Feeding - Mealies - Page 4

Alicewave · 02-20-03, 11:27 AM

Wow, I really got to this forum late. I didn't read every word of every post but I'll just say I feed my leos exclusively mealworms that i have hand raised and gutloaded. (Once in a while I get them waxies) I prefer to gutload with Wheatgerm and fishfood because it is long lasting (doesn't mold quickly) and contains tons of the good stuff Leos need to be healthy. Chitin is not really a problem with feeding mealies as long as you have under tank heating to warm their bellies and aid digestion. I have also experiences faster growing, fatter leos with mealies than with Crickets. I don't think it's necessesary to offer food every day. In fact, i have found that can be stressful on a Leo that is on a winter fast and purposely not eating.
That's just my two cents.

Anyway, welcome to Samba. Great to have another Leo rescuer. I have rescued 4 leos myself and it's the most rewarding experience i have ever had with reptiles.

depressor86 · 02-20-03, 03:02 PM

ive heard stories of superworms chewing through a leos stomach after being eaten, so ya just to be safe maybe you should crush the heads

SnowSnake · 02-20-03, 04:02 PM

depressor86,

This is only a myth, neither super or meal worms can chew through a leos stomach

Samba · 02-20-03, 07:33 PM

Dear Adam,

Well at least we agree on one thing! Just kidding, in all seriousness I believe if any animal in captivity becomes obese it does so for one or two reasons: 1.) They eat too much and doesn't get enough excercise or 2.) They eat too much and don't get enough excercise. Humans, and the companions of humans, are the only creatures on earth that suffer obesity and there is a reason for that: They eat too much and they don't get enough excercise! Now that I've stressed that point, there is also the Diet Debate to contend with. Like I said before, not everyone is going to agree with certain beliefs in husbandry... Yes, wild geckos hibernate (they also don't live as long, and captive geckos don't usually hibernate), and yes, they may not eat daily, but I do believe, as stated before, that if left to their own devices, they would choose to eat more than once every four days. It's our job as the caretakers of these creatures to see that they get the very best care, and in my opinion, feeding once every four days is not what the gecko would like, but what the owner is willing to compromise. I think if you are creating a debate over how often to feed them, it is simply a matter of how often you FEEL like feeding them. We seem to agree on varying the diets, and making sure additional supplimentation is available, and I'm pleased to see you gut load your insects. I use a variety of natural foods (salads and protein based- usually 3 days to a week before feeding) and Cricket "Nummies". As for your comment: "What do you mean by my leos must have not much of a life if they got obese by daily feedings?" you clearly misunderstood what I said; read again this exerpt: "Obviously if an animal was appearing obese it's diet/excercise routine should be altered accordingly. I have never had an obese gecko, despite the fact that I feed them once a day. I think if daily feedings made your leopard geckos obese they must not have much of a life (or have eaten way too many pinkies!). Mine are constantly running around inside and out under supervision, of course, and I believe it makes them happier. In the wild they'd be getting near daily excercise to burn off their meals. " I was refering to the amount of excercise your leos get. They would not get obese if they got enough excercise. And no, your leos don't have them same life as other leos: wild ones, well that's self explanitory, and mine for example have much more interaction and excercise. I also practice 'enrichment'. My careful planning ensures my geckos will not get obese. I could never neglect them by letting them rot inside a tank all day. Yes, our Leos get way more food and pampering than wild leos, but wild leos probably have a more interesting life. As for the comment on them having hands, I have personally observed leos digging to get their dinner, so I guess it's safe to assume they could also do this in the wild. (After all, they aren't completely helpless... they've survived for years apon years in the wild without our help!)

scott hough · 03-03-03, 02:40 PM

we've been feeding our leos superworms for a while. i've never crushed their heads, but i also only feed full sized supers to my big adult leos.
if your leos are big enough for pinkies, they'll do just fine with supers.

GECKOMAN · 03-08-03, 04:54 PM

i THIK YOU FEED THE SAME AS CRICKETS AND i GET THEM A LOT CHEEPER TRY ANOTHER STORE

GECKOMAN · 03-08-03, 04:56 PM

i AGREE WITH SAMBA

krrc · 03-08-03, 09:13 PM

First off I just want to say very good topic.
Samba: I really like all your veiws on things as a matter of fact most of them are simmaler to my own. Just for the sake of dicution: you said "...but I do believe, as stated before, that if left to their own devices, they would choose to eat more than once every four days.." yes they would but you must also rember depending on the time of year and location the leo in the wild may only find 1-2 food items a night therefor if you feed 10 every 4 days it may not mimic the distubution of food thoughout 4 days but it very well may replicate the amont of food. that said you could also give 2-4 prey items a night every day with the same effect. (just for something to talk about cuz I really dont have anything to add

)

as far as the type of prey I think anything that works for you works for the leo (as far as crix and mealies and such) I started my leo on crix and swiched to mealies and now back to crix with some mealies and I have one helthly looking gecko! although I cant say i saw a change in growth rate or anything. since bugs are realy acting a pack of gutload really, I think it's more inportant what you put in the insects then what insects you put in your leo. but thats just my $0.02.

depressor86 · 03-08-03, 09:18 PM

;p no matter what i do my leopard wont eat mealworms, this is especially frustrating because i already have an established colony!

krrc · 03-08-03, 10:36 PM

lol it seems to work like that doesnt it.

try wiggleing them by hand or other tool if you need to. Or try the dont feed for a week and only offer mealies thing should work I would think.

Alicewave · 03-10-03, 07:39 AM

That's a bummer depressor! If your leos have nice fat healthy tails you could try not feeding crix for a week or two to see if they get hungry enough to start eating mealies.

Pixie · 03-10-03, 12:54 PM

My leo took to mealies right away and then a couple of weeks later didn't want anything to do with them! I fed other items and then tried again, still nothing.

So, I made her wait out a few days and sure enough around the 5th or 6th day, she gobbled up a whole bunch of mealies and has been eating them since.

Strange, I don't know why she stopped in the first place. Maybe they were her least favorite of the food I was offering and she was waiting me out until I broke and gave her something else than mealies. Whatever it was, she's eating them again

Pixie

dm101081 · 03-10-03, 01:43 PM

All I have to say is that a human will survive by only eating every two or three days, as long as there is a supply of fresh water. Now I'm not saying that humans and reptiles have similar care needs. Only that just because something can survive with only a small amount of food, it does not mean that it is the optimal condition. Animals should be fed as much as possible without them geting obese. This means that the animal is making the most effective use of food and energy.