Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi everyone,

This is an update on my picky boy. Sorry to bug you with questions and probably no obvious answers, but I want to pick all your brains. My set up is improved. Many Thanks to Rosebuds! It was a little too hot, so I got the temps much better now and letting it get a little cooler at night. I made the basking spot a little higher so that it can be nice and hot without the whole tank getting too warm. That helped a lot and they like to climb all around. More important is that I quit worrying so much about UV and just got it BRIGHTER. They've seemed to really appreciate that. I still have UV, but swapped the ceramic heater for a nice bright 40 watt bulb.

I also started misting them more often with a good misting twice a day. I also started letting water drip from a styrofoam cup with a pin hole. They all like this and I've often seen my boy lapping at the little puddles in the rocks.

My three girls are doing great. They eat like vicious velociraptors and they're putting on noticeable weight. My boy, Kermit, is looking a bit more perky and active. But he is still a very picky eater and only eats a cricket or two a week! He doesn't seem to be losing weight, but he's definitely not gaining any. I'm trying everything to get him to eat but he just ignores the crickets! I've been putting a nice salad in there from time to time, but they all look at the salad and at me like I'm crazy or something. I leave it in anyway just in case. At least the crickets can munch on it.

I haven't taken him to a vet. It's a long drive to any herp vet from my home. I've checked for mites and he seems clean. His skin looks good, and his poop looks very normal.

Is there anything you guys would suggest for a picky eater? I've thought about trying other bugs, or meal worms or something. My geckos LOVE meal worms but I only give them the worms as an occasional treat.

I've also thought about putting him in a separate tank by himself for a while. Could the girls actually be stressing him out? BTW, I looked closely at their vents and the girls are definitely girls, and only one boy.

Any suggestions?

Thanks,

John (Hayseed)

John, there are other worms besides meal worms that are very nutritious. You can try phoenix worms, silkworms, butter worms, small horn worms, and super worms. Some of my small lizards prefer one, and some prefer another. For any of these besides the supers, you would need to buy them on line. I get mine from
www.mulberryfarms.com

Other than that, I would say that he must either be eating more than you think, or might need a vet visit. It sounds like you have worked out the husbandry issues.

Hey Rosie! I've wondered if he might be eating more than I think, like when I'm not there. I'm gonna try some pheonix worms on them. There is a place to get them here. I'm also considering a drive to Cincinnati to see a real herp vet.

What do you think about temporarily putting him in a separate tank? I was reluctant to do that because I spent a lot of time on their current viv. But, I could do that if it would help him.

Thanks for all your advice and encouragement. It's much appreciated.

John (Hayseed)

Well, I think the females might comfort him more than stress him. Another male might stress him out or even fight, but collareds seem to do really well in 1.2 trios. Eve can probably answer that question better than me.