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i was wondering about the "rubbing waxworms on crix" etc. does anyone know if i kept waxworms and mealworms in the same box, do you reckon the mealies would smell of waxworms enough to trick the leo into thinking they were waxworms..? he almost seemed interested in a crick today, but when he saw it he just turned away. the waxies i've been breeding have turned into moths now (well 1 out of 4 has lol) so hopefully will have waxies in a few weeks. i've also gone back to calci sand for a subby aswell. i know you'll all shout. but for my leo's hygene and stress levels its easier to have sand in so i dont have to remove my leo everytime i want new paper down. my new tank set up has gone tits up thanks to my dog and his damn eating habits. so that has set me back about 5 days now. i think i found out where that crick went, that one that i thought my leo ate. seems he escaped somehow, and was foolish enough to "crawl" across my bedroom floor (it only had 1 back leg lol) so seems he hasnt eaten it. im going into town tomorrow to try out this new waxworm scent hypothosis, and if someone could tell me how to force feed in the proper manner, i'd be greatly appreciated.

thanks

Well i am only going to say this one more time to you but you are going to kill your leo with it on Calci sand. Especially with it not eating then calci sand is the worst thing you could have put the leo on. Paper towels was the best. The whole issue with changing paper towels should only happen 1 a week so that should not bother your leo at all, as i am sure you fondle it more then you are supposed to as well. No offense but i am at a loss trying to help you as you never take any of our advice here you just think you know what you are doing. Good luck!

i know calci sand is well hated because of the potential hazards it has, i've seen the pics, read about it etc. my gecko is on constant super vision and not once has he ate a mouthful of sand (yes he used to get a bit everynow and then when he lunged for food). i know it can cause harm to leo's, as can any substrate. but calci sand was not what i asked help for. my leo doesnt show abnormal behaviour and fill himself with sand. if i saw him freely eat a mouthful of sand, then yes, i would take him off it straight away. i asked if i housed waxworms and meal worms together would they smell the same. he seems pretty interested in crix atm, but hasnt actually tried to eat any yet. im sick of hearing "calci is bad etc etc etc". but with paper towels, feaces should be cleaned away ASAP, and most cages dont fit paper towel's snugly, they over lap, and have objects on top of them etc. so i would have to move the cage about, yes i do get my leo out every day for the time being, as feedin his medicine cant be done without. but if i was to change the affected towel each time, i need to put him somewhere safe while i do it, which means a different box, which to me, seems as though it causes more stress. he seems happy on calci sand, and as i said, and as my vet said, its all up to the user. yes i do know there is a potential hazard with calci sand. all i asked about was my waxies and mealies, anything said to do with calci sand etc, i will disregard. i do respect your views however, and take into consideration what i read.

Right but you need to fix one problem at a time. That is taking it off the sand first then worry about it eating considering that it's not eating on the sand either. I also would have to say that you said you had to take out the disinfected papertowel everyday, then you need to throw away all the sand each day as well which is worst and more expensive. Let's think logical here.

You would need to mashy up the mealies and the waxies!

well the sand can easily be spot cleaned..(enough about sand plz...) but about the mealies n waxies. what i intend to do is put a tub of mealies in with a tub of waxies n keep em like that, but just feed him the mealies, maybe with the occasional waxworm (i know i know 1 a week lol). would this make them smell of each other or would it just be trial and error? also, i think i might have had my mealies too long, they've shed there outer skin or w/e and many have gone to the white pupate state, but i also found 2 crawly bugs in with them. im guessing there the insect state of a meal worm, as the worms are just the larvea state. will it be dangerous to put them in or should i throw them away? there about 10mm-12mm long, and about as wide as a cricket? also, i have a dish of the white mealies and 2 crickets in his cage but he doesnt want to know. can anyone give me a thorough explantion on how to force feed my leo, i know it shouldnt be done unless told to do so by my vet, but i want to get as much information on it before it comes to it. im just dreading he hasnt got crypto..

Sorry but like i said 500 hundred times i will address one problem at a time and my problem is the sand not the mealies and waxies, as they are not your number problem either and should not be worried about it. I would worry about the TLC that your leo needs and not the stubborness of the owner.

i agree with you on the paper towel thing, they are a pain in the rear to change. its obvious you know about the calci sand and all that but heres a fyi just in case you didnt know- you can get a 50# bag of play sand for like $3 at lowes or homedepo, which is a TON cheaper than calci sand especially if your changing it once a week. as for the mealy-wax worm thing, i would definetly try putting the mealies in with the waxworms to "scent" them, and if that doesnt work smoosh up the waxworms then maybe try to roll the mealies in that. and if THAT doesnt work, maybe try some canned mealies. i noticed pickier animals will go for those since they seem to be moister and juicier. you obviously know how to care for your leo, and if you think your leo is more comfortable on sand, then go for it. you know your leo better than anyone,and its easy to see your taking care of it the best you can. i would change to play sand, cuz of the hazards of calci sand, plus i actually think it cleans better and you cant beat the price! hopefully your gecko will come around on the food. let us know if the "scenting" works! Good Luck!
~Erica

If you keep mealies and wax worms together the only thing you will have are happy mealies. Last time I tried this the mealies ate all my wax worms. But I guess in that sense they would taste like wax worms!!

Yea that's what that happens.