Reptile & Amphibian Forums

i just got two leopard geckos about 2 days ago and i really haven't seen them eat yet, but thats not my problem, i originally had the meal worms in a flat bowl with sides that i thought they wouldn't be able to climb over. yesterday it became apparent that they could climb out so i put them in a older bowl i had that had high sides. like i said i haven't seen them eat yet but i have seen one of them fall into the bowl by mistake, and it took a little bit of work on his part to get out (i was going to help him but i wanted to see if he could do it on his own) and i just wanted to know if they might not eat because of the effort it requires them to exert to get out of the bowl? or even if it would deter them from eating if they were hungry?

Yeah it would be strange for them to eat that fast anyways. Find a shallow bowl with no ridges on the edge. If your little ones fall in the bowl and it takes effort to get out, then that is too deep for a food bowl...maybe a trap door. Hah joking. Yeah just toy around with shallow bowls...glass works good too.
Sam

I find a 1/2 - 3/4 inch rim is about right for keeping the mealworms where they ought to be. There will always be a stray or two once in a while but it seems to do well for the most part.

Another issue is that leos don't really go after food they don't see. The higher the bowl's edge the less likely they are to find the mealworms by sight. I used to have a few mealworms go pupae on me until I started putting some flat rocks around the bowl that effectively raised the surrounding ground level to the dish's rim.

I throw a baby carrot in my dish with my mealworms. Seems to keep the mealworms active (moving targets = good) and I imagine it probably encourages them to stay in the dish as well. I figure it couldn't hurt since it also keeps them "topped off" with moisture. Just make sure you change out the carrot after a couple of days and wash the dish occasionally.

Anyway, that's just what I do though I actually prefer to feed by hand (tweezers) as it gives me a better impression of their appetites.

not trying to be mean but, they do sell meal worm dishes at petco and petsmart. they work pretty good, look nice, are made for it, and are cheap. it might be easier then wasting time to see if they will eat or not. by the way i think it is a little strange that everyone says that their babies take days to eat. every baby that i have ever bought, or had always ate within 24 hours. keep a good close eye if i were you. but chances are they will eat. good luck. keep posting if you have problems people will be sure to put their 2cents in.

Well maybe you've had some exceptions but generally it will take any reptile atleast a day to eat...through my experience usually more.
Sam

>>Well maybe you've had some exceptions but generally it will take any reptile atleast a day to eat...through my experience usually more.

I have to respectfully disagree. Both of our current geckos ate like the little pigs they are within hours of being let loose in their new home. I have completely changed my opinion of the "geckos don't eat for several days" idea. When we have cared for geckos in the past that don't eat immediately, months later we found out they had parasites or something more serious wrong. Every gecko is different, but I'm very untrusting of a gecko that won't eat the first night home because of my most recent experiences and I believe it has a lot to do with the quality of care they received before getting to me.

Obviously, your mileage may vary, but that is my 2 cents to add to the poster above.
-----
0.1 Albino Leo Gecko
0.1 Crested Gecko
1.0 Dear Boyfriend
Departed: Harvey and Spock

Ok, so i read alot of threads saying how their new baby leo isn't eating. Here is my theory, based on the conditions kept before you got him/her would have a huge imp-act on how they will act in the new home. My little guy for expample was scared, and pretty malnurished and only 2 weeks old. No longer then 20 hours before he started eating.

I also her of leos being sick or shocked from the change in homes and tend to shy away from food for a week even more.

I strongly feel if the leo is healthy and kept for proper that they will eat the first night normally. Hopefully yours will begin to feel comfy enough to venture out and eat. proper home is essential too.

well to the person that said that they sell bowls- i know i have one but the meal worms keep getting out and i can't sit right next to the tank and wait for them to make their move.

but anyway i am going to try to get a slightly bigger bowl and hope that works. thanks

Just let the mealies wander man. If you have the geckos on papertowels, they're not oging to go far. Just count how many you put in, and count how many are left before the next feeding.

thanks to my "genius" older brother, i am using this calci sand stuff, a mistake i probably won't make again, and when the meal worms get out the bury themselves and i have to dig them up. i have found this lid thing that has ridges to screw onto the jar but they aren't sharp. but there is some hot glue in it, is that ok?

Baby geckos sand = baby geckos dead from impaction. I don't mean to sound harsh, but I did lose one that way myself, and it just tore me up inside. Learn from my tragic mistake and get that baby gecko off the sand and onto some paper towels right away. They will accidentally or intentionally eat the sand, and they often can't pass it properly, leading to their gut getting stuck. For that matter, I don't keep adult geckos on sand - it really doesn't have an upside other than appearance, as far as I can tell. They won't ingest paper towels, paper towels are easier cleanup with regard to the lizard's bathroom area, etc...

I'll shut up now, but every time I see someone say they're keeping a gecko on sand, I have to try to save the little lizard .
-----
0.1 Albino Leopard Gecko - Tigger
0.1 Crested Gecko - Pooh-Bear

The 12x12 slate squares fit perfectly into 20g tanks, too. I can't tell if they lowered overall tank heat, or if it's because we've dropped in ambient temp, but I got a red light and the lil' guy loves basking. Just another option.

I agree that it has alot to do with the previous owner, but it's normal for any herp to not eat. Usually they are more worried about their environment than food. Though your past experiences may have an effect, most every herp I have cared for doesn't eat the first night....and that's close to 50 (snakes,lizards, etc.) Just giving a couple pennies.
I do understand where you come from though.
Sam

In the past I'd agree with you, but look back in this very thread... "XAGROS" expressed similar thoughts about geckos eating the first day as well. My post was just seconding that idea. Why single my post out?

But please understand, I didn't say that there is necessarily anything wrong with a gecko that doesn't eat the first night, only that with my money, I will only purchase animals that are known to eat the first day and if the breeder tells me they won't, personally, I will look elsewhere. But, yes, these are my experiences, as I said before in the post you are responding to: your mileage may vary. I don't understand the need to go over it again, you may feel differently and that is fine, we all are part of capitalism and will "vote" with our money when it comes down to it. There are, after all, more than enough breeders to go around.
-----
0.1 Albino Leo Gecko
0.1 Crested Gecko
1.0 Dear Boyfriend
Departed: Harvey and Spock

I wasn't meaning to offend you. Chill. I just know you better than the other guy and felt the need to explain myself. That's all.
Sam