Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I recently (Saturday) adopted a juvie blizzard/patternless leopard gecko from the VA Reptile Rescue. He was one of the many herps from the huge wholesale/shipper seziure in Texas. He was also one of the few leo hatchling survivors. By the time they were finially surrendered to rescue groups they were skeletal He is a fighter!

BTW: not sure if "he" is really a he. I just call "him" that.

Anyways, he is about 4 inches long and has pretty good body weight, although I'd like to see his tail a little bit fatter.

When I went to feed him on Sunday he didn't show any interest in the 3 small crickets I offered him I picked up one and put it near his nose. He bit it and ate it. I did the same for the second cricket. He refused the third.

Monday he regurgitated the crickets I was (still kind of it?) worried about him not eating.

This is my first leopard gecko, but I have worked in petstores for years and have cared for many. I also have lots of other herp experience too. But the babies always make me nervous...

Anyways, I got some ExoTerra Electrodize (?) and mixed it in his water (bowl and sprayer) on Monday. I also offered him mealworms in a dish. This morning the 3 mealworms I offered were gone! YAY he ate them last night sometime!

My question is: How many small mealworms should I offer to this little leo? More then 3 a day?

Also, I've heard that juvie leos like their temps slightly cooler then that of adults. (like 80-85 in a the hotspot). Is this true??

Any suggestions would be appreciated! I hope he recovers from his horrific experience and grows to a big fat adult.

Here is my setup:

10 gallon tank
85F in hot spot
73F on cool side
Coconut shelter w/moist moss
papertowel substrate

Currently feeding: 3 mealworms in the evening, in one of those mealworm dishes.

I will post pics of him tomorrow! Not sure what his morph is. I was told patternless. but I've seen blizzards. I think he may be a blizzard. He is very white with black eyes. Some of the patternless I've seen are more grey and yellow. He doesn't have any yellow on him. He is really cute! I think I'm going to name him Honkie....LOL.

3 mealworms a day will be enough to get him started. Many times pet store and wholesale geckos have not eaten in a very long time (if ever!) and will need to be started slowly.
You are on the right track...if he eats the 3 and digests them without problems then offer him 4 the next feeding. Keep offering him more until he is up to full meals (my hatