Help! How do I get Leopard Geckos to convert from one prey item to another?

Topaz

New member
I have been bestowed 2 leos from a friend of my son's.

In short the former owner did not know enough about their care to give proper care and I have been working hard to remedy that.

I am currently working on trying to get them to eat crickets as the main food source as the majority of the research I have done states they are one of the healthiest things to feed them. Calcium to Phosphorus ratios are at one of the best levels available. As well I have read that Butter worms are very high in fat and much like "junk food". The super worms apparently are low in calcium, their exoskeleton is hard to digest, does not allow for powdered calcium to stick to it properly, and the bran that they feed on blocks the absorption of calcium by the leo.

Here lies my problem:

The female has been fed mainly super worms, and prefers to eat them, I can hardly get her to eat a cricket, even if I do not feed her for 2-4 days.

The male prefers butter worms and has even thrown up when allowed to eat as many as he wishes at one time and again, I can not feed him for 2-4 days and still he will only eat a couple of crickets if any at all.

I do gut load all the fod items but I am concerned if allowing these leos to eat what they want is going to cause them serious health problems?? Is there a way to convert them?
 

Foster Reves

New member
Only offer them crickets, and then just a few at a time. You could also offer them one cricket at a time via forceps. Do not worry if they refuse a few meals, when they become hungry enough they should start eating. Obviously if they continue to refuse crickets after several weeks and are starting to appear as if they are losing weight then you will need to reevaluate your strategy however if they are healthy otherwise then this method should work.
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