Fat Tail Feeding and Moist Hide Questions

SerpentLust · 01-24-04, 02:00 PM

Hehehe as the time draws near for Fat Tails to be hatching...well, still like a month, but whatever. I'm starting to gather things for their new home. But there are two bits of info I haven't gotten.

One, when feeding geckos, I know their staple diet is crickets, and I think I heard it's not advisable to feed other things when they're young. My question is, young geckos get crickets that they won't choke on, I know this. But at what age/size can you start offering mealies and other variety, and furthermore, what shouldn't you offer? And what are all the varieties you CAN offer? As always I know there will be seperate opinions, but I do consider every single one of them. Also, what brand of calcium supplementation do I use for dusting crickets and also to put in the bowl in their enclosure?

Now, as for the humid hide. I already have one for my Spotted Python, as Invictus, when she was doing bad sheds due to low humidity, advised. So I took a tuperware container, filled it halfway with Sphagnum Moss and I now keep it damp. However, when do you CHANGE the moss? Do you EVER change the moss? And I know already that Fat Tails should have the moist hide option 24/7 for shedding purposes and also if you're breeding for an area to lay eggs.

Thank you, as always, in advance

Jenn

PS. I'll see you all at the expo, I'm 100% sure that I'm going now

NiagaraReptiles · 01-27-04, 06:14 AM

Hi Jenn, I'm not sure how much help I can be to you for some of your questions, but I can offer my perspective and what has worked for me

I only feed my Fat Tails crickets and pinkies. I've tried other things like wax worms and meal worms, but I find them to be a pain in the butt and of little benefit for the effort (in my situation). I have had Leos and Fat Tails gorge on wax worms only to then toss them back up. This usually hinders thier feeding for a couple days after as well.

I feel well fed, and supplemented crickets offer about everything a growing Fat Tail needs. They provide activity and mental stimulation as well. Pinkies I feed mostly to breeding adults or to bulk up an individual should the need arrise.

For Calcium, I supplement with MINERALL and I use Rep-Cal's Herptivite as a vitamin supplement.

I nesting boxes/humid hides I currently use the compressed coconut fibre. This is my first season doing so, but I have no complaints as of yet

There is the odd gecko that thinks the nesting box is a great place to go to the bathroom. this will grow fungus very quickly in such a warm/humid environment. I spot clean whenever it is needed (the boxes are checked at least once a day) and replaced as needed.

Best wishes

JonK

Zoe · 01-27-04, 06:40 AM

I started my babies on crickets and within a month was feeding them a combo of crix and mealies. I don't go in for all that chitin nonsense (not to say that crickets aren't better and have excessive chitin can't cause impaction, but I don't believe that feeding a couple mealworms a week to a young gecko will it).
I fed mine everything; well, silkworms, mealworms and crickets, and a pinky to the occasional gravid female.

I used rep-cal (with the pink label) for calcium and rep-cal vitamins. I mixed a little vits into the calcium to put in a dish in the cage.

I find that eventually, the moss starts to flake and fall apart, that's when I replaced it. As long as it looks/smells/feels good, it probably IS good

Good luck, they are amazing geckos!

Zoe