`Do I have a correct list of what my leopard gecko will need?

[JessJohnson87]

If dubias escape, they won't survive very long with the weather where you live.

Superworms are fine and they're easy to breed. You set them up like you would mealworms and they can not go in the fridge, it will kill them.

Breeding Superworms: A guide to raising and breeding superworms - Gecko Time - Gecko Time <---some reading material.

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

Today he only ate 1 cricket! I don't know what could be causing him to eat such little. We are getting crickets tomorrow and I'll try the other pet store and see if they are different types of crickets then the first pet store. Sometimes I take the hide out since crickets get under them a lot, but he acts like he doesn't like it when I do that. When I take the hide out sometimes he goes to the other hide and (idk if its because its see-through- but he pushes it around from inside. I hear people's geckos eating like 5-8 crickets but Flynn probably only ate up to 5 once since I got him.

Tomorrow I'll try to ask the person I got him from if that is his normal behavior.

Find out what kind of crickets each store carries. Some crickets are really mean and will bite geckos! Acheta domesticus (gentle brown) crickets are the very best kind.

In order to have a good feeding response, Flynn needs to be hungry. If he pigs out on mealies on Saturday, then he won't eat as many crickets on Monday.

Roaches are a no from my parents. They don't want them to get out of control/escape. I feed like this currently:

YES
Monday-crickets
Thursday-crickets
saturday-mealworms

I don't know that much about breeding superworms, but I saw some in one of the pet shops near me. Are they too unhealthy if I switch like for example, thursday-crickets to thursday-superworms? then the schedule would be like

NO
Monday-crickets
thursday-superworms
saturday-mealworms

If that would work he might like that better since he would catch them easier, but would it be worth it?

Click: http://www.geckotime.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/table-large.png

/\ Did you see that chart? Mealworms contain 2x more fat than crickets. Superworms contain even more fat than mealworms.

I don't think it's a good idea to feed more worms than crickets or roaches, if the values on this chart are accurate. Not much research is done on feeders, because it's expensive. At least Mark's research is independent. He's not selling bugs or worms!

The only thing I don't know is what food the worms were fed in Mark Finke's study.

 

[logan1234]

Today I went to the pet store and I bought crickets from pet supplies plus this time. I asked her before I read this about super worms added into the diet, and she said it was fine. But you have evidence that they are worse. I just figured since they are bigger then meal worms it would be not as bad if you fed less superworms then mealworms. She said she babied him when she had him, so that might be why he isn't a good hunter. She also said its normal for him to eat 3-4 crickets. I think she may of just fed him by tong/hand feed a good bit.

I got him a new dish today and I'll see if the crickets can't get out of this one, but be low enough for him to see them. He could see them in the other dish, but only through it so he kept biting at the side of the dish.

--EDIT---

She said the reason his head is different shaped is because of protein.

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

Nice that you found some answers! I hope the new dish works better for Flynn's crickets.

According to the Feeder Chart I shared, I would stay with crickets for 2 out of 3 feedings.

Maybe Flynn was just born with his uniquely shaped head.

 

[logan1234]

The dish is a large zilla. (The red bean-shaped dish)

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

Logan ~

How well are your crickets eating the Zoo Med beardie pellets?

If not very well, try grinding them in a spice/coffee grinder or putting the pellets in a bag and pounding them with a hammer.

I grind all the Zoo Med beardie pellets for my younger crickets. Now I'm going to grind the pellets for all the crickets.

 

[logan1234]

They are doing fine with the bearded dragon food I think. When we got the crickets from another place they scattered crushed/sand-like almost bearded dragon food on the bottom of the cage. I'll check with these crickets tomorrow and tell you if they are doing the same/If the dish is emptier.

I fed him 1-2 more mealworms since he only ate 1 cricket last week. He only ate 1 cricket today and didn't seem interested that much before or after. He wouldn't go for the bowl when I showed them to him so I tried hand feeding/tong feeding, but like I said, he only ate 1 cricket (from tong/hand feeding).

Would It be okay for me to cut down to 6 mealworms and see if he would start eating 3-4 crickets instead of 1 again? (This is the second time he only ate 1 in the past 2 cricket feedings. He may be used to getting fed worms from his previous owner. Or it may be the winter weather, it was snowing outside earlier, if that affects anything.

