ended up eating about 5 last night... either that or the last 3 are hiding really really well.

i know the rule isn't the same with geckos as it is betta fish (their stomachs are about the size of their eye) ... but there's no WAY 10 crickets can fit in that little guy's body. Of course... I wasn't sure 5 could either...

 

[Kelentari]

Haha, yeah, I'm surprised at how much my little ones can slam down, too!

 

[Kairi]

I've been experimenting today with food... he's started begging so I'll give him 1-2 crickets at once... wait about 5-6 hours, he'll beg again.... lather, rinse, repeat. So far, he's eaten about 6 tiny crickets... and seems pretty content He's not hiding as much- and he seems to realize when I turn on his light it equals food.

Do I need the tank like at all? It's fluorescent so it doesn't do much... and I figured since he's nocturnal, he'd appreciate it being off.

 

[Kelentari]

I've read that having a light on a tank during the day and turning it off or switching off to a blacklight at night can help simulate a normal outside day/night atmosphere. I personally don't have any lights on my leos' tanks as they do not require UV light. But I think that as long as your light doesn't make Henry's warm side too warm it should be ok to keep using it. I bet it's cute when he comes out after you turn it on!!

 

[Kairi]

The room he's in stays pretty light during the day... the windows have curtains, but it's the brightest room in the house.

 

[Kairi]

Here are some pictures from today... how do you guys think he's looking?

I've started feeding his crickets flake fish food and tiny orange slices (and they LOVE it)... do you think 8-10 three week old crickets is too much? (he gets them in batches of 2-4 a couple times a day) He seems to want more, but I am afraid of overfeeding him.

**edit** you can see in the first picture his foot that was red on page one it's looking like new now!

 

[Kelentari]

He's looking great! I think 8-10 crickets sounds perfect for the growing boy that he is. I'm so glad his little red foot is better. You're doing an excellent job in caring for him!

 

[Kairi]

Thanks I'm trying I love the fact that he's less scared of me now too. He isn't fond of being caught and held still, but he'll come out and just stare at me (which means tons of pictures lol) I am sure as he gets older, he'll get used to us handling him too... at least I hope he does.

 

[Kairi]

I think he's learning what the camera is. I got this response this morning

hehe, he's getting a little chunkier... he's so CUTE!

 

[Kelentari]

Haha--he's like, "Geez, Mom-enough with the pictures already. I'm outta here!" He's a cutie indeed!! :coverlaugh:

 

[Kelentari]

Hello--I just wanted to check in and see how Henry's doing! I hope all is well with you and your little fellow.

 

[Kairi]

He's doing great. Apparently he's been a little cold lately, because I'll find him under his paper towel sleeping where his little heating mat is. He still doesn't like me holding him though. He'll scramble to the edge of the tank while I'm cleaning it out and look so pathetic as he attempts to climb the wall... I can't help but laugh.

 

[Kelentari]

Haha, well, at least he's healthy! The happy part will come eventually, I'm sure. ;-)

 

[Kairi]

oh he's happy- just as long as I'm not messing with his tank