How much does a single Coleonyx eat?

[desertanimal]

Hello all. I've been mulling collecting 1.1. Coleonyx variegatus. Right now I'm in the planning stage for keeping a new reptile. I have only ever had snakes that take f/t feeders, so feeding live prey will be a new thing for me and I'm trying to get that angle planned out.

I'm willing to keep a small dubia colony, but I have no idea what size colony I'd need to maintain to have sufficient small nymphs to feed only two small geckos. I recognize that I'll need to buy crickets/mealworms to feed until the colony is established. But still, I have no idea what size colony I should be aiming for. And how many small crickets will they take in a day, for that matter?

Are there any more satisfactory prey items I should consider? I'd like to have all the feeding angles figured out before I decide to get them.

Thanks for any help.

 

[acpart]

I fed mine mostly crickets and I'd guess the adults would eat 4-6 small crickets each every other day. Some would eat mealworms and some wouldn't.

Aliza

 

[desertanimal]

Thanks!

There's no problem with feeding them dubia, though, is there? As in, I should be able to to maintain a colony that will provide enough small nymphs for them, right?

I don't want to keep crickets in the house, and I don't want to buy them every other day indefinitely.

 

[Zilla]

So what are some of the prefered feeders for the different coleonyx??
My new guys are barely eating right now and I am afraid that if the don't start to activly eat more that I will lose them. I know that they are wild caught so there will be difficulties. Any sugestions??

 

[desertanimal]

So what are some of the prefered feeders for the different coleonyx??
My new guys are barely eating right now and I am afraid that if the don't start to activly eat more that I will lose them. I know that they are wild caught so there will be difficulties. Any sugestions??

My one WC C.v.v. seems to take crickets and dubia. I put the dubia in an old top to a jar of salsa or something, so it's white on the inside and has a little lip. It seems to keep the small ones in. I never see her eat, but she seems to eat one insect a night. The insects I have been able to get for her are not tiny, and she's not looking thinner than when I caught her, so I'm not worrying about her appetite.

 

[desertanimal]

Just wanted you to know, Zilla, that I've had my banded for 9 days now, and tonight she snapped up 3 small crickets right in plain view as soon as they hit the floor of her tub. That's the first time she's eaten where I could see her, so I'm pretty pleased with that. :yahoo:

 

[Zilla]

My new Brevis and Mitratus have both eaten very small meal worms and small to medium crickets. I have tried wax worms with the Mitratus and they seem to like them. The Waxies seem to big for the Brevis though and I will be getting lesser waxworms soon for them. I have had ZERO luck with any of my geck species and Dubia.
Thanks for keeping us all updated.