Addicted To Waxworms

[HolbyCity]

My 6 month old female Leopard Gecko may be addicted to waxworms.

A few days ago, I fed her a waxworm for the first time. Just as a treat. But then I noticed she was refusing to eat anything else.

I offered her crickets and mealworms multiple times throughout the day to see if she would eat it, but no luck. I then gave her a waxworm to see if she would eat that, and she did.

I tried to trick her into eating a mealworm by cutting a waxworm in half and sticking the mealworm in it. She fell for it once, but must have realized her mistake.

Any tips for getting her to eat other things? I know she isn't sick or anything because she's pooping and it looks completely normal. She is also acting perfectly fine and her tail is nice and plump without getting skinnier.

 

[DaGeckoMan0260]

I would just wait it out.

Multiple leos of mine have done that. I just stop feeding them waxworms and usually in less than a week they're back on normal feeders. Just keep offering crickets and mealworms every night.

Once, one of my leos was refusing to eat anything else besides waxworms and was losing weight. After close to two weeks of not eating, I offered him a hornworm. Hornworms are helpful to ween gecks off waxworms. He ate just hornworms for a little while, and then he started eating dubias.

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

PetCo now offers Timberline hornworms in 4-packs for $10 with enough food to grow some. That's a great way to introduce hornworms to leos. Most leos won't refuse. :drool:

For link 33 click: Hornworm Care Guidelines​

 

[HolbyCity]

I'm just worried that hornworms are too big for her. She is still a bit small.

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

I'm just worried that hornworms are too big for her. She is still a bit small.

Small hornworms are under 1 inch long. They are all nice, juicy, and super high in calcium!

• Approximate nutritional content of hornworms (source Mulberry Farms)
  • Protein: 9%
  • Fat: 3%
  • Calcium: 46.4mg/100mg
  • Calcium : phosphorus ratio is 1:3 That ratio is quite low compared to other worms! [Phosphorus impairs calcium absorption. Serve plain or lightly dust hornworms with plain calcium carbonate to rebalance the calcium and phosphorus even further.]
  • Moisture: 85%

 

[HolbyCity]

Thanks guys. She did eat one cricket today, but for some reason stops eating when I offer her insects dusted with calcium or vitamins. Any ideas?

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

Thanks guys. She did eat one cricket today, but for some reason stops eating when I offer her insects dusted with calcium or vitamins. Any ideas?

You're welcome.

Which brand supplements and type are you offering? How often?

Are you lightly or heavily dusting her crickets?