Elizabeth Freer
Well-known member
You are most welcome, muffin_song.
I think it's On Topic enough since it's mostly about Scooter. Hope you and Scooter thrive. Maybe you guys can stop by now and then?
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Eyeball my leopard gecko for healthy shed and weight?
- Thread starter muffin_song
- Start date
You are most welcome, muffin_song.
I think it's On Topic enough since it's mostly about Scooter. Hope you and Scooter thrive. Maybe you guys can stop by now and then?
muffin_song
New member
So Scooter's weight has held pretty steady, even with the reduced feeding (down to three insects 3 times a week). Lately she's been getting dubias, horn worms, or meal worms (since the meal worms are so small, I've been counting two as one). When I handle her I try to let her run around on the bed so she can get some activity.
Should I be concerned that she's not losing weight, or is it enough that I'm monitoring it and giving her less food?
Here's a recent pic. Off topic, but I love how the spot by her tail looks like a heart
Should I be concerned that she's not losing weight, or is it enough that I'm monitoring it and giving her less food?
Here's a recent pic. Off topic, but I love how the spot by her tail looks like a heart
amsdadtodd
New member
They don't lose weight fast unless there is a parasite issue. So, just keep monitoring it and you're doing fine! For an adult leo, 3 bugs three times a week is about right. Too much and they get fat and develop associated problems.
Todd
Todd
JessJohnson87
New member
Such a cute little chunky thing! I love the spot by her tail, it does look like a heart. Mealworms are actually quite high in fat content, I didn't realize it until I saw the breakdown on the container I have and said some foul words :yikes:
Elizabeth Freer
Well-known member
So Scooter's weight has held pretty steady, even with the reduced feeding (down to three insects 3 times a week). Lately she's been getting dubias, horn worms, or meal worms (since the meal worms are so small, I've been counting two as one). When I handle her I try to let her run around on the bed so she can get some activity.
Should I be concerned that she's not losing weight, or is it enough that I'm monitoring it and giving her less food?
Here's a recent pic. Off topic, but I love how the spot by her tail looks like a heart
View attachment 36607
What about reducing the bugs to 2 per feeding 3x per week and increasing her exercise?
That's certainlly a very cool heart marking near Scooter's vent.
cricket4u
New member
It may be a good idea to replace one feeding with crickets a week.
C18:1 trans11 was found only in A. domesticus lipid extracts
which makes this FA specific for this insect species.
file:///C:/Users/Nancy/Downloads/Online-%20version%20extraction%20of%20insect%20lipids.pdf
Was the urate in that picture sitting alone( no brown part)? Hornworms actually make them have more frequent bowel movement, so that's not the problem.
Elizabeth Freer
Well-known member
Cricket advice is welcome.
Please clarify your comment that I've made blue.
Your link did not post.
muffin_song
New member
You know, I had always heard that, but somehow in my mind I still had this idea of, "Meal worms are so small!" :roll: I'll start counting individual mealworms as one of her insects.
muffin_song
New member
Maybe I should give crickets a try again. In the past she's never liked them, and they drive me crazy (frequently dying in the cage, chirping, smelly, and they always end up escaping into my bathroom!) But it might be worth a shot.
That may be worth a try - I worry about decreasing her food intake too quickly, though.
As for the exercise, I've been picking her up and letting her run around my bed 2-3 times a week. Yesterday this nearly led to her escaping UNDER the bed :roll: Thankfully I was able to scoop her up before she got too far! It's a fun activity for me, although I'm trying to make sure she doesn't get too stressed.
Who knows what I would do if I ever got a dog...I'm already enough of a helicopter parent with my 8-inch lizard!
cricket4u
New member
Cricket advice is welcome.
Please clarify your comment that I've made blue.
Your link did not post.
The introduction explains it.
