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Anybody feed frozen pinkies?

sleepygecko Mar 27, 2008 12:20 AM

Got a girl who went a little nuts with the weather this year and has gone through 2 months of hibernation. We've done some supplemental nutrition at one month to help her through and now it appears she's hunting again.

She did lose enough tail fat to cause some concern and I think she would be a good candidate for a pinky, however I do not feel comfortable feeding live because of the humane "disposal" necessary if she refuses and frozen are readily available at our local store. (We would have to wait on a shipment for live.)

Anybody have stories good or bad about frozen pinkies? She seems to eat worms readily from tongs, but I don't know if I could wiggle enough like when you feed a frozen and thawed to a snake. (They seem less picky about wiggling skills.)

In this area I am a complete noob, we don't want to breed and have never had any reason to supplement more than waxworms in the past for weight maintenance. Gotta love this weather, it is really beginning to mess with our geckos big time this year, I hope next winter is more normal. Thanks in advance!
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0.1 Albino Leo Gecko
0.1 Crested Gecko
1.0 Dear Boyfriend
Departed: Harvey and Spock

Replies (6)

Mary_Beth88 Mar 27, 2008 10:33 AM

I tried a f/t pinkie with my female to boost her for breeding. I did what you are talking about, put it on tongs and wiggled it like crazy. But, I guess she knew something was up because all she did was cock her head at it and then looked at me like I was stupid. She wasn't even remotely interested in eating it. I haven't tried live because like you said, I don't want to have to "dispose" of it if she doesn't eat it. The worse that can happen is you try f/t, and if she refuses it, you can just flush it. If not congratulations. Good luck.

Niki458 Mar 27, 2008 10:44 AM

I used to breed rats and mice and at the time I would freeze some pinkie mice for a friend . Her geckos loved them but mine wouldn't eat them so I think it depends on your gecko.It is worth a try I would buy just one and see if she likes it. gl

Patrick562 Mar 27, 2008 01:13 PM

One of my leos eats live pinkies, and the other just kills them and leaves them. It's all about preference. And I don't mean what you prefer, I'm talking about your geckos! Good Luck!

sleepygecko Mar 27, 2008 02:06 PM

I may ask the woman who owns the store I got my girl from what she thinks as well. I'll probably just pick up a frozen just to try, no harm in tossing that.

Otherwise it is the gigantic tub of waxworms. I wish the place I trust sold them singly like the place we used to visit. I only need a dozen, not a whole tub! I'll see if anyone nearby needs some snacks if necessary.
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0.1 Albino Leo Gecko
0.1 Crested Gecko
1.0 Dear Boyfriend
Departed: Harvey and Spock

Tom_AF_Guy Mar 27, 2008 02:56 PM

you could try buying live and if it refuses then freeze it, thats pretty much the only humane way to kill a pinky, co2 doesnt work, so all these frozen ones in pets stores were killed by freezing em, if thats all your worried about. just my 2 cents.
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2.1 leopard geckos
1.1 golden thread turtles
1.0 reticulated python
2.1 firebelly toads
0.0.1 pacman frog
0.1 creamsicle corn

Paradon Mar 28, 2008 10:55 PM

I've tried live feeding before because I had a pinky that my Pyxie frog wouldn't eat so I gave it to my leo. I just hold the pinky by the tail with the tweezers and the pinky natural instinct is to squeak and wiggle around like crazy, and that caught the attention of one of my leo. At first she was like licking it and do false strike, but after awhile she finally got a good grip on it and proceeded to crushed it, killing it in the process, and swallow the whole thing down. I have also tried frozen pinky, but only one of my leo took to that, the other couldn't care less. You can try the frozen if you like, but make sure she is hungry. That way she'll eat it.

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