My Leo is changing colors overnight....?

[Tami]

Hi All - I am fairly new to the reptile world...just got my first Leo 2 mos ago - by the way, he's finally back to hunting crickets again after a finicky stage of wanting only mealworms. Anyway, today he crawled out of his little moist hide (where he spends almost 100% of his time since I got him) and noticed that he now has a base color of bright yellow, whereas yesterday he was still mostly black, brown and white here and there. Is that normal for him to change colors so suddenly and so drastically?

Thanks!

 

[Allee Toler]

He's fine. =D He's just shedding off his baby color. It took my rainwater patternless about 3 months, and she went from this dull ugly brown splotchiness to solid sunshine yellow.

 

[Tami]

He's fine. =D He's just shedding off his baby color. It took my rainwater patternless about 3 months, and she went from this dull ugly brown splotchiness to solid sunshine yellow.

Oh, ok, good. Thank you! Hey let me ask you something else - I have read in various places that you should feed the juvies about 5-6 crickets daily...however mine still seems hungry, and when I offer more to him, he doesn't seem satisfied until he's had about 10-11 crickets. Is this too much to feed him at one time, or should I give him as much as he wants?

 

[Allee Toler]

If he's pooping, and growing, feed him all he'll eat! He's a growing boy. If he can eat it all in 20-30 minutes, then go for it. My Lucie eats about 50 worms a night, and about 5 dozen crickets a week. She poops 3 times a day. Lol. She's gaining weight, and growing strong. You can't over feed a baby, but when he gets a little older, you'll see him start to slow down on his eating. The same rule applies (20-30 minutes or so) when they're adults, only every other night. They really slow down their eating when they're older. They'll eat about 20 worms every other night or so.

 

[Tami]

If he's pooping, and growing, feed him all he'll eat! He's a growing boy. If he can eat it all in 20-30 minutes, then go for it. My Lucie eats about 50 worms a night, and about 5 dozen crickets a week. She poops 3 times a day. Lol. She's gaining weight, and growing strong. You can't over feed a baby, but when he gets a little older, you'll see him start to slow down on his eating. The same rule applies (20-30 minutes or so) when they're adults, only every other night. They really slow down their eating when they're older. They'll eat about 20 worms every other night or so.

Wow - really??!! 50 worms a night...I can't imagine what your trips to the pet store are like - you must REALLY buy in bulk...:lol: Cowboy is pooping almost every night - it always freaks me out a little when I don't see a "package" in the mornings, but he definitely is growing. And a big fat tail. That makes me feel better - I'll keep tossing crickets as long as he's scarfin' them up then. Thanks so much for your help.

 

[Allee Toler]

No problem.

I have, well had, a mealworm colony. 3000+ worms. Now I'm waiting for the eggs to hatch and the worms to get bigger so I can feed them. Lol. She ate all my worms!

Over all, I spend about $6 a month on food for them. But because I breed my own mealies, supers, and the local pet store employees know me well and charge me 10 cents per dozen crickets. =D

 

[Tami]

No problem.

I have, well had, a mealworm colony. 3000+ worms. Now I'm waiting for the eggs to hatch and the worms to get bigger so I can feed them. Lol. She ate all my worms!

Over all, I spend about $6 a month on food for them. But because I breed my own mealies, supers, and the local pet store employees know me well and charge me 10 cents per dozen crickets. =D

I'm inpressed...I don't know that I could face 3000 worms every day......I take a bunch out of the store container and gut load them for a day or two and then feed him about 10 or so every other night, along with the daily crickets. I still feel like I'm living at the frigging pet store, LOL! Anyway, thanks.