Alternate Diet

[Sitfull]

I have a 10 week old AFT who refuses to eat food from my hand or feeding tongs. Because of this, I have been unable to feed her crickets because they run away right away and she wont chase them. I would like to feed her crickets because they are healthier than her dusted mealworm diet. I have two questions about this.

1) Is there a reliable way I can feed her crickets without them running away and escaping into the enclosure?

2) Is there a healthy alternative diet I can feed her consisting of other feeder insects that will make up for the lack of crickets nutritionally?

Thanks!

 

[acpart]

Some people advocate taking the legs off the crickets so they can't get out of a bowl and that may work. Here are 2 articles I wrote about feeding geckos who aren't eating. Possibly something in one of the articles would be helpful:

My Gecko is Not Eating: Why and How to Fix it - Gecko Time - Gecko Time
"My Gecko Will Not Eat" Part 2 - Gecko Time - Gecko Time

Aliza

 

[Herpin Man]

There usually is nothing wrong with letting the crickets run freely about the enclosure. The gecko will chase them down at night- I promise. It may take a while, though, if there are many tiny crevices into which the crickets can retreat from the gecko.
As an alternative feeder, I recommend dubia. They are more nutritious than crickets. However, I would recommend placing these in an escape proof feeding dish. Since they burrow, if loose in the enclosure they can avoid the gecko for a long, long time.