Butterworms

[GeckoManiac91]

So today I went out and bought some butterworms for the first time to feed my Leo and started wondering if I could try one with my 4 or 5month old Crestie. The worm is definitely small enough for her just wondering if they're safe. Sadly she won't even go near crickets but I would like her to get eating some more things other than just CGD and the occasional banana.
Thanks

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

Feeding butterworms to crested geckos: DON'T

Do NOT feed butterworms to crested geckos. Doing so has caused "burns"/irritations around crestie's mouth scales as well as on their snouts, perhaps from the butterworm guts oozing out.

See Elliot's butterworms:home page Elliot's Butterworms selling butterworms for petfood and fishing bait As we "speak" they are adding that caution to their site. :razz:

Cresties can eat mangos, for one. Other fruits too.

 

[cricket4u]

At your own risk.

butterworm caution -  BambooZoo

 

[GeckoManiac91]

I just wanted to know... Thanks

Wait, just to clarify, they're fine for Leo's right? If they are fine for them then what's on a crested geckos skin (or not on the geckos skin..) that causes them to get burned while other reptiles don't? :?

I shall not feed the butterworms to my Crestie then. Btw Elizabeth I have tried other fruits, bananas, mangos, pears, etc... I've never seen her eat, nor do I notice a huge indent in the food when I feed her however there's poop so that must mean something I would really love her to eat some live insects but she's just not interested at all! (I've only actually tried crickets)

 

[cricket4u]

I just wanted to know... Thanks

Wait, just to clarify, they're fine for Leo's right? If they are fine for them then what's on a crested geckos skin (or not on the geckos skin..) that causes them to get burned while other reptiles don't? :?

I shall not feed the butterworms to my Crestie then. Btw Elizabeth I have tried other fruits, bananas, mangos, pears, etc... I've never seen her eat, nor do I notice a huge indent in the food when I feed her however there's poop so that must mean something I would really love her to eat some live insects but she's just not interested at all! (I've only actually tried crickets)

I'm not sure, that's why I said at your own risk. I was successful with silkworms with one of the cresties I took care of. I'm not sure they will all eat them, but you can try. Can you take a picture of the enclosure and the gecko?

 

[GeckoManiac91]

I'm not sure, that's why I said at your own risk. I was successful with silkworms with one of the cresties I took care of. I'm not sure they will all eat them, but you can try. Can you take a picture of the enclosure and the gecko?

Ill skip on the butterworms, you and Elizabeth saying no was enough to put that idea to an end

Just to clarify, would you use them for Leopard Geckos? Have you? Is the whole burning thing still a risk to them?

I sure can post a picture. She's still in the Critter Keeper though. Ill try to upload it within the next 30minutes.

Thanks

 

[cricket4u]

Ill skip on the butterworms, you and Elizabeth saying no was enough to put that idea to an end

Just to clarify, would you use them for Leopard Geckos? Have you? Is the whole burning thing still a risk to them?

I sure can post a picture. She's still in the Critter Keeper though. Ill try to upload it within the next 30minutes.

Thanks

Yes, I do feed them to my leos, but only 1-2 every now and then. They're not a favorite for the leos.

She's still in the Critter Keeper though.

Just maybe that could be the reason she's so picky? I don't know how you can provide a good temp gradient in such a small area.

 

[GeckoManiac91]

Yes, I do feed them to my leos, but only 1-2 every now and then. They are not a favorite of the leos. I don't know how you can provide a good temp gradient in such a small area.

She's still in the Critter Keeper though.

Just maybe that could be the reason she's so picky?

Could be, I'm moving her into the 18x18x24 at the end of the month hopefully when she's larger. She's in the Critter Keeper based on the recommendations from Care Sheets I've read, people I've asked and Aimless on here

 

[CrestedRick]

If she wont touch crickets try dubia's. My girls love them!

 

[GeckoManiac91]

If she wont touch crickets try dubia's. My girls love them!

Can't do that sadly, roaches aren't aloud in Canada.

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

I just wanted to know... Thanks

Wait, just to clarify, they're fine for Leo's right? If they are fine for them then what's on a crested geckos skin (or not on the geckos skin..) that causes them to get burned while other reptiles don't? :?

I shall not feed the butterworms to my Crestie then. Btw Elizabeth I have tried other fruits, bananas, mangos, pears, etc... I've never seen her eat, nor do I notice a huge indent in the food when I feed her however there's poop so that must mean something I would really love her to eat some live insects but she's just not interested at all! (I've only actually tried crickets)

Late this afternoon Elliot also said No butterworms!. He suggested that cresties might have more sensitive skin than other reptiles. Don't know anyone who does know the reason why this damage happens. Did you read the Bamboo Zone link cricket4u posted?

Have you tried mashing up the fruit or cutting it into small chunks? Maybe she's hooked on CGD? (Things could be worse like waxies :razz:.)

My female leo Cha tried a few butterworms in June 2012. Not a favorite of hers either like cricket4u has mentioned.

 

[GeckoManiac91]

Late this afternoon Elliot also said No butterworms!. He suggested that cresties might have more sensitive skin than other reptiles. Don't know anyone who does know the reason why this damage happens. Did you read the Bamboo Zone link cricket4u posted?

Have you tried mashing up the fruit or small chunks? Maybe she's hooked on CGD? (Things could be worse like waxies :razz:.)

