Butterworms

[Elizabeth Freer]

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?

Just curious on how long you kept the hornworms in the refrigerator?

You're feeding the crestie daily now? Yes, try withholding the food for 3 days and see.

I like your ideas about dusting her prey with CGD or nothing. Sometimes geckos are not fond of Zoo Med's Reptivite :razz:.

Just make certain to keep her hydrated via spraying.

(I just replaced that broken link above.)

 

[GeckoManiac91]

Just curious on how long you kept the hornworms in the refrigerator?

You're feeding the crestie daily now? Yes, try withholding the food for 3 days and see.

I like your ideas about dusting her prey with CGD or nothing. Sometimes geckos are not fond of Zoo Med's Reptivite :razz:

Just make certain to keep her hydrated via spraying.

I buy them and feed them the day I get them so they're really only in the fridge for 5 or 6hours. If you like I will buy some extra when I head to the pet-store tomorrow and see how long they'll last in the fridge? I keep them in the fridge with a slice of potatoe for moisture mainly (Pet stores recommendation).

I shall try the "tough love" idea! For the next three days my little girl will have to starve Hehe.
I mist every night and my humidity never gets below 55.

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

I buy them and feed them the day I get them so they're really only in the fridge for 5 or 6hours. If you like I will buy some extra when I head to the pet-store tomorrow and see how long they'll last in the fridge? I keep them in the fridge with a slice of potatoe for moisture mainly (Pet stores recommendation).

I shall try the "tough love" idea! For the next three days my little girl will have to starve Hehe.
I mist every night and my humidity never gets below 55.

Thanks for your offer, GM91 ;-). No need to do that. Both places I've purchased hornworms (show & online) have suggested that 55 F is a good temp at which to keep the hornworms. Refrigerators are much cooler.

Keep this thread updated with your "tough love" progress. (Do I need to ask? :idea

 

[GeckoManiac91]

Thanks for your offer, GM91 ;-). No need to do that. Both places (show & online) have suggested that 55 F is a good temp at which to keep the hornworms. Refrigerators are much cooler.

Keep this thread updated with your "tough love" progress. (Do I need to ask? :idea

Awweh No one takes advantage of my research abilities Hehe.

I shall of course keep this updated! Thank you Elizabeth and Cricket, helpful as always

 

[CrestedRick]

Aw bummer, sorry to hear that.

 

[Aimless]

so I would offer a different perspective here. the concern is with your crestie growing slowly, right? I would not wait 3 days for her to get hungry. I would, however, back off to every other day on her CGD.

can you post a picture of her CK? I have found that young cresties do very well in a small enclosure (vary the temperature with the ambient; it's not necessary for a specific gradient within the cage itself). however, there are two things that will cause very slow growth:
1. she's not eating much because she doesn't feel safe. she needs lots of cover and safe access to her food. she also needs to be in a place that's not active and noisy all the time. things that seem like background to you (radio, TV, computer games, lots of light, closeness to a window, other curious pets, etc) will be frightening to your gecko and reduce her appetite from stress.
2. she needs to be a little bit warmer. warmth = metabolism. just be careful not to get her too warm (monitor the temps carefully) and, as Elizabeth said, make sure she stays hydrated.

 

[CrestedRick]

Agreed^ (aimless, we really have to stop meeting like this lol). I feed my cresties either right before I go to sleep or when I know I will be out of my room for a few hours.

 

[GeckoManiac91]

so I would offer a different perspective here. the concern is with your crestie growing slowly, right? I would not wait 3 days for her to get hungry. I would, however, back off to every other day on her CGD.

can you post a picture of her CK? I have found that young cresties do very well in a small enclosure (vary the temperature with the ambient; it's not necessary for a specific gradient within the cage itself). however, there are two things that will cause very slow growth:
1. she's not eating much because she doesn't feel safe. she needs lots of cover and safe access to her food. she also needs to be in a place that's not active and noisy all the time. things that seem like background to you (radio, TV, computer games, lots of light, closeness to a window, other curious pets, etc) will be frightening to your gecko and reduce her appetite from stress.
2. she needs to be a little bit warmer. warmth = metabolism. just be careful not to get her too warm (monitor the temps carefully) and, as Elizabeth said, make sure she stays hydrated.

I will try to post pictures later, my computers acting up She is feed and kept in a very quite place where the temperatures stay around 75 or 77 and usually drops to 71 or so at night. I've been feeding her CGD every night. You suggest putting it in one night, taking it out the next, putting it in the following night, etc.. Right? When should I try to introduce crickets into that equation?

I've had her for about a month and a half, when I first got her she was 4grams and now she's 5 and a half. It did however take her a week or so to start eating (which I know is normal) but now she's coming out a lot more and I even caught her eating last night!! She's really starting to calm down quite a bit!

Anyways, I will try to post pictures of her and her CK tonight, I will steal my mothers computer :coverlaugh:
The CK measures 10x6x7 and includes a coconut hide and lots of coverage.

