Leopard geckos won't usually overeat, most of the time the reason they get overweight is because they've been getting too many waxworms, etc. Just let him eat as much as he wants! When he grows older, you'll probably notice he won't be as interested in food every day :3
Hello!
- Thread starter Smaug_The_Gecko
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Leopard geckos won't usually overeat, most of the time the reason they get overweight is because they've been getting too many waxworms, etc. Just let him eat as much as he wants! When he grows older, you'll probably notice he won't be as interested in food every day :3
Smaug_The_Gecko
New member
I know we're not supposed to handle silkworms but they're covered and surrounded by poop. I'm doing my best to tranfer them without reintroing poop and it's not going well... *sigh*
Elizabeth Freer
Well-known member
This may help. Have you some rubber gloves?
Click here: http://www.geckosunlimited.com/comm...feeding-issues/68584-silkworm-guidelines.html
Smaug_The_Gecko
New member
Yeah I have that link bookmarked! :biggrin:
I'm looking it over and I'm using tongs and transferring them one at a time. Some of them are too big for my gecko. Should I just toss them?
Elizabeth Freer
Well-known member
Perhaps birds in Kentucky would go for the larger silkies?
Smaug_The_Gecko
New member
Yeah!
They were really really hungry I'm glad I got them today because they probably would have started dying by Friday.
He really loves his silkworms I could have taken a picture today but I didn't have my camera with me!
After I had a good experience with him coming out of cave this morning, I dropped in one silkworm and waited. He did come out and eat! I dropped another and another and he ate all 5 in front of me. He really wanted to eat a silkie number 6 but he stomach needs to grow a little bigger I think. It was funny because he stared at it for 10-15 seconds before he decided it probably wasn't a good idea to hork that last silkworm.
He has more self control than I do.
They were really really hungry I'm glad I got them today because they probably would have started dying by Friday.
He really loves his silkworms I could have taken a picture today but I didn't have my camera with me!
After I had a good experience with him coming out of cave this morning, I dropped in one silkworm and waited. He did come out and eat! I dropped another and another and he ate all 5 in front of me. He really wanted to eat a silkie number 6 but he stomach needs to grow a little bigger I think. It was funny because he stared at it for 10-15 seconds before he decided it probably wasn't a good idea to hork that last silkworm.
He has more self control than I do.
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Smaug_The_Gecko
New member
Hey everyone! Finally got some photos of the little monster.
After luring out with half a dozen vitamin dusted Mealworms this morning I snapped these.
Sorry they're so blurry and awful :sorry:
After luring out with half a dozen vitamin dusted Mealworms this morning I snapped these.
Sorry they're so blurry and awful :sorry:
Smaug_The_Gecko
New member
I realize this thread is turning into more of a blog? I was trying to see how I could create a blog on this site but I may not have access to that option.
Last night I put in about 8-10 crickets in the enclosure and this morning they were gone after I checked. I walked away and as usual Smaug came out to see if I had put any more treats in there. "Nope, sorry, I'm busy with the dog." I was getting all bundled up and he was just standing in the entrance of the cave waiting and watching me.
So I decided after I got back from outside I would put my hand in the cage while he ate some silkworms. I put in one and he came out with my hand on the floor. He ate and then went back into the cave. Then I put in three more, one very close. I'm really surprised at how close he came given his "shying violet" behavior. Finally, I put in two more. He ate one, but then went to the back of this cave.
Thinking he was done, I took my tongs to attempt to remove the uneaten. But then he quickly hurried to get it. He wanted that one! I let the worm drop but didn't remove my hand while he ate it right there.
I had a vision of his eating out of my hand some day. If this keeps up, yeah I think so. I'll keep working with him, little by little..
Last night I put in about 8-10 crickets in the enclosure and this morning they were gone after I checked. I walked away and as usual Smaug came out to see if I had put any more treats in there. "Nope, sorry, I'm busy with the dog." I was getting all bundled up and he was just standing in the entrance of the cave waiting and watching me.
So I decided after I got back from outside I would put my hand in the cage while he ate some silkworms. I put in one and he came out with my hand on the floor. He ate and then went back into the cave. Then I put in three more, one very close. I'm really surprised at how close he came given his "shying violet" behavior. Finally, I put in two more. He ate one, but then went to the back of this cave.
Thinking he was done, I took my tongs to attempt to remove the uneaten. But then he quickly hurried to get it. He wanted that one! I let the worm drop but didn't remove my hand while he ate it right there.
I had a vision of his eating out of my hand some day. If this keeps up, yeah I think so. I'll keep working with him, little by little..
Sounds like he's doing great! He'll just get more and more used to you as time goes on :> My youngest gecko, Eclair, was absolutely terrified of us and we had real trouble whenever we had to get her out for weighing, etc. About 2-3 months later, she'll go up to the glass and rub her face against it until someone comes and gets her and then she'll climb all over us and just have a great time. Patience pays off :3
Smaug_The_Gecko
New member
Thanks a lot!
