Feeding? : )

[bobz]

My gecko still hasnt eaten yet and it has been almost 2 weeks now : (. He is a Golden Gecko but lives in a very big tank(100+gallons). Is it possible that maybe he cant find his crickets and mealworms? I usually put in 3 or 4, should i be putting in more? Also i just bought him on of those exo terra waterfalls and i put the calcium in that to maybe at least try to get his calcium up. Does anyone have any advice?

[Gorelith]

From my experience (with other gecko ssp) it would most definately be best to put a good 20-30 crix/day at least in a setup of that size. They can very easily hide under things and wind up next to invisible. Crickets will sometimes burrow in the substrate, and often seek dark warm spots that may in fact be well out of your gecko's sight. Another thing i'd recommend you do is buy cricket dust, and make your own shake 'n bake crickets (don't really bake em though) this is by far the best way to ensure your gecko get his recommended intake of calcium, this should be done at least once every 3 feedings, I do it every feeding and sometimes every second feeding if i'm running low and don't think i'll get to the pet shop in the following day or two. I'd add a lot more crickets a day or cut back on the cage size, you could also move the gecko to another small feeding tank/box etc just while you feed him/her and then back into the regular setup (this can however make things difficult should your collection grow and all your animals are housed in large setups. Another thing i'd like to add is you should still be spraying your enclosure once or twice a day to make sure he/she's drinking, he/she may not be utilising the waterfall for drinking at all, though i'm sure the aesthetics of it are great. Typically geckoes lap up rainwater from leaves. Hope this basic info helps. There's some great care sheets out there for your gecko, and any info you need that's not included in them we'd be glad to lend a hand with any of your questions. Keep me updated on his situation please.

[bobz]

Everyone keeps tellnig me to put a different amount of crickets in there. LOL i was told a couple of times 3 or 4 but as u said i dont think he can find them. Yah actually i went and bought some of that repcal and also some hertivite i dust the cricks with the repcal everytime i put them in. That box idea was a pretty good one though i should buy antoher cricket keeper and put him in there with a few crickets! I actually have to spray my enclosure like 15 times a day to keep the humidity up, but one thing i was worried about was the water. I heard and know that tap water is bad due to the levels of chlorine, metals etc. so when i bought the fountain i put calcium in that to try to boost his calcium from the crickets he hasnt been eating andi bought the stuff to make the water drinkable for if he drinks out of the fountain. What do u do to your water before u spray it in? Is it really bad for them or is that just say to make money? Should i be putting anything in the spray bottle so it doesnt hurt him?

[Gorelith]

personally I just use regular tapwater, I've always actually used tapwater and have never had any problems. The chlorine is there to kill bacteria etc., people use tapwater for themselves, their dogs and cats, so I figure why not my herps (i may be wrong) but I haven't had any problems yet. I'd really be cautious about what chemicals you add to their water, ie. chemicals that supposedly neutralize chlorine etc. If at all possible i try and avoid adding additional chemicals of any kind to anything my herps are going to injest. (This is just how I do it, not necessarily right but never heard different) Can anyone else add to this topic?

[Katatonic]

Unless you live in a relatively backwoods community where the plumbing and water distribution piping is total crap, your basic tap water should not be a problem to use.
As Gorelith pointed out, I too would be cautious about using additional neutralizers. Geckos are small animals and like in nature, toxins and chemicals can accumulate in their little systems, potentially leading to other problems.
There are Reptile Specific water additives that supposedly condition tap water to make it safe for consumption by reptiles, and it distributed by a relatively new, and as of yet un-reputable, company named "exo-terra". I have used a number of these additives, with many undesired results, therefore I remain skeptical of most of these products. **My apologies to anyone on this site that may be affiliated or associated or representative of the aforementioned company, but you should go back to the drawing board on many of those products (and yes, I read the labels thoroughly and did not merely misuse them)**
Stick to the tap water for now. It honestly shouldn't be a problem. I hope this gecko begins to thrive, I know you've had a number of problems already.
In my experience w/ Golden Geckos, as long as there are no parasitic infections, feeding as well as humidity levels should not present a problem. They are rather hardy and you do not neccessarily have to keep the cage at that recommended humidity level CONSTANTLY. Nature fluctuates, why can't your enclosure?? Maybe step up your humidity to those excessive levels with the onset of shedding to aid in the removal of skin. Is our little buddy still in that enormous 100 gallon??

[Youkai]

Exo-Terra is Hagen's fancy term for all their reptile stuff.
The reason most of it doesn't work is that it's just fish products with a reptile label on it.
You should have seen the look of our local representative when I was giving him a hard time.

Me: Isn't that just waste control with a reptile pictured on it at a different price?
Him: ...........................

Anyway, my experience tends to be that 'Hagen', 'works', and 'well' don't usually go into a sentence together.

Unless it's something like 'That Hagen product I got doesn't work as well as it should'


I also wanted to add my $0.02.
Golden geckos are much like Tokays, and relish space. However, I can see their being problems if the tank is not liberally planted/decorated/etc.

[Katatonic]

I know that about Exo-Terra, my rep did the exact same thing. He also couldn't explain to me why I was experiencing crystalization in the water which I'd utilized the additive(s), and I was told he would "look into it".
Yea, I don't trust it very much, Hagen tag or not.

[Youkai]

Hehe...if it has a Hagen tag, I expect problems.
Hagen aquatic, pond, rodent, or anything products.

[Katatonic]

lol Yay Hagen *sarcasm*. They've recieved their last bit of cash from me.
So I take it that you're a die hard ZooMed, ESU and T-Rex fan and buyer, eh Youkai???

[Youkai]

Actually...I don'y buy that much commercial stuff. But when I do, you're right. I try NOT to buy Hagen. Most reptile brands carry crap that dissapoints me though. :/