Learning to eat out of a dish, and other questions.

[colleen0904]

My leo doesn't seem to be getting the concept that she is supposed to be eating out of her bowl. I will put a few mealworms in there and hours later they are still there. But if I put one in front of her hide, she will snatch it up. Can she smell the worms? I have put her right up by the bowl before and she just wriggles to get away from me and back int her hide. Will she learn to eat out of a dish?
Also, I think I may have to downsize her into a 10 gallon here soon. She really doesn't move around a while lot anyways, and I am only borrowing the tank she is in. (I cracked the plastic edge that holds her terrarium together...ooops) For a 10 gallon, will a 100 watt red heat lamp hold her over until I can get a UTH? We are having a bunch of financial issues and I really can't afford a UTH at the moment.

 

[hyposhawn]

For a 10 gallon a 75 watt is fine. It might get to hot with 100 watt. When i feed my leos meal worms i just put them in front of there hide. They will come out then eat them.

 

[acpart]

If you really want her to learn to eat out of the bowl you could try:
--get a small glass ashtray so she can see them
--use a jar lid which is shallower

In either case, put the bowl near her hide where you usually drop the mealworms. It may be that if you put the bowl there and let her see you drop the mealworms into it, she'll begin to associate the bowl with the mealworms.
Good luck,

Aliza