Gah! Best way to feed baby Leopard Geckos...?

[TRohr]

Hey guys, hope your all doing well. Long story short.... Just bought some leopard geckos.

Anyone have any advice on the best way to feed them pinhead crickets? The geckos are pretty small.... Say two to three inches in length?

I've been feeding them very small mealworms- I think they're eating them- out of a small dish. Sometimes the worms crawl out, and I really don't mind, but the crickets.... I've tried tearing their legs off and they just die on me.... I would dump a whole handful of them into the gecko tank, but im worried that I'll just end up having dead crickets all over or that they'll squeeze into little nooks and crannies and the geckos wont be able to get to them!

Should I separate the geckos into a small Tupperware full of crickets to feed them...? Should I just free range lots of the pinheads...?

Help!!!

 

[kinyonga]

I've always just dusted the crickets and put them in the cage with the geckos...but be aware that in a glass tank they will climb the glue in the corners and get out. I always kept them in plastic bins until they were big enough to eat larger crickets that couldn't climb the glue. You can put a small lid of food in the cage for the crickets to eat too...it will keep them gutloaded and make them more visible.

 

[Julirs]

I think your gecko tank is a little overcomplicated-I think it would be hard to even find them most of the time. Undertank heating is best for these guys, they like warmth on thier bellies and will bask on rocks warmed by the sun-I do not suggest overhead lighting, and I doubt they are warm enough. That may be why they are not eating.

 

[djfishygillz]

All they need is one rock in there and maybe on spot hole to sleep in. And I can't tell for sure but if you are using the spiral bulbs, they cause blindness so I would switch to a long tube like UVB bulb, not the spiral kind.

 

[Olimpia]

These geckos don't need UV, just a heat pad under the tank. I actually really like the tank, when I had leopard geckos I always tried to set up more naturalistic tanks with real rocks and substrate and live succulent plants. It sure beats the sterility of a tupperware cave with a hole cut in it and a toilet paper roll as another hide. And in a set up ike yours it keeps them from getting fat and lazy, especially if they like to climb up stuff.

If you're worried about the babies not eating very much you can always tone down the complexity of the tank for a couple months until you see that they are growing well and are good hunters. Or get more escape proof feeding cups so at the very least you know that they are eating the mealworms well.

 

[TRohr]

These geckos don't need UV, just a heat pad under the tank. I actually really like the tank, when I had leopard geckos I always tried to set up more naturalistic tanks with real rocks and substrate and live succulent plants. It sure beats the sterility of a tupperware cave with a hole cut in it and a toilet paper roll as another hide. And in a set up ike yours it keeps them from getting fat and lazy, especially if they like to climb up stuff.

If you're worried about the babies not eating very much you can always tone down the complexity of the tank for a couple months until you see that they are growing well and are good hunters. Or get more escape proof feeding cups so at the very least you know that they are eating the mealworms well.

I refused to put my geckos in a Tupperware with some cardboard tubes and a shoebox- I thought it was appalling when I first saw the setups. Even this tank is a little much for me. I'm used to giving my critters completely natural setups. I figured this would be a bit easier to keep clean though.... If the worms don't disappear, and if I find lots of crickets laying around when I clean in the next week I'm definitely going to move everything to a smaller tank. Might just make it less complex.

The lights on top of the tank are 150watt bulbs which keep the upper canopy at 80degrees. I have a large under tank heater as well. The geckos sleep side by side at the very back, hidden away under a slab of bark on a thin rock. They've been pooping, and eurates are snow white.

At night the geckos climb all over the place...! A few days ago I threw a handful of crickets in to the tank, and they have all but disappeared.... Going to throw more in today.... When I clean the tank for the first time I'll see where they all went. Definitely going to try putting out some cricket crack for the crickets!

 

[TRohr]

This is what I keep my two White's Tree Frogs in.... Dimensions are 8' X 1.5' X 2.5' ;]....

And I assure you they're very happy- much happier than they would be in a Tupperware....

 

[kinyonga]

Depending on the size of the crickets...like I said...they could be climbing the glue in the corners of your tank....so that might be why some of them are disappearing. I don't like keeping them in plastic containers either...but I just do it long enough that the crickets are big enough not to escape.

 

[Synapse]

Wow... awesome tree frogs. They look so happy.

 

[TRohr]

Depending on the size of the crickets...like I said...they could be climbing the glue in the corners of your tank....so that might be why some of them are disappearing. I don't like keeping them in plastic containers either...but I just do it long enough that the crickets are big enough not to escape.

Ah, yeah, not trying to spite you or anything. Going to do what I have to do.... Definitely want some fatty little geckos!!!

 

[Syn]

the cage is nice, but, I don't think your leopard would mind a smaller cage. Finding food/the gecko is always nicer than not being able to.

 

[ChameleonRave]

This is my Leopard Gecko setup up, 10 gallon tank, this pic had reptile carpet in it but its now just paper towel. She doesn't climb, and she can't really grip stuff, because she has no finger nails, she has about 5 original toes left.

this picture is from about december 20th the date is off on my camera.

 

[Syn]

By the way, leopard geckos can jump.

 

[ChameleonRave]

By the way, leopard geckos can jump.

I gladly have not had to experience that.

 

[TRohr]

the cage is nice, but, I don't think your leopard would mind a smaller cage. Finding food/the gecko is always nicer than not being able to.

Definitely don't want my geckos to go hungry.... Going to keep the same tank, but make it a bit less complicated- less places for the crickets to hide...!

 

[ChameleonRave]

you can always hand feed. i feed my gecko with the tongs.

 

[TRohr]

Just in case someone finds this thread in the future.... Problem solved.

I got deeper glass dishes, and started using a pair of surgical forceps to break my pinhead crickets legs. Can't see it, but there's a small wad of toilet paper moistened to give the feeders some water too.

 

[JackP308]

Do you put anything over the top, if not at least something over that corner where they can climb up would be ideal. Looks good bet they love all that cover.

 

[TRohr]

Do you put anything over the top, if not at least something over that corner where they can climb up would be ideal. Looks good bet they love all that cover.

Yep, yep, definitely. The tank has a screen top. I set my lamps directly on top of it. Keeps everything at 80degrees

I've caught them climbing around the canopy, or shoulder deep in their food dish several times since changing the setup. They love to sleep in the very back corner under all the leaves under a slab of bark~ Next time I clean I'm going to put a small dish back there that I can lay a wad of sphagnum moss onto for some humidity.