Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I heard that pinkie mice can be a good treat for my gecko.. I found the smallest one I could get, and he shows alot of interest in it, but doesnt seem to know how to eat it.. Is there a trick to offering them their first? Hes about a year old. He did take it, but seemed at a loss as to what to do next. Any advice...
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This is courage.. to bear unflinching what heaven sends. -unknown

2.1 chocolate labs and bassett (Harley, Barker and Capone)
1.0 leopard gecko (Nacho)

try scenting it with mealworm or waxie guts. that way the leo will recognize the smell/taste as food.

good luck!

it has been in the dish with his mealworms. He took to it right away, grabbing it a few times, but then didnt seem to know what to do with it.
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This is courage.. to bear unflinching what heaven sends. -unknown

2.1 chocolate labs and bassett (Harley, Barker and Capone)
1.0 leopard gecko (Nacho)

They will normally just start nibbling at it until they break through the skin. (thats what my mates leo does anyway) but for me the whole experience is bad. The mess it leaves is not worth the hassle to be honest.

Scenting it is a good idea. Sometimes they do this if the food item is too big. Double check the size and make sure the pink is super fresh. They also tend to swallow head first. I'm not sure how you're offering it, but I recommend putting the head near the leo's mouth using long tweezers, not your fingers, and once he makes the initial grab, wiggling it just a little, like it's trying to crawl away, can induce eating. You didn't say if its a live pink or f/t? I had one drop and run from a live pink when he started squeaking after she grabbed him. Wouldn't eat pinks for months after that. Some leos don't ever take pinks. Even if it doesn't work this time, keeping trying. I find more takers when it just starts getting warm.
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1.0 Hypo stripe, Het RW from JL (BJ)
1.0 HypoTang from Crested (Apricot)
1.0 Tremper Albino from Petsmart (Cloud)
1.0 SHCT hatched by me! (Sunny)
0.1 Hi-Yellow Leopard gecko from Petco (Beatrice)
0.1 Stripe female (rehabilitated rescue)(Pepper)
0.1 Jungle het RW hatched by me! (Jungle Bunny)
0.1 Normal from 2001 (Freckles)
0.1 SHCT Leopard Gecko from Petco (Brite)
0.1 Tangy Mutt Leopard Gecko from Petco (Rainbow)
0.1 Stripe poss. het RW hatched by me! (unnamed yet)
0.1 RW Stripe hatched by me! (unnamed yet)
RIP Peaches, Ghost, Bill
Adopted out: Goldie, Leucy, "Q"
Hatched: ~50

you were correct in your hearing. they are great to offer no more than once a month, especially for breeding females. they are really high in calcium, but also high in fat so they can get fat if offered too much. when i feed my geckos them i use long tweesers and wiggle it like it's alive and try to get them to eat it head first. it's hard for them to eat it if they just bite into it's gut, better to eat it like a hot dog, not hamburger. hope this helps and good luck!