Leopard Gecko: Time to get bigger crickets?

[Chaoskii]

It's been about 2 months and I have been feeding him the pinheads since then, and he can eat probably around 6 to 7 of these, and he's gotten bigger, today at the pet store I bought my usual amount of pinheads, but for a test I bought 2 larges, when I got home I fed him these and he took them down no problem. Now it seemed fine, but it's always nice to make sure, if he took down 2 large crickets no problem should it be something I should be upgrading him to? Or is he still to small?

Picture to show his size. This is in a standard 20g tank.

 

[cricket4u]

I am surprised to hear he only eats 6-7 pinheads. You can feed him the medium size. Do you mind sharing the temperatures with me? I just want to make sure the temps are not the reason he eats less than I would expect. The insects should be no bigger than the space between his eyes.

Do you gutload his crickets and dust with calcium, d3 and multivitamins 2 times a week?

 

[Chaoskii]

The only reason he only eats that many is because he eats all the ones I have, I restock as often as I can but he eats a ton....... I am forced to space it out, usually I'll throw in 4 meal worms with it.

The only reason I have to is because the pet store is 30 minutes away and I work full time. I usually pick up 30 or so each time I go and between me working and them dying off, it's hard sometimes.

The temps are about 85 in the daytime and about 70-75 at night.

Yes I do, and cover them with the calcium powder.

 

[cricket4u]

The only reason he only eats that many is because he eats all the ones I have, I restock as often as I can but he eats a ton....... I am forced to space it out, usually I'll throw in 4 meal worms with it.

The only reason I have to is because the pet store is 30 minutes away and I work full time. I usually pick up 30 or so each time I go and between me working and them dying off, it's hard sometimes.

The temps are about 85 in the daytime and about 70-75 at night.

That explains why he does not appear as healthy as he should. Your gecko is in a growing stage. You should feed him as much as he will eat within 15 minutes. I'm sorry, but it's your responsibility to keep insects at home so that you can properly gutload 48 hours before feeding. He also needs variety of insects.

Your gecko also needs a temp gradient from cool to warm. I am not sure if you meant that is the temperature in the whole enclosure?

 

[Chaoskii]

That's on the warm side, he has his two sides, and then if I should be feeding him this much how do I take care of so many crickets? I have 2 cricket keepers, if I put more than 15 in each they start to die.

And if it changes anything, for the picture I had to turn off his lamp for a second and turn on the rooms light, and it was taken with my phone which has a crappy camera, he actually looks much more vibrant than that, the lighting and bad camera make him look dull. He shed about two nights ago.

 

[cricket4u]

That's on the warm side, he has his two sides, and then if I should be feeding him this much how do I take care of so many crickets? I have 2 cricket keepers, if I put more than 15 in each they start to die.

And if it changes anything, for the picture I had to turn off his lamp for a second and turn on the rooms light, and it was taken with my phone which has a crappy camera, he actually looks much more vibrant than that, the lighting and bad camera make him look dull. He shed about two nights ago.

His colors look fine, it's just his body condition. You may have to order the crickets on line instead. The large crickets are adults and will not live long. You can order a batch over the internet that can last at least a month if you buy medium size. They do poorly in small containers. It's very hard to keep them clean and they will die if overcrowded.

 

[Chaoskii]

So then where exactly can I buy these online?

 

[cricket4u]

So then where exactly can I buy these online?

There are many of sources on the internet. I breed my own, but in the past I have ordered them from here. Crickets

If they do not meet your needs you can just google it and several options will appear.

 

[Chaoskii]

There are many of sources on the internet. I breed my own, but in the past I have ordered them from here. Crickets

If they do not meet your needs you can just google it and several options will appear.

So if I was to order 500 1/2 inch how would I care for that many then?

 

[cricket4u]

So if I was to order 500 1/2 inch how would I care for that many then?

This is how I keep them and they do fine.

10 gallon tank (space is most important)
Start out with young healthy crickets
Eggs cartons in the center upright
Lots of ventilation
They must have a water source at all times
Right corner dry food~ left corner moisture
I noticed years ago that they do best with pure water on a paper towel. It must be changed daily to prevent bacteria. You can use another source of moisture as back-up.
Scoop the poop and any dead crickets daily. Some dollar stores sell 100 disposable gloves for $1.
vitamin enriched gutload

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

That's on the warm side, he has his two sides, and then if I should be feeding him this much how do I take care of so many crickets? I have 2 cricket keepers, if I put more than 15 in each they start to die.

And if it changes anything, for the picture I had to turn off his lamp for a second and turn on the rooms light, and it was taken with my phone which has a crappy camera, he actually looks much more vibrant than that, the lighting and bad camera make him look dull. He shed about two nights ago.

His colors look fine, it's just his body condition. You may have to order the crickets on line instead. The large crickets are adults and will not live long. You can order a batch over the internet that can last at least a month if you buy medium size. They do poorly in small containers. It's very hard to keep them clean and they will die if overcrowded.

So if I was to order 500 1/2 inch how would I care for that many then?

Try Fluker Farm's for crickets. They are one of the few remaining suppliers of Acheta domestica. I suggest their 3 wo size. They even may be able to send boxes of 250 crickets.

Check my primary leo caresheet (link now right in my signature) for recs on keeping crickets alive for even longer than 1 month! I have some 2 wos/3 wos which I bought from Fluker's on June 28th that are doing fine tonight, August 12th.

I use open 56 quart Sterilite tubs for my crickets.

I use two layers of egg carton and a paper towel on top which can be sprayed every other day or so depending upon temperature. The paper towels can be soaked in water and then squeezed out, then used.