Most of the attention on insects as a food source focuses on protein
content. However, lipids are also a main component of insects and are
produced during protein isolation (Yi et al., 2013). Lipids are a source
of energy and of essential fatty acids (FA), therefore they could be
used to combat malnutrition in developing countries (Smit, Muskiet, &
Boersma, 2004). In populations with inadequate total energy intake,
such as seen in many developing regions, dietary fats are important
macronutrients that contribute to increase energy intake to more
appropriate levels (FAO, 2010). Insect lipids can contribute to human nutrition
by supplying energy and essential fatty acids (Ramos-Elorduy,
2008). Generally, the lipid content of insects ranges from less than 10%
to more than 30% on a fresh weight basis and are relatively high in
the unsaturated C18 FA, including oleic acid (18:1 cis9), linoleic acid
(18:2 cis9,12) and linolenic acid (18:3cis9,12,15) (DeFoliart, 1991).
Remember how it was mentioned that dubia roaches where lacking some fatty acids? Basically one insect can offer what another cannot regardless of what it is fed, hence why as you know variety is important.
Highlight the whole link, hit copy and just paste it in the browser, then enter. It should work.
Biochemistry of Lipids: Fatty Acids, Omega Fats, Triglycerides, Phospholipids, Eicosanoids
Enjoy;-)
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Elizabeth Freer
Well-known member
/\ Enjoy? :yikes:
muffin_song
New member
I wanted to give an update on Scooter. When I got her onto the scale a few nights ago (not an easy task!), Scooter was down to about 72-73 grams.
My theory is this because she's getting fewer insects than before, and has started eating less in general. (I'm assuming the latter is because of the change in weather. Unless she goes off food altogether or starts looking super skinny, I've decided not to panic).
I'm currently feeding her three insects, three times a week. Her staple is dubias, with an occasional substitute of a mealworm or butterworm for variety. The dubias get adult beardie food. I'm not sure if they're actually eating it, but there are little black dots in the dubia cage (kind of like pepper?) and they're slowly getting bigger, so I'm hopeful?
I got the calcium supplement that Elizabeth suggested (I believe the ZooMed brand), and the ReptiVite without D3. I've been dusting with the calcium 1-2 times a week, and with the ReptiVite once every other week.
Here's a picture of her from the other day:
My theory is this because she's getting fewer insects than before, and has started eating less in general. (I'm assuming the latter is because of the change in weather. Unless she goes off food altogether or starts looking super skinny, I've decided not to panic).
I'm currently feeding her three insects, three times a week. Her staple is dubias, with an occasional substitute of a mealworm or butterworm for variety. The dubias get adult beardie food. I'm not sure if they're actually eating it, but there are little black dots in the dubia cage (kind of like pepper?) and they're slowly getting bigger, so I'm hopeful?
I got the calcium supplement that Elizabeth suggested (I believe the ZooMed brand), and the ReptiVite without D3. I've been dusting with the calcium 1-2 times a week, and with the ReptiVite once every other week.
Here's a picture of her from the other day:
JessJohnson87
New member
She looks good. My dubia's eat the bearded dragon food, some of them will take pieces and drag it towards the egg crate kinda like they're hoarding it and tear up the collards I put in there. The pepper like stuff is their poop or frass. I think the weather is messing with all of our Leo's eating habits, mine just went 2 days without eating but pigged out on some mealworms last night.
Elizabeth Freer
Well-known member
Scooter is lovely!
Since you feed the dubia the adult beardie food, you might just dust with the ZM D3 Repti Calcium 1x per week and the no D3 Reptvite every other week. That beardie food would be a good diet for your mealworms too.
Zux
New member
I actually noticed that too the other day, In my case it is with small slices of 'Repashy Bug Burger' (My Dubia colony really don't seem to like the Bearded food at all - which is strange as other insects love it) they really gorge on this stuff and drag it out of the bowl I put it in and back to the crates, my first babies have hatched recently so perhaps it is the parents attempting to bring them something as I have never seen the behavior before?
JessJohnson87
New member
I have no idea Shane, I saw several pieces of the pellets strung out along the bottom of my kritter keeper this morning.