My female leo Cha tried few butterworms in June 2012. Not a favorite of hers either like cricket4u has mentioned.

I did read the link
She has eaten mashed up fruit so I don't think she's just addicted to CGD. I think it's cuz she was never fed live food (such as crickets) when she was younger so she has no interest in them, could this be why?

I fed the butterworm to my Leo tonight and she gobbled it up Same with the Silk Worm I gave her tonight. I'm trying to find more feeders to create more variety. Next on the list is Phoenix worms!

 

[cricket4u]

I was heading to bed, seeing double, but wanted to mention one more thing. Is this your first crestie? I'm just a little concerned in regards to the fruits. If a person is not experienced, they can pick out fruits that are very unbalanced. You don't want to run into calcium deficiency. Make sure to look at a nutritional chart. I think Elizabeth has one?

 

[GeckoManiac91]

I was heading to bed, seeing double, but wanted to mention one more thing. Is this your first crestie? I'm just a little concerned in regards to the fruits. If a person is not experienced, they can pick out fruits that are very unbalanced. Make sure to look at a nutritional chart. I think Elizabeth has one?

It is my first Crestie :? Any fruit I've used has been from the grocery store... Is this bad? Oh no!?

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

I did read the link
She has eaten mashed up fruit so I don't think she's just addicted to CGD. I think it's cuz she was never fed live food (such as crickets) when she was younger so she has no interest in them, could this be why?

I fed the butterworm to my Leo tonight and she gobbled it up Same with the Silk Worm I gave her tonight. I'm trying to find more feeders to create more variety. Next on the list is Phoenix worms!

Good to hear that you are trying varied diets for your geckos :biggrin:. Phoenix/calciworms are 3/4 inch max. Sometimes leos like them for awhile. Then they will not eat any more.

Hornworms are often a big hit with leos. Buy very small ones. Must be kept in a Playmate (or such) insulated cooler (or a wine cooler) at about 55 F to slow their humongous growth. So this involves monitoring with a thermometer and changing out a cold pack 2x daily. Hornworms come in a deli cup with their own food which lasts about one month.

Since your crestie was not fed crickets when she was younger, that could very well be why she is not interested in them now. Sometimes when switching a crestie over to crickets one needs to practice "tough love" and figure if you withhold the CGD for not too long a time crickets will eventually be consumed.

 

[GeckoManiac91]

Good to hear that you are trying varied diets for your geckos :biggrin:. Phoenix/calciworms are 3/4 inch max. Sometimes leos like them for awhile. Then they will not eat any more.

Hornworms are often a big hit with leos. Buy very small ones. Must be kept in a Playmate (or such) insulated cooler or a wine cooler at about 55 F. Hornworms come in a deli cup with their own food which lasts about one month.

Sometimes when switching a crestie over to crickets one needs to practice "tough love" and figure if you withhold the CGD for not too long a time crickets will eventually be consumed.

Yes, hornworms have been the main varied feeder I've used, sadly they're not always at the pet-store I go to and if they are they're usually HUGE and too big One thing with the hornworms, normally I only buy 5 or 6 at a time and keep them in the fridge (Like my mealies), is this alright?

I've debated the whole "tough love" thing. She is growing weight so slowly (I think) and I feel crickets would put some good healthy weight on her I've tried crickets not dusted, dusted with calcium and dusted with CGD.
I'm going to try again in a week or so and if still nothing then I may try the "tough love"

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

Yes, hornworms have been the main varied feeder I've used, sadly they're not always at the pet-store I go to and if they are they're usually HUGE and too big One thing with the hornworms, normally I only buy 5 or 6 at a time and keep them in the fridge (Like my mealies), is this alright?

I've debated the whole "tough love" thing. She is growing weight so slowly (I think) and I feel crickets would put some good healthy weight on her I've tried crickets not dusted, dusted with calcium and dusted with CGD.
I'm going to try again in a week or so and if still nothing then I may try the "tough love"

Getting 5-6 hornworms at a time sounds really good when you only have 1 leo. I did not have that option. Did they stay alive alright when you kept them in the refrigerator?

Are you feeding the crickets free-range to your crestie? Don't know whether it might help to cut off the back legs at the knees to slow the crickets down. Have you tried maybe waiting 3 days so that you have a good feeding response?

 

[GeckoManiac91]

Getting 5-6 hornworms at a time sounds really good when you only have 1 leo. I did not have that option. Did they stay alive alright when you kept them in the refrigerator?

Are you feeding the crickets free-range to your crestie? Don't know whether it might help to cut off the back legs at the knees to slow the crickets down. Have you tried maybe waiting 3 days so that you have a good feeding response?

Yeah, they survived quite nicely actually

I tried the whole cutting legs off thing as well, she won't even look at the cricket, even if I hold it right in front of her nose

So you suggest taking away the food for three days then trying crickets? If I don't get a positive response should I put the CGD back in?

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

If you find small enough hornworms, you might try those with your crestie.

Click right here:
http://www.geckosunlimited.com/comm...feeding-issues/68585-hornworm-guidelines.html

 

[GeckoManiac91]

If you get small enough hornworms, you might try those with your crestie.

Click right here:
http://www.geckosunlimited.com/comm...-feeding-issues/68585-hornworm-guidelines.html

The smallest hornworms I've been able to get are certainly to big for my Crestie.
The link did not work btw :?