Food besides crickets, dubias, and mealworms

[Britt005]

Good news everyone!

Rizzo ate like 10 waxworms last night!:banana: It's the first time I've gotten her to eat on her own in like a month! She was scarfing those things down one after another and I'm pretty sure the only reason she stopped was because I stopped giving them to her! I know waxworms are the ice cream sundaes of the gecko world, so I didn't want to give her a ton. But a month or two ago I couldn't get her to eat more than one of them every few days. The last few weeks during her treatment, I'd only been offering her mealworms (they are easier to track down then dubias when uneaten) and I think that was part of the problem. I offered her a mealworm after the 2nd or 3rd waxworm. She went for it, just kind of nibbled it a bit, looked at it quizzically, and then up at me scornfully. Doesn't seem like she's a fan of mealworms, at least not now! I also picked up some fresh dubias same time I bought the waxies so I'll be trying those tonight. I hope this is it!:cheer:

Word to the wise - you should probably take your hand out of the tank when feeding waxworms, unless you want it to have a nice coating of waxworm guts! That the was the grossest, lol.

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

Great news, Britt! I hope that Rizzo is now on a roll!

Switch her over to fresh dubias right away. Waxworms can be super addicting.

Go, Rizzo, go! These bugs are GOOD!

 

[Britt005]

Definitely! I probably shouldn't have given her as many as I did, but I was so excited seeing her eating! And eating eagerly! No more waxworms for a while, but dubias tonight. And I might go ahead and spring for some silkworms online since she is showing interest in food again.

Edit - Nevermind, looks like I missed the silkworm window. Again. lol

 

[muffin_song]

Definitely! I probably shouldn't have given her as many as I did, but I was so excited seeing her eating! And eating eagerly! No more waxworms for a while, but dubias tonight. And I might go ahead and spring for some silkworms online since she is showing interest in food again.

Edit - Nevermind, looks like I missed the silkworm window. Again. lol

I'm keeping my fingers crossed for you guys!!!

My female leo has recently become a better eater after several months of eating irregularly. I did fiddle around with her husbandry, but I wonder if this is the time of year that female leos are coming out of mating season?

 

[Britt005]

Well we have had success, albeit a bit limited, but success none the less! She has eaten every day this week, at least 1 or two dubias! I'd like to see her eat a little more each feeding and with the same enthusiasm as she did with the waxworms on Monday, but I will not turn my nose up at progress! I've been keeping an eye on her poo. Earlier this week it was still kinda gooey, but that could be blamed on all the waxworms I think. She pooed again last night, and it looked a little more solid but I don't know how long it had been there. I think I'm going to switch to every other day feedings to see if she eats a bit more.

I'm happy that she seems to be feeling better! I'm also happy that I (hopefully) won't have to take her to the vet again! And hopefully I'll be able to put my bioactive tank into use soon!

And here is a smile to kick off the long weekend.

 

[Zux]

Awesome news Britt, glad to hear she is eating regularly. That, much more than quantity is key, I have one female who while ovulating would eat only 1-2 Roaches a night, and even then only if I mixed up the species I offered.
She, during that time, continually put on weight to the point I had to move her to every second night feedings while still only offering 1-2 insects.

It is my feeling that the vast majority of captive Geckos are actually overfed, particularly problematic in cases where the diet is not highly varied, well fed or hydrated anywhere close to enough. It is the Geckos nature to eat not only enough for themselves but also to take advantage of the 'bounty' and storing the excess, this works excellently in the wild, but in captivity it is only the keeper who can limit this behavior pattern.

Here's hoping the new appetite continues ! :yahoo:

 

[Britt005]

Thanks, Shane! That makes me feel better As much as I hate them, I think I'm going to get just a few crickets every so often to mix things up a bit for her. And I found one lonely site that isn't out of stock for silkworms so I'll be placing an order early next week!