I'm adding dubia roaches to the rotation. I'm not sure how long this feeding frenzy will last but its a golden opportunity in both taming and nutrition. So far I haven't seen a healthy young gecko that is reported to be eating this much this often. (Currently two full meals twice every day.) I think I was right to compare him to the pictures and conclude that he was underweight.
His poops are fully normal, no sign of any respiratory discomfort and no throwing up. Even though I'm not weighing him yet he's visually getting a little paunch and his tail seems thicker at the base. (I realize its important to weigh my gecko but at this rate he'll be tame enough for a weighing in a couple more weeks. So I'm thinking it's okay to wait...).
I'm planning on just using my kitchen scale. It's been a pretty accurate measure for me. Is this okay?
I'm adding dubia roaches to the rotation. I'm not sure how long this feeding frenzy will last but its a golden opportunity in both taming and nutrition. So far I haven't seen a healthy young gecko that is reported to be eating this much this often. (Currently two full meals twice every day.) I think I was right to compare him to the pictures and conclude that he was underweight.
His poops are fully normal, no sign of any respiratory discomfort and no throwing up. Even though I'm not weighing him yet he's visually getting a little paunch and his tail seems thicker at the base. (I realize its important to weigh my gecko but at this rate he'll be tame enough for a weighing in a couple more weeks. So I'm thinking it's okay to wait...).
I'm planning on just using my kitchen scale. It's been a pretty accurate measure for me. Is this okay?
As long as the scale goes down to 10 grams and is accurate in grams, it'll be fine
Smaug_The_Gecko
New member
Ah the smallest increment it has is 25 grams. What do you use?
I put my hand in among the food tonight and that was really pushing it. He ate half the mealworms and then went away back into his hide with food still left out. So I moved my hand so it would be out of sight of the entrance of the hide and put a few of the remaining mealworms in the entrance. He came out again and ate the rest, seemingly avoiding the one that was between him and my hand.
He could have just left it but he did approach my hand and take the mealworm, swallowed it, then he returned to the hide. But he was very, very tense.
I put my hand in among the food tonight and that was really pushing it. He ate half the mealworms and then went away back into his hide with food still left out. So I moved my hand so it would be out of sight of the entrance of the hide and put a few of the remaining mealworms in the entrance. He came out again and ate the rest, seemingly avoiding the one that was between him and my hand.
He could have just left it but he did approach my hand and take the mealworm, swallowed it, then he returned to the hide. But he was very, very tense.
Elizabeth Freer
Well-known member
Baby steps are working for you in taming Smaug. :banana:
I use an analog dietetic scale from a long time ago.
Have a digital one I've not used yet.
Check out digital food scales that weigh in grams. Check how accurate each is.
I use an analog dietetic scale from a long time ago.
Have a digital one I've not used yet.Check out digital food scales that weigh in grams. Check how accurate each is.
I just got like a random $7 digital scale off amazon
Smaug_The_Gecko
New member
I figured I pushed him out of his comfort zone yesterday and it looks like I was right. He's annoyed with me. Back to playing Peekaboo and being coy. It's a weird See-saw. He came out when I put the silkworms into the enclosure, ate one, pulled one into the hide and ate it there, then refused to come out until I backed away and even then refused to eat until I turned the light out.
Do geckos get moody?
Do geckos get moody?
Sometimes, yeah. It probably has to do with how warm they are, how much they've slept, whether they're currently digesting, etc. Some days when we get Donut out he is just super grumpy. He'll try to wriggle out of our hands and croak/click unprovokedly. When he's being such a grumpy butt, I'll put him back in and try the next day :>
Smaug_The_Gecko
New member
I'll check the temps and try again tomorrow. I wish my thermostat was here.
Elizabeth Freer
Well-known member
Any day now, I hope!
I'm awaiting some cool gecko fleece. Of course not time-sensitive, but it seems like I ordered it moons ago.
Smaug_The_Gecko
New member
This morning I woke up and rolled out of bed and Smaug dashed out of his enclosure as though to say "Good morning, Food!"
He only -- only! -- ate 3 silkworms last night because he was in such a funk and it appears he'd been famished all night long... poor baby (That's sarcasm if you didn't pick that up.)
But doggy comes first. I set out some mealworms to make them warm and wriggly and when I got back and dusted them lightly with some calcium and we picked up where we left off.
He ate 10 with me standing over the enclosure and my hand dangling in it within view. I also discovered an escapee cricket and managed to catch it and take off a few legs and toss it into the hide. It was quickly eaten.
Not sure what the deal was last night but he got over it when he was hungry enough.
He only -- only! -- ate 3 silkworms last night because he was in such a funk and it appears he'd been famished all night long... poor baby (That's sarcasm if you didn't pick that up.)
But doggy comes first. I set out some mealworms to make them warm and wriggly and when I got back and dusted them lightly with some calcium and we picked up where we left off.
He ate 10 with me standing over the enclosure and my hand dangling in it within view. I also discovered an escapee cricket and managed to catch it and take off a few legs and toss it into the hide. It was quickly eaten.
Not sure what the deal was last night but he got over it when he was hungry enough.