feeding leo too much?

Allee Toler

Member
I think he's doing fine with his leos. I would feed them a little more, but they seem to be doing great.

Now END THIS DISCUSSION. MOVING ON!! =D
 

Phixius

New member
Ron Tremper feeds only mealworms. You going to bash him now??

I completely agree with you! I only feed my leo mealworms because she doesn't like crickets. She watches them run around her cage and then goes to sleep. She gets wax worms once in a blue moon and she is a happy healthy girl.
 

rglove

New member
I completely agree with you! I only feed my leo mealworms because she doesn't like crickets. She watches them run around her cage and then goes to sleep. She gets wax worms once in a blue moon and she is a happy healthy girl.

As I saw, Ron Tremper is the biggest leos breeder but, in my opinion not the best.
It's very rare leopard geckos don't like crickets because they are very good runners and all geckos like to catch.

Leopard geckos that only eat mealworms can have internal problems. You can see no problems but he can have severely problems.
 

ColdBlooded

New member
As I saw, Ron Tremper is the biggest leos breeder but, in my opinion not the best.
It's very rare leopard geckos don't like crickets because they are very good runners and all geckos like to catch.

Leopard geckos that only eat mealworms can have internal problems. You can see no problems but he can have severely problems.

I'm not going to comment on Ron Tremper, but how in the world do mealworms cause internal problems? As long as the temperature is right (aka, warm enough) they can digest every part of the bug, no problem. And as long as the insects are properly gutloaded and dusted then there will be no nutritional deficit.

Not all leos like crickets, just like not all leos like mealworms, roaches, etc. Some are extremely picky and will only eat one or two kinds of bugs. This isn't an uncommon thing and it isn't necessarily a sign that something is wrong.

Show me proof that mealworms cause internal problems. Don't show me something that happened because the leo was kept too cool or any other improper husbandry, but show me something that has been documented that shows that a mealworm exclusive diet is harmful to leopard geckos. :yawn:
 

rglove

New member
Mealworms have a skin or skull very hard to digest and can cause impaction. As mealworms have a low nutritional value can cause MBD (metabolic bone desease) if you don't give that with more and good supplements.

You want proofs, that's hard to find but after I show you.
 

Phixius

New member
Exactly! You cannot sit here and tell me that all geckos like to chase their food, because my Leeroyetta will literally lay down and look away when a cricket runs by. But lord help you if your fingers are too close when you drop a mealworm into her tank.
 

Phixius

New member
it's only hard to find because it's not out there. Actual proof I mean. Not just someone's opinion. And my mealies are gut loaded and calcium dusted often. I understand that you do not feed your geckos strictly mealies, which is fine. They are your geckos. But don't fuss about someone else's feeding methods. Just let it be.
 

ColdBlooded

New member
rglove,

You still haven't provided anything to counter what I said. With proper heat mealworms and other chitinous things are very easily digested. Leo's are built to eat bugs, it's simple as that.

As for MBD, if all insects are properly gutloaded and dusted with the proper vitamins and supplements that pretty much prevents MBD unless there is another underlying problem..

I am not trying to attack you but I'm having a hard time seeing why you are so resilient to anyone's information but your own.
 

Phixius

New member
Thank you for exactly proving my point.

"To prevent MBD all you need to be aware of is that you need to add calcium supplements to the live food you are providing to your geckos be they meal worms or crickets etc"
 

Allee Toler

Member
I read in a book that was written with statistics (Tremper helped write the book, saw it in a local family owned pet store) that feeding only mealworms for the first year or two of their lives as a staple will increase their lifespan by 5 years as long as they're properly gutloaded and dusted. Had something to do with amino acids that help build immunity in a gecko's system.

o.0
 

hyposhawn

Newbie
Like I saw, you only overfeed leos when you give fat food like wax worms. Your leopard gecko will be old and will not eat what he eat now! When he get older he will eat 5 mealworms every other day and need to be fat to live! That fat is from the younger times. When younger need to eat much to grow and grow and grow. Don't knowing the age of your gecko I think that his lenght isn't the correct because you give less than he needs to grow all he have o grow. My Hypo/high yellow lavendar (stripe) has only 8 months and is 25 or 26 cms (9 inches almost 10). He is growing very well and has the adult lenght and he isn't still adult. When your gecko has the age of mine your will weight 45 grams, thats the minimum weight for that age and mine now has 67 grams.

What he will not eat is what he will not grow! And you can only put the gecko obese if you give fat food and you don't give!
I don't know whats your problem but I think that is $$$. You don't have money to give more to your leos? It's what it seems to me.

It's good to know the lenght and the weight.

It's only my opinion and what am I? A noobie. Try o talk with the best breeders and they will say to you: Feed as much as your gecko wants.
sorry i brought this thread up. I just wanted to let rglove know something. I BREED meal worms. I have over 2000 for only 2 leos. If you think that's my problem you are wrong. Please forgive me for bringing this thread up.
 

ColdBlooded

New member
Why not PM him instead of resurrecting a dead thread? And what happened to your pile of other leos I recall you having in your signature?
 
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