 

[muffin_song]

Thanks, Shane! That makes me feel better As much as I hate them, I think I'm going to get just a few crickets every so often to mix things up a bit for her. And I found one lonely site that isn't out of stock for silkworms so I'll be placing an order early next week!

Oooh, which one? (I was lucky enough to get some silkworms from a vendor at a reptile show, and Scooter loved them!)

Edited to add: Really happy to hear that the eating has continued!

 

[Zux]

You're very welcome Britt,

I do the same intermittently with Crickets, its just not possible to breed them in number without smell, so I am done with that forever.

Good news you managed to find Silkworms I just ordered some in Bulk to fill the gap while my eggs from last year are hatching. They are just such excellent feeders, my new Baby Bearded Dragon gets those and Phoenix Worms each day and is growing immensely fast.

We have a wonderful place here in the UK called the Silkwormstore, the chap who runs it is super helpful and is a top notch breeder, he lets me know when I contact him when his colonies are most fresh and thus what the best times are to order. :yahoo:

Sadly, however, still no Hornworm availability over here , its the only insect I cant get.

 

[Britt005]

Here! Coastal Silkworms - Live Silkworms For Sale - Bombyx Mori You should get em quick before they are gone! I'd place an order today, but I won't be around till later next week, and I don't want to risk them sitting at the post office or on my porch and dying. So if you buy them, save me some! lol

Crickets do stink, don't they??? My small cricket keeper with maybe 30 crickets stunk up my whole bedroom. And no matter what I do, they always escape!

I've heard that geckos LOVE hornworms but Rizzo hated them! She had a strange physical reaction...imagine if someone was chopping a very strong onion right under your face, it was like that. Like there were fumes bothering her eyes and she'd move away as quickly as possible. She also gets strange around phoenix worms. She'll go for it and rear back multiple times really quickly. And then she starts lifting up her front legs and gets kinda twitchy. This goes on till I take it away and then she's fine! She's never done it while not in the presence of a phoenix worm. I wish I had gotten a video of it, but I've gotten rid of them now. Can geckos have food allergies?? haha maybe she is just a weirdo.

Edit: Omg, so coastal silkworms literally JUST went out of stock. I checked when I made this post and they had them, but I just checked now (an hour later) and they are gone! Did you buy them all Muffin?? lol

 

[Zux]

Oh my goodness thats so funny she reacts that way ! Particularly so with two insects which are so nutritious, at least she likes Silkworms though, that probably almost makes up for it !

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

Happy USA Independence Day to you and Rizzo!

 

[Britt005]

Oh my goodness thats so funny she reacts that way ! Particularly so with two insects which are so nutritious, at least she likes Silkworms though, that probably almost makes up for it !

I imagine it's like a child confronted with broccoli for the first time. :coverlaugh: We haven't tried silkworms yet but soon hopefully!

 

[Zux]

We haven't tried silkworms yet but soon hopefully!

Sorry Britt, I got your situation confused with another thread for a moment, so many picky Geckos this time of year huh !

 

[Britt005]

Yaaayy we are in our third week of consistent eating! Yesterday, I put the roach container in the tank so I could clean out some old greens (I don't like to open it unless it's in the tank, just in case one ninjas it's way out) and she almost immediately came rushing out of her cave and started stalking it. She proceeded to eat 4 fat dubias, eight tiny waxworms (Just to finish off the tub - no more waxworms for Rizzo!), and then about 5 giant mealworms. Holy crap, she's an eating machine now! I think we may be good to go (knocks on all the wood)!

Now the last thing, I haven't been very good at dusting these last few weeks since I was always unsure if she'd eat the bugs. I've seen a dusting schedule posted here before, can someone repost it for me? I have zoo med calcium, one with and without D3, as well as a little zoo med reptivite.

 

[logan1234]

I just copy-pasted this real quick from Elizabeth Freer's caresheet. Keep in mind that it does't have to be those feeders and not on the days it says. For example you could feed mealworms on Thursday instead of Saturday.
So, just putting this on here for your information, In no way did I make this.

