Just a random hunting question.

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theturvs

New member
How do leo's hunt for their food? Is it through sight, feel, or smell?? My hubby and I have been debating this point. Sometimes the cricket can be right next to SoCo and he doesnt realize it, and yet sometimes the thing can be hiding on the other side of the cage and he like...senses it and starts hunting. He also roams around alot sniffing kinda like a dog. Its pretty humorous.

Also, I do red lighting night and day on his cage, because I was told that he cant see that...they dont have that spectrum. Therefore, in my opinion, its as close to natural as possible, and is only really heating. When I feed him at night, my hubby is concerned that it's too dark for him to see the crickets because the red light doesnt help him see. We're wondering if thats why he misses so much, or if it is just because he is young.

Thanks for your help.
 
cat_named_noodles

cat_named_noodles

New member
theturvs said:
How do leo's hunt for their food? Is it through sight, feel, or smell?? My hubby and I have been debating this point. Sometimes the cricket can be right next to SoCo and he doesnt realize it, and yet sometimes the thing can be hiding on the other side of the cage and he like...senses it and starts hunting. He also roams around alot sniffing kinda like a dog. Its pretty humorous.

Also, I do red lighting night and day on his cage, because I was told that he cant see that...they dont have that spectrum. Therefore, in my opinion, its as close to natural as possible, and is only really heating. When I feed him at night, my hubby is concerned that it's too dark for him to see the crickets because the red light doesnt help him see. We're wondering if thats why he misses so much, or if it is just because he is young.

Thanks for your help.
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Like Ethan said, they are nocturnal. The only leos that have trouble seeing at night are blind or sick. That's why they have such big eyes.
Soco is still young and clumsy; Sprocket is almost 40 grams and she still misses crickets. I don't go ripping off cricket legs either (gross!). She definitely eats enough, though, as she gained 3 grams last week.
So far as I know leos hunt via their eyesight first, looking for movement, but scent plays a large part in it as well. When a gecko goes around licking and tasting objects in its enclosure it is also smelling them. Mine will often lick a waxworm or mealie before eating it (since they don't move like crickets or roaches do), and crickets they watch, stalk and chomp on. They also watch the roaches intently, but don't stalk them as I serve them in a dish.
I feel babies learn some aspects of hunting in addition to their natural hunting instincts, which is why they are sometimes clumsy.
 
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Holly12

Holly12

Member
Yeah ya know my girl as soon as she sees that cricket she eats it right up lol she seems too love it when anything moves if it is alive then she wants it and it will be gone in a flash lol she's too funny.
 
cat_named_noodles

cat_named_noodles

New member
Holly12 said:
Yeah ya know my girl as soon as she sees that cricket she eats it right up lol she seems too love it when anything moves if it is alive then she wants it and it will be gone in a flash lol she's too funny.
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Neko (my tiniest baby) pretty much never misses a cricket-she goes nuts for them. Sprocket..not so much..lol
 
T

theturvs

New member
hyposhawn said:
I have no light at night. Is that alright?
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hyposhaun, I use a red light at night specifically because I've been told that they can't see the red light spectrum. Its not helping him see anything, its helping me to see him, and its also providing some heat. I figured if they are nocturnal animals, I probably shouldnt be altering his favorite time of day by lighting his enclosure!
 
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