Thanks guys

 

[Aimless]

if she's gained weight in the 6 weeks you've had her, she's fine. she might grow faster if you could make her eat bugs, but then the attempts might just stress her out

I put diet in every other day with mine, and leave the dish til I swap it out. some geckos like it a little more moist, some like the diet a little drier so this gives choice. on the off-day the misting will re-hydrate it if it's too dry. I wouldn't go more than ~48 hours or things get bacteria and mold and stuff, but 2 days is fine.

eh, I'd just put some crickets in once a week and see if she takes them. if she doesn't, make sure to remove the crickets before they feed on her. she'll eat them or she won't, but if in ~ a month of eating well at the new place she's gained 1.5 grams, I suspect she's fine and will catch up soon.

 

[GeckoManiac91]

if she's gained weight in the 6 weeks you've had her, she's fine. she might grow faster if you could make her eat bugs, but then the attempts might just stress her out

I put diet in every other day with mine, and leave the dish til I swap it out. some geckos like it a little more moist, some like the diet a little drier so this gives choice. on the off-day the misting will re-hydrate it if it's too dry. I wouldn't go more than ~48 hours or things get bacteria and mold and stuff, but 2 days is fine.

eh, I'd just put some crickets in once a week and see if she takes them. if she doesn't, make sure to remove the crickets before they feed on her. she'll eat them or she won't, but if in ~ a month of eating well at the new place she's gained 1.5 grams, I suspect she's fine and will catch up soon.

Perfect! Thanks Aimless! While you're here, when do you suggest I move her into her larger 18x18x24 enclosure? Like at what weight?

 

[Aimless]

what size is her CK? it will help when you can post pics.
some are fully grown in a year; some it takes 2 1/5 years. that's a big cage, though, so not "soon". I'd say probably about 10 grams; that's when mine usually get more adult-ish accommodations. but then I keep them in the largest size of CK until then.

 

[CrestedRick]

Weight doesnt play much of a roll, i moved mine when they were about 8monthes. I made my decision based on how well they climbed and adjusted to being up high.

 

[GeckoManiac91]

what size is her CK? it will help when you can post pics.
some are fully grown in a year; some it takes 2 1/5 years. that's a big cage, though, so not "soon". I'd say probably about 10 grams; that's when mine usually get more adult-ish accommodations. but then I keep them in the largest size of CK until then.

Here is the one I have:

Medium Exo Terra Faunarium Critter Keeper
Would a bigger one be better?

I will post pictures tonight just hopefully giving you a reference of size.
She will be approximately 6months at the end of September just so ya know.

@CrestedRick
She can climb very well and she loves being up high, I just thought it had to do with them being so small and not being able to find their food in larger encsolure?

 

[CrestedRick]

Ya that plays a part, but as they get older they get smarter (hopefully lol). Give her a couple of months and then put her in a bigger enclosure, she will find the food if shes hungry, i promise you that.

 

[GeckoManiac91]

Here are two pictures, couldn't get a good picture of her by myself because she's so jumpy!
Sorry for the poor quality

 

[Aimless]

that's pretty much exactly how I keep my juvies/babies and, if you're putting enough CGD in that dish to cover the bottom, she won't clean her plate til she gets a little bigger. no worries there.

 

[GeckoManiac91]

that's pretty much exactly how I keep my juvies/babies and, if you're putting enough CGD in that dish to cover the bottom, she won't clean her plate til she gets a little bigger. no worries there.

Thank you Aimless I'm going to try some crickets again tonight! Should I continue with the whole dusting with CGD or what? I thought it was a pretty smart idea because she'll be attracted to the scent :biggrin:

 

[Aimless]

sure, whatever works.

 

[GeckoManiac91]

So.. An update. Tonight I left her in a dark, quite room with two crickets dusted lightly with the CGD. After an hour and a half or so I came back and sadly.. No bites The crickets were right in front of her nose when I came to check on her but she didn't "pounce". So I don't think she's scared of them or anything just not interested at all.
So I suppose I will just provide variety with fruit and what not What sort of fruit would you recommend Aimless? Normally I've just been using fruit from the grocery store that is just a little slightly spoiled and mushing it up.
I also have access to different flavours of the CGD, should I try those?
How about these Zoo-Med Tropical Fruit Mix-ins?
http://zoomed.com/db/products/EntryDetail.php?EntryID=291&DatabaseID=2&SearchID=5

On a positive note she's been coming out A LOT more and her activity level has increased greatly. She stills runs off to hide whenever I open her CK but hey, progress has been made! :biggrin:

 

[Aimless]

what fruit would I recommend? that's a tough question. every gecko is different. I also only give fruit as an occasional treat - as it isn't properly supplemented with minerals and you can't gutload it.

my geckos like sweet mango, banana, and peaches. they didn't seem to care about blueberries, but will try a little strawberry or blackberry if I put it in their dish.