Week 1:
Crickets or dubia>Monday- D3 Repti Calcium
Crickets or dubia>Thursday- no dusting
Mealworms>Saturday- no dusting

Week 2:
Crickets or dubia>Monday- D3 Repti Calcium
Crickets or dubia>Thursday- plain (no D3) Reptivite
Mealworms>Saturday- no dusting

Week 3:
Crickets or dubia>Monday- D3 Repti Calcium
Crickets or dubia>Thursday- no dusting
Mealworms>Saturday- no dusting

Week 4:
Crickets or dubia>Monday- D3 Repti Calcium
Crickets or dubia>Thursday- plain (no D3) Reptivite
Mealworms>Saturday- no dusting

Week 5:
Repeat from week 1

Also, you don't have to line up week 1 with week 1 of the month. I get a calendar and just start week 1 for the week I'm on, and then I go week 2 next week, 3, 4, then back to 1.

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

Yaaayy we are in our third week of consistent eating!

......

Now the last thing, I haven't been very good at dusting these last few weeks since I was always unsure if she'd eat the bugs. I've seen a dusting schedule posted here before, can someone repost it for me? I have zoo med calcium, one with and without D3, as well as a little zoo med reptivite.

:banana:

There are 2 of those dusting schedules hanging around GU!

How old is Rizzo and how much does she weigh? Is she a "normal" leo, not a giant?

What type Reptivite multivitamins have you, D3 or not?

 

[Britt005]

Thanks for the schedule, that's what I was looking for!

She is estimated to be around 2.5 to 3 years old. Don't know how much she weighs, never got around to getting that scale....when I first got her she weighed in at 54 grams. But she's fatter now then she was then. She's just a normal gecko, not giant. The reptivite I have has D3. But it's just a little sample pack that's almost empty so I'm open to recommendations.

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

#126---Monthly Feeding & Supplement Schedule for leopard geckos 18 months old +

Feed an adult leopard gecko crickets or dubia 2x per week and mealworms 1x per week:
Crickets or dubia>Monday
Crickets or dubia>Thursday
Mealworms>Saturday

• Use Zoo Med Repti Calcium with D3 1x per week. Lightly dust it on half the crickets or dubia, not every one.
• Use plain (no D3) Zoo Med Reptivite lightly dusted on crickets or dubia every other week or 2x per month. Maybe only half of them.
• Use some plain precipitated calcium carbonate (purer than oyster shell calcium). The NOW brand sold in health foods stores is ideal.

Feed finely ground Zoo Med's Natural Adult Bearded Dragon Food (or an equivalent high quality dry diet) 24/7 to the insects and worms to cover the basics. Add high calcium, low phosphorus veggies off to the side. Vary your leopard gecko's diet. Crickets, Blaptica dubia, hornworms, Phoenix worms, and silkworms are all good.

Nutritional Comparisons of Insects & Worms

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

Monthly Schedule for Leos 18 months old +​

Week 1:
Crickets or dubia>Monday- D3 Repti Calcium
Crickets or dubia>Thursday- no dusting
Mealworms>Saturday- no dusting

Week 2:
Crickets or dubia>Monday- D3 Repti Calcium
Crickets or dubia>Thursday- plain (no D3) Reptivite
Mealworms>Saturday- no dusting

Week 3:
Crickets or dubia>Monday- D3 Repti Calcium
Crickets or dubia>Thursday- no dusting
Mealworms>Saturday- no dusting

Week 4:
Crickets or dubia>Monday- D3 Repti Calcium
Crickets or dubia>Thursday- plain (no D3) Reptivite
Mealworms>Saturday- no dusting

Week 5:
Continue this every other week schedule.

 

[Britt005]

Thanks Elizabeth! Just curious - why do you advise against putting plain calcium in the tank? I only ask because I've seen it suggested in so many places.