Yet Another Poop Question
- Thread starter RobinAZ
- Start date
Elizabeth Freer
Well-known member
#99---Superworm & Mealworm Tips......acpart/Aliza (October 2014)"1. Keep the superworms and the mealworms at normal room temperatures. The refrigerator is too cool for them.
2. I keep both my mealworms and superworms in ground up grain bedding. I buy my ground up stuff from a USA supplier. In Europe you could do one of the following:
- get a variety of grain and cereal and put it in the blender (they can eat whole grains but it will be much easier for you to get them out of the bedding if the grain is ground up)
- OR buy some chicken feed
3. I feed superworms by dropping 1 at a time in front of the gecko. For a very reluctant gecko, I hold the gecko and gently poke the superworm at the mouth until it bites the worm. I have a gecko that rarely eats in the winter and a few years ago he was losing a lot of weight. I used a hypodermic needle to poke the superworm, got some of the guts on the end of the needle and poked it (gently) into the gecko's mouth. He didn't get much, but it did some good and he eventually started eating again. He's about to go into his annual winter fast, but he weighs 90 grams right now."
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PS by Elizabeth Freer
Diatomaceous Earth Alert: Some poultry/chicken feeds contain diatomaceous earth. Both Albers All Purpose Poultry Feed and Purina Layena Sunfresh Crumbles do NOT contain diatomaceous earth.
"Some chicken laying feeds contain diatomaceous earth as a natural antiparasitic for bird flocks. If ingested by insects, diatomaceous earth is fatal. The microscopic diatoms cut up their insides and cause a nasty death. It is also used topically for insect infestations as it will cut through exoskeletons or soft bodied worms and cause "bleed out." I have not read of anyone accidentally using a chicken feed with it in there and what effects it had on a colony of roaches/crickets/mealworms, et cetera, but I believe better safe than sorry and to warn people of it in case someone wants to use a different brand."
Quoted from hmarie186 -- 1 February 2015
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Elizabeth Freer
Well-known member
:yahoo:: What a relief! I'm sure Tyrion feels better now too. ;-)
I suggest feeding Tyrion all he will eat in about 15 minutes every day till he's about 1 yo. It's good to add variety to his diet with crickets. Here are some Cricket Guidelines: http://www.geckosunlimited.com/comm...feeding-issues-/68574-cricket-guidelines.html
PS
- Check the warning about diatomaceous earth right at the top of the Cricket Guidelines.
- Some keepers feed their crickets Zoo Med's Natural Adult Bearded Dragon Food. That might be a good diet for mealworms too.
Elizabeth Freer
Well-known member
You guys are totally welcome. Hope it's smooth sailing from here on out.
PS:
Re feeding schedule. You say Tyrion is an adult. How many inches? Would be nice to have a top down picture too.
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Elizabeth Freer
Well-known member
IF Tyrion is about 1 yo and about 7.5 inches total length, he could still be growing. A mature leo often has a little fatter tail. Usually leos put on most their growth during their first year. However, they still gain some weight and length till they are about 18 mo.
So, back to feeding frequency: Feeding every other day is fine or 3x per week. Just feed him all he will eat in about 15 minutes. If he still seems hungry, feed him a little more.
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RobinAZ
New member
I was noticing his tail isn't as fat as some of the adults I have seen. My husband thinks his tail has gotten thinner which concerns me, maybe I was under feeding him. He always seems hungry. He ate 8 mealworms last night and I gave him 4 this morning because he came running when I was cleaning up his poo. He's much more active than last week and very curious.
Elizabeth Freer
Well-known member
Keep increasing the size of his meals, Robin.
RobinAZ
New member
I've been feeding him every evening and he's eating 8-10 worms. I think when I go by worms today I might get a couple crickets for him to try. I hate crickets but hopefully they will let me just buy a couple and not a whole dozen. The meal worms are easier to keep and he loves them. Tyrion is getting so friendly. Now when I get up in the morning he comes out of his hide and comes to the front of his enclosure to look at me and I talk to him. I think he's just looking for food but it's cute.
Hey, how often should I expect shedding?
Hey, how often should I expect shedding?
RobinAZ
New member
Tyrion is now eating 12-15 meal worms every day. I think he'd eat more. He gobbles them right up. But if I gave him enough to eat in 15 minutes that would be way too much. I'm still feeding him every day and I notice he has filled out nicely and his tail is a little thicker. Gave him 4 crickets last weekend and he loved them. Might try dubia roaches next. My question now is - do I continue feeding him every day or should I go to every other day now? Or keep with daily feedings for a while. And I got a better measurement on him and he is 8". Mealies will be his main meal with crickets or roaches once a week or every other week.
Elizabeth Freer
Well-known member
How about a new picture?
Elizabeth Freer
Well-known member
I'd continue to feed Tyrion daily.