---------------------EDIT-------------
I forgot to add some pictures of flynn laying on his hammock resting. Cute

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

I fed him 1-2 more mealworms since he only ate 1 cricket last week. He only ate 1 cricket today and didn't seem interested that much before or after. He wouldn't go for the bowl when I showed them to him so I tried hand feeding/tong feeding, but like I said, he only ate 1 cricket (from tong/hand feeding).

Would It be okay for me to cut down to 6 mealworms and see if he would start eating 3-4 crickets instead of 1 again? (This is the second time he only ate 1 in the past 2 cricket feedings. He may be used to getting fed worms from his previous owner. Or it may be the winter weather, it was snowing outside earlier, if that affects anything.

Cute pics!

The more Flynn eats mealworms, the less he will eat crickets. His stomach should not be very big.

This is exactly what I'd do: cut down to 6 mealworms and see if he would start eating 3-4 crickets instead of 1. That's less fat.

 

[logan1234]

I got mealworms today and I cleaned out the bin. I keep the mealworms and beetles in the same bin. But when I was cleaning it out I saw the ground-up like oats was moving some. I looked at it and there was tiny mealworms in it. Should I just put the ground up oats in the bin with the mealworms and beetles so the mealworms won't get thrown away? If I don't do this I might not be getting any mealworms.

Extra info: When I buy large mealworms at the store they are generally smaller then what I have leftover once I buy new, but these were realllllly tiny.

---EDIT---

Would It work if I just strained all the ground up oats/frass out when I change oats and put them in another container for the baby mealworms to grow and for the eggs in thereto hatch? I would also put carrots in the frass with a little bit of oats mixed in for the food/hydration.

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

I got mealworms today and I cleaned out the bin. I keep the mealworms and beetles in the same bin. But when I was cleaning it out I saw the ground-up like oats was moving some. I looked at it and there was tiny mealworms in it. Should I just put the ground up oats in the bin with the mealworms and beetles so the mealworms won't get thrown away? If I don't do this I might not be getting any mealworms.

Extra info: When I buy large mealworms at the store they are generally smaller then what I have leftover once I buy new, but these were realllllly tiny.

---EDIT---

Would It work if I just strained all the ground up oats/frass out when I change oats and put them in another container for the baby mealworms to grow and for the eggs in thereto hatch? I would also put carrots in the frass with a little bit of oats mixed in for the food/hydration.

:cheer: You're way ahead of me, Logan! I just started my first mealworm culture on Jan 13th. I bought two 6 quart Sterilite containers.

A strainer is an excellent idea! I'll link the one Hilde uses with all the details she posted.

Hilde: On separating the casings from the mealworms

"I use one of these: Amazon.com - Polder 6631-75 Stainless-Steel Sink Strainer with Extending Rubber-Grip Arms - Colanders

"Place the strainer in a tub (I use a drawer from one of my storage racks), then dump the whole mess, mealworms and substrate, in there. The strainer can sit in the tub, or extend the side grips to let it hang. Shake it a bit to let the substrate and small worms fall through. Larger worms and the castings will stay put. I do this outside if possible, since it gets a bit dusty. Next just blow air over the strainer to blow the castings out.

"The larger worms go into a new raising container. The smaller ones that fell through with the substrate go back to the original container, with some fresh substrate added to the old. Trying to separate small ones tends to kill them, so I leave them until they're big enough to get trapped in the strainer. It also allows any eggs to hatch, no use wasting them by pitching them out with the substrate. As long as there aren't any beetles to lay more eggs, it generally takes about 2 cleanings to get the worms big enough to separate out completely, leaving only the old substrate which can then be pitched.

"Big worms get can get fresh substrate the same way, strain out the old, blow the casings out, and return them to the container with fresh substrate."

 

[logan1234]

When Flynn ate today, he didn't seem interested in going to the bowl. I tong fed him since that was how he was "babied" when his old owner had him. He ate 4-5 crickets! 1 cricket escaped unfortunately. I was taking it to the tank and he squirmed out of my fingers. lol.

I wasn't going to check in his warm hide like I normally don't, but a cricket hid in there like usual. He pooped in his warm hide. Is there any reason for him to do that? It might of been in there a while since I don't usually check his warm hide. And the paper towels didn't get that dirty so I haven't changed them for a while, but I did today.

P.S. I didn't dust the crickets today since it wasn't a dusting day.

When I had to pick him up a couple times changing the paper towels, he didn't jump out of my hand before I could move him from one side to another.

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

I'm glad that Flynn ate more crickets this time.

:scratchhead: Maybe he pooped in the warm hide for variety or maybe it was an emergency?

I hope he switches poop spots back to his cool hide.

It sounds like you and Flynn are getting more comfortable with each other!

 

[logan1234]

He switched back to his normal bathroom hide today. A few times he moved his bathroom hide so maybe he moved it and couldn't get back in. But like you said, it could of been an emergency.

 

[logan1234]

Since dubias are a no from my parents since we can't get them a handful at a time at a pet store near us, I heard phoenix worms are good. If we try them I would probably buy a 100 count and it would last us a while. Also, if we try them I'm going to switch between phoenix worms and mealworms on saturdays. The reason I figure to possibly try it is because I heard they are healthy and Flynn loves mealworms so he might love them if we try them!

Side note: He hasn't used the bathroom in the past couple days in his normal bathroom hide, so he either isn't pooing or he pooed in his warm hide which I almost never check since he stays in there a lot of the time, and I don't want to stress him out by picking it up while he is in there. So I will check there when he is in his moist hide.

 

[JessJohnson87]

Phoenix worms are great, I keep mine in the cooler with the hornworms between 55-60* so they don't go bad as quick. With those, you need to wash them off before feeding because the bedding they come in will stick to them and sometimes they will smell like ammonia.

Other than that I would give them a try. If you lived closer, I could give you some of my roaches when they start spitting out babies.

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

Get the 3/4 inch Phoenix worms. Those are the largest I've seen.

Flynn may not gobble them up right away. Leave them in a dish in his vivarium overnight. He even could eat them the next day.

My leo did not like them the first time I tried. The second time I left 17 overnight. They were eaten some time the next day.

Just in case you did not see this:

• Rinse the medium off. A fine mesh sieve works great.
• Let them crawl around on a paper towel to dry, then feed. If they are dry, they will not climb.
• Even some of the black ones "rejuvenate" when rinsed if they are not too far gone.
• The darker ones are higher in calcium.
• Save the dead ones. They may morph into flies, which Flynn may eat.

 

[JessJohnson87]

I had to drop my phoenix worms on the tile for Ziggy to eat them, my crested gecko got one to and he loves them. For some reason Ziggy did not want to eat those out of the bowl, same with the hornworms. Either way he was a happy gecko....

 

[logan1234]

Flynn has only been eating 1-2 crickets recently and today he ate none! . I've been tong feeding. I know that it's not the best to tong feed but his old owner said she babied him which I said in past.
She said he loved superworms and mealworms but idk if she knew they were more fattening. I think he is stuck on them. I'm going to see what all the pet store has for variety. I hope they have roaches, if I ever decide to try roaches, there or phoenix worms so I won't have to order them.
Adding to the questions, would it be okay to replace one of his cricket days with say phoenix worms (or if I ever try roaches, and I know not to feed phoenix worms) and dust the new feeder the same way?

 

[JessJohnson87]

If you can get roaches and he likes those, I would stick with them over crickets. You can feed Phoenix worms as a good staple diet, they are very high in calcium. Mine is hit or miss with phoenix worms, I left 8 in a bowl over night and counted 6 this morning. I even dusted them with Repashy and he still did not eat more than 2, he also gave me the death stare for not giving him more than 2 hornworms.

 

[logan1234]

Good news, sorta! Flynn apparently doesn't like me watching him eat >_>. I left 3 dusted ones in a bowl and I told my dad to check on them a while after I left. The bowl was empty and my dad check everywhere in the tank to make sure they didn't escape. He ate 3! I never really thought leaving them in a bowl and leaving the room would work. I guess he just doesn't like people being around when they eat, like my sister doesn't like it when I stare at her when she eats :evil: