reptile diet

[alan]

I bought my first lizard half a year ago and another one three weeks ago. I just found out recently that it's better to feed different insects to them so they can get different nutritions. I need to set a diet for them and I planned to rotate between crickets and mealworms, and also feeding them silkworms once a month. One of them is a Giant Day Gecko so I am feeding her baby food + honey once a week. Is that a good diet? Any suggestions?

[jadegrasse]

The more varied the diet the better. On the other hand, I have been breeding Pm grandis giant day geckos for 5 years (55 young born) and find they do great on crickets, wax worms, super worms and baby food mixed with reptile powder. I always have a UV tube on during the day.

Alain

[Mike177]

you could also try wax worms. i hear there pretty good. also what kind of supplement are u using?

[alan]

Actually I tried waxworms yesterday and I really like them, they are much softer than mealworms and therefore easier to be digested. However it's more expensive, I got a dozen for $1.50 (compare to $2.50 for 50 small mealworms). I still haven't tried superworms yet, and I'll buy some and see how it goes.

I am currently using Rep-Cal with VIT D3 for the food and EXO Calcimize conditioner for the water. I used those because it came in a package with the tank when I bought my Green Lacerta at PJs. I think the Rep-Cal is fine but i have no idea if the EXO product is good or not.

I am thinking about buying a heat lamp to go with my UV one because the tempreture drops to between 20-25C at night and I think that's a little too cold for the Day Gecko.

["Red-eye"_Matt]

Be careful with waxworms. They are really high in fat ans should be fed sparingly. I have seen the effects of them as I fed about 4-5 to one of our firebellied toads one week when we first got them and she hasn't slimmed down yet!!!

Matt

["Red-eye"_Matt]

Forgot to add . . . that was back in september

Matt

[jadegrasse]

I breed wax worms in large numbers and find them to be one of the best foods for weak or expecting herps. I normally house them in 4 gal buckets at 75deg F. In the winter it's not uncommon to have 30 buckets on the go.

Alain

[alan]

How about superworms? What's the differences between them and mealworms/waxworms?
You guys have any informations on breeding crickets? I am planning to buy them in pack on Monday so I can gut load them and don't have to go to pet stores that often. I guess I may as well breed them. What's the best temp for breeding/keeping them?

[krrc]

also you could just vary the crix or mealworms diet since they are little more than a shell with food in it.. try apples, oranges potatos whatever you feed feeder insects is almost directly related to what go's in your herp wich it why it is so important to gut load them properly.

[reptilesalonica]

The more variety the better. Try 60% crickets, 20% mealworms, 15% silkworms and 5% honey mixed with water and calcium powder. I wouldn't vote for waxworms since Waxworms are high in fat which restricts calcium absorbtion. Obviously when breeding, calcium demand on the reptiles body is higher so you should be careful of anything that reduces calcium uptake.
~Greg~

[alan]

I tried feeding my lacerta with orange once and it dried up so quickly. Is there any other way to feed fresh food to them?