Rattlegecko114
New member
Hi I just got a juvinal Leo and I feed it mealworms and crickets and I was wondering how much and how often should I feed him.
My new Leo
- Thread starter Rattlegecko114
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Young leos should be fed every day, as much as they'll eat within a 15 minute period. I always leave some mealworms in for my youngest, in addition to offering roaches every day or so (she is reaching adulthood though, so she usually only eats roaches every 2-3 days)
Rattlegecko114
New member
Thank and what are some of the sighs of them shedding.
They usually don't eat the day before shedding. On shed-day they'll be super-white! It's really fun when you get to see them shed but a lot of the time they'll do it inside their most hide. Depending on the colour of your gecko, you may see them go lighter/more grey a couple days beforehand. My oldest is a normal so it's really easy to tell when he's about to shed while my youngest is a blizzard. Only way we can tell she's about to shed is the skin in her "armpits" goes very wrinkly and kinda loose
Rattlegecko114
New member
Thanks I was wondering because my leo was staying in his humid hide a lot.
It may not be shedding, it may just be that that's where the temps are best for him at the moment, or that he's thirsty (they use moist hides for hydration as well as shedding). He may also be switching around to other hides when you're not looking/not around, it's just that he's there when you are looking.
Yeah both of mine spend most of their time in their moist hides. Just really comfy I guess!
Rattlegecko114
New member
Thanks that's good to know I just stumbled upon this forum looking for facts about how to take care of them stuff that they do and reasons that they might not eat because I know that when there moved around that they won't eat for awhile but I guess that I got lucky because the first day I had him I offered him food and he took it right away.
Rattlegecko114
New member
My gecko just shredded last night and now she refuses mealworms but not crickets should I be worried.
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GeckoGuy2142
New member
I wouldn't be too worried. Check for any signs of stuck shed and monitor her food intake, but she is probably recovering.
And welcome to GeckosUnlimited. This site has been incredibly helpful for me and I recommend staying around and learning all you can from the experienced members here.
Rattlegecko114
New member
Thanks she's been eating like she normally wound
Elizabeth Freer
Well-known member
A warm welcome to Geckos Unlimited. :biggrin:
Rattlegecko114
New member
Can i use a house hold heating pad for my gecko because my day light lamp went out when I turned it on
Elizabeth Freer
Well-known member
I'd say no to a household heating pad.
Reliable brands of UTHs (under tank heat mats) are Flukers or Ultratherm. They can be repositioned if necessary. Get one about 1/2 the floor space of your vivarium.
Hook it up to a Hydrofarm thermostat and you'll almost be set.
Rattlegecko114
New member
Um I just ran out of mealworms but I'm getting some very soon but I looked at my leo feces and it was solid but around one end it was watery a little bit
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Elizabeth Freer
Well-known member
You may be commenting about gecko urine?
Next time your leo poops, how about posting a photo?
A healthy feces should be solid, brownish, and the size of a couple tic tac breath mints. Usually one end is white. That's call the urates.
May I ask what you're feeding the crickets and the mealworms prior to giving them to your leo?
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Rattlegecko114
New member
Thanks how do you setup a reptile heating pad
Elizabeth Freer
Well-known member
Depending upon the size of your enclosure, many of us recommend an UTH that is 1/2 the size of the base.
Buy a restickable pad (Flukers or Ultratherm), so that you'll be able to reposition it. Just stick it underneath the tank with heat resistant aluminum tape.
The reptile heating pads that come with adhesive (like Zoo Med's) are NOT restickable because the internal wiring can become damaged when they are removed.