Hatchlings feeding

[catevala]

I have a question about Hatchlings feeding behavior. My hatchlings are an arboreal species and as such they hang out far above the bottom of their cage. Whereas the feeder insects that I introduce (mainly very small crickets at this stage) immediately head for the floor! How does one get the two together?

I have been advised to place some food that crickets like up into the arboreal area where the babies are, but thus far I have not found any food that so attracts the crickets.

Surely someone has long ago figured out this problem and has a solution? I keep anoles but this issue would apply to certain geckoes as well.

Thanks, G

 

[acpart]

All I can tell you is that I worried about this also with my first arboreal gecko, a gold dust that I got as a juvenile about 4 years ago. To complicate things, she was lost in the mail for an extra day in cold weather and was in a cold coma when she arrived. She had a really rocky start and hung out at the bottom of the viv instead of the top. I moved her for awhile into a much smaller enclosure until she got a little bigger and stronger. Once she was ready for the big enclosure, I kept feeding her and hoped for the best. I think these geckos are sensitive to smell of a prey item and to movement as well because 4 years later she's fat and sassy. If you have a species that eats nectar, you could put some dishes up high. Otherwise, I think it makes sense to keep feeding the crickets and let nature take its course.

Aliza

 

[Scarlet.Escapist]

Sorry my brain is not quite functioning correctly (some headache business going on D: ).. So.. you're saying your geckos are hanging/chilling out at the top and when you feed crickets the crickets always hide before the geckos get them?

If so you can try to container/cup feed. For the smaller crickets its easier to use this method because they are unlikely to jump out of these containers unless they are super shallow. You can try making a hole in a cup near the rim and find suction hook pass it through the hole and stick it on the glass near the top where the babies are at. Just make sure the hooked cup can handle the weight of the babies, especially if they jump onto the rim (causes extra force which can knock the cup down). If you tilt the cup slightly horizontal to a perch near the top it'll be easier for the babies to access. Just make sure its not too tilted otherwise the crickets get out.

 

[catevala]

followup on two kind suggestions

For scarlet: I quote from last line of my orig. post: I keep anoles but this issue would apply to certain geckoes as well.

I am sure there is some difference in the behavior of juveniles betw. anoles and geckoes (or even chameleons). And yet, I have had zero luck in getting anole keepers to share their wisdom so I thought, "What the heck! It can't be that different as to what baby chameleons have to do to get on track to eating". Or geckoes.

Yes I had thought of the idea of bringing the crickets to the lizards via a feeding "dish" placed up above. I hadn't quite worked out the kind and size and shape of container so that (a) the babies could see the prey and (b) the prey couldn't readily get out. With crickets this can be problematic as they do hop!

For acpart, thank you for sharing your "horror story" with me. Glad it all worked out. 'Course with your gecko starting out at the bottom...it was the exact opposite situation to mine. Still I think that you are right; I am probably just being a nervous new Dad. If you don't know what to expect in a new situation such as keeping anole lizards (or baby humans :coverlaugh you are "flying blind" and always worrying just a bit - "Am I doing this right?".

I'll tell you all this: I wish that anole fanciers were as friendly, helpful and active on-line as geckophiles! I have been involved in many different hobbies involving some form of "biology" over the last 30 years (generally botanical and horticultural) and have never found as uncooperative a bunch as many anole specialists. They seem, in general, very "clique-ish". I have found a few generous souls, but on the whole...

Breck

 

[MauricesExoticPets]

I'll tell you all this: I wish that anole fanciers were as friendly, helpful and active on-line as geckophiles! I have been involved in many different hobbies involving some form of "biology" over the last 30 years (generally botanical and horticultural) and have never found as uncooperative a bunch as many anole specialists. They seem, in general, very "clique-ish". I have found a few generous souls, but on the whole...

Breck

There are a number of reasons anole keepers are as you say "clique-ish", but thats another story in and of itself.

If your feeder must be crickets than cup feeding is your only real option.

Otherwise D. melanogaster, D. hydei, indian meal moths, waxworm moths, then mothed out silk and hornworms are the way to go for arboreal critters that will not hunt down low.

Maurice Pudlo