Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I would like to minmize any substrate impactation, I have never fed geckos out of the tank, I would like any insight, i have a baby gecko, and three adults. Can you just start feeding them out of the tank or so you need to acclimate them to being out of the tank first. I would love to hear any experiences people have had transitioning their geckos from tank feeding to seperate container feeding. Thanks Rob

What kind of substrate do you have them on?

~~Dusty Windom
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So Many Alleles, So Little Time...!
@
~~The Gecko Barn~~

I have them on coco-fiber eco terra reptile oriented stuff, it says that it is 100% digestible but, you never can be sure, and I don't know I just think I ought to get them accustomed to it.

Not because of substrate but because sliding glass
doors let crickets loose.

I keep a ten gallon with some slate tiles for footing.
And keep a mellow light on it for heat. The tank is empty.
Then I take out one gecko at a time an place it in the tank
with a few crickets. I count the crickets and turn a timer
on for 15 minutes. And both my blizzards eat well in there.
I got a couple of new geckos. And one took to it in two days.
The other is still causious.

A toilet paper roll so they can climb in it. Helps the
shy ones.

One benefit to feeding like this. Is I know who ate and
who didn't. I find it works better every other day.
Radena

I feed my guys in their own keepers (rougly 2 1/2 gallon?). It's good to be patient at first because it can take awhile for them to calm down (if they're young). I would leave them in there for 45 mins to start with. One of my guys got it right away, and another took a day before she would eat. It was only about a week before they immediatly got down to business and were finished eating in 15 mins or less...they let me know when they are done eating.

I think it's great because you get a little handling time with each gecko. Mine are becoming very tame. It's also great (as mentioned previously) because you know exactly who ate what. While they're eating, I also take the opportunity to spot clean the cage.

Thanks you guys for the info, I feel like I can probably start then I just need one more lamp or UTH. Thanx again

Why not just get them off the loose substrate to begin with??? Leos also lick around their environment.... All it takes in one bit of substrate to start an impaction.... You are correct in not believing what the package says.... They will put anything on a package to sell their product.... I would go with paper towels and if you are going with the natural look, use tile....

I use that eco earth stuff, only in the humid/layboxes in my adult/breeder cages..... Your babies should not be on any loose substrate at all.... Paper towels are the best for young leos.... Hatchling to subadult leos should not have any loose substrates in their case at all.... Not even in the humid hide....

I have been using moss, and mix of coco-fibers, but,,.. I think your right about the juvies and babies, but what to useas substitute, do you think a cut up sponge would do the trick,.. any suggestion?

I just use paper towels in the juvi/hatchling humid hides.... Just put a few layers of paper towels down in the hide and wet it......

Cool, I do have a lot of paper towels, I have to use them all the time for my three year old monkey-girl. Thanks for the tips Greg!