Reptile & Amphibian Forums

We just two leos for X-mas and have been feeding them crickets. Is it better to offer crickets with their legs cut in a bowl or "free range" with their legs cut? Or, does it depend on the gecko? At first our leos were too shy to chase down food. Now that they are used to their new pad I am wondering if they would enjoy a little hunting.
J

I vote for hunting. Gives em some exercise. I only do the cricket leg removing thing for geckos who can't catch their own.
Do follow the rule of, the cricket should be about as long as the width of the gecko's head. And if you switch over to jumpy crickets, watch to be sure they can do it.

When ever I have a slow hunter that will snape at food an inch short or just run out of energy to get food, I would pull the back legs of the crix. This will inable them to jump and also take some of there speed away.

I also use meal worms in a dish that they can't reach the top of to get out, thats easy food.

You my want to try to hand feed your leo if it gets to the point where that are just unable to catch food. I still hand feed some of mine for fun even though they can feed themselves.

Hope this helps.
Austin
2.3.3

Our leos are in hiding most of the time and I have to get them out of their hides in order to even handle them. I would love to have more interaction with them - any suggestions?? Right now, I would be shocked if they would eat from my hand. However, it would be great if that would change.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.
J

Mine are always in their hides as well. They seem to be most active from about 1:00 am to 6:00 am. Whenever I want to interact with mine I just take them out of thier hides and handle them. Usually try to do it in the evening so as not to disturb their natural cycles. I have had a few that were really jumpy in the begining and it really helps to settle them down (regular handling I mean) I also feed mostly mini mealworms and after a few times of my male accidentaly latching on to my finger I started using hemostats. Mine are terribly spoiled and I feed the mealworms one at a time plus I can gauge exactly how much they are eating that way. I just take them out of thier hides and drop one wiggling mealie in from of them and continue untill they are done. Gadzooks

Mine love to hunt, I feed mini-mealworms, crickets and a few waxworms every couple of weeks. I use hemostats to feed the mealworms and waxworms and let the crickets run loose. I have noticed alot of times If its not wigglin they are not real interested in eating it. I believe that like most animals that are predatory that the act of hunting itself brings about chemical responses in the body that they need (just watch their tails twitch) Gadzooks