Reptile & Amphibian Forums

here are three of my auriculatus. i just love these guys!!!!

i have noticed they can be picky when young. my first one i got (first pic) was very picky, mostly likes crickets and then one day out of the blue took off and eats anything.

the next one has been a bit harder. i have been very worried about him but the ;last week or so has started eating much better. i have been trying some new things and mixing it up a bit trying baby food meat and fruit,the ggd and crickets. i dont think he is still out of the blue but he is doing much better. however he just shed yesterday and has pieces on his toes.. i figured i would up the humidty (even higher) tonight and tomorrow to see if he gets it off himself otherwise i will have to bring out the tweezers to assist him.

here he is in both of these pics (you can see his stuck shed on his toes)

this one is my third, he has been doing great!!!

my question is what is, if any, the trick to picky aurics??? and could his stuck shed be a result of the lack of appitite (protien/vitamins and nutrients)???? his humidity is being kept right between 50-60 percent (its hard to get high humidity anywhere here in south/central texas LOL)
anyhow all replies will be appreciated thanks for listening

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-robin struck (new married name)
Geckoheads And Geeks

Is he accepting the GGD? If so I would continue to offer it only. If you must have crix in the diet, offer once a week or so to see it he takes them. He looks like he has good wieght, so be patient. I trick to se if he is eating the diet is to not fill the dish up completly with the food. Leave a circle with an edge you can see, then check in the morning to see if it ate. If not, don't stress, offer the food again in 2 days.
good luck
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Bill DiFabio
Azteclizard.com
Email Me

Robin,

Some R. auriculatus stop feeding from time to time. This is completely normal behavior. I feed all of my juveniles crickets and baby food, without problems. I have never used the prepared diets by T-Rex, so I can't suggest the product. Some sub-adults and adults will eat crickets more readily than others. It is always a good idea to try different foodstuff to see what your R. auriculatus prefer. Most people expect this species to be as voracious a feeder as cresteds, but it's simply not the case (I do have a few that will eat anything!) Be careful with baby food. R. auriculatus tend to become obese in captivity if offered baby food too often. I've seen too many photos of chunky R. auriculatus.

Nathan Hall

GECKOS UNLIMITED

Good warning Nathan. I def recommend sticking to the crix as much as possible, excess baby food will just make them balloon out. Unfortunately my aurics never were big crix eaters, so they gained a lot of weight while they were young and are just now starting to hit a “normal” size. Feeding them like every 3 or 4 days to maintain it (adults). However I am now facing the same battle with my adult leachies. The male is finally eating only crix (fruit once a week or so) I just got to get the female now too. But anyway Robin I would try to make the diet consist mostly of crix. As for the shedding it is probably just a humidity issue. Use a moist q-tip and gently rub off the excess shed on his toes. Hopefully next time he’ll do a better job of it . Best of Luck.
-Mike

i took you guys advice.. i have been feeding more crickets and less baby food. i was able to get all the remaining shed off with a q-tip and have since upped my mistings to three times daily. i hope this all helkps. thank you for your suggestion and your time - robin
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-robin struck (new married name)
Geckoheads And Geeks