Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Is it a normal thing for Leos to only eat when the lights are off?? Keep in mind that my main herp experiences have been at my job, and we feed in the morning, and all of our herps always eat then, even the leos and fat tail geckos. I know that they're nocturnal which would make sense too . ..

Temp at the top of the tank (it's a 29 gal tall) is about 85, and they have both their day and nigh bulbs on at day w/ an undertank heater, and the night and undertank heater at night. Both bulbs are 60 watt. The day is a tight beam basking bulb. The temp is on the same side as the lights and the undertank hearter.

I'm htinkint that maybe I might need to raise the wattages on the bulbs . . . possible??? Or is the nighttime eating normal and not temperature related??
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Trish
1.0.0 Albino Leopard Gecko
0.1.0 Hypo-Something Leopard Gecko
1.0.0 Rat
0.1.0 Cockatiel
0.1.0 Pitbull/Golden Retriever
0.2.0 Cats
0.1.0 Horse
And who knows how many fish

hah my 3 lil piggies will eat even in the middle of the day should they decide to wander past their food dishes. but it does seem, due to their nocturnal nature, that they hunt and eat more in the evenings. i really dont think there is a problem in their feeding schedules if they are healthy and behaving normally.

DarkSky

Cool coo. . .

The other thing is that all they are earting right now is gut loaded crickets. The crickets are Timberline crickets, gutloaded with Timberline feed and calcium dust, and I feed them the Flukers orange cube things when I have them. I was thinking about picking up wax worms or meal worms and wanted an opinion. I know wax worms are really high in fat, but I know that sometimes the mealies are hard for the critters to digest because of the hard shell.

Which are better, or should I just stick to the crickets?
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Trish
1.0.0 Albino Leopard Gecko
0.1.0 Hypo-Something Leopard Gecko
1.0.0 Rat
0.1.0 Cockatiel
0.1.0 Pitbull/Golden Retriever
0.2.0 Cats
0.1.0 Horse
And who knows how many fish

Wax worms are great if you need to fatten up a leo. Like before a breeding season. But I don't the nutrional value is quite as high as gut loaded crickets. Mealworms can be a great staple diet, and are very easy to breed, which makes them convienient. My leo was fed only crickets for the first few years of her life before I aquired her, and she will not touch the mealies.
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0.1.0 Leopard geckos
1.0.0 Fat Cat

i use mealworms as a staple in my leos diet. its true that their shells are tougher to digest than the soft abdomen of a cricket, but my leos have never had a problem with impaction or anything. mealworms are easier to house and gutload than crickets, and they dont smell as bad.
as for waxworms...waxies can be "addictive" and if fed too often, leos may start refusing food other than waxies. so its best to give waxworms as a treat and not use them as a staple.

DarkSky

Waxworms are not addictive.... But they are also not good as far as being a staple diet..... I use them more as a suppliment than a treat..... Once a week all of my adults get 10 each..... Juvies get 3 to 5 a week..... They have a high level of calcium and a good amount of fat for breeding leos...... Meal worms are a great staple diet but it is always better to offer your leos a variety of insects.... My leos are fed mealworms, waxworms, silkworms, crickets, and roaches.... Roaches would most likely be the best staple diet for you leos..... Also do not forget to suppliment.....

>Also do not forget to suppliment.....

You mean with calcium dust?? Correct?? I heard it's not good to do that daily, but only a couple times a week. Is that true???
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Trish
1.0.0 Albino Leopard Gecko
0.1.0 Hypo-Something Leopard Gecko
1.0.0 Rat
0.1.0 Cockatiel
0.1.0 Pitbull/Golden Retriever
0.2.0 Cats
0.1.0 Horse
And who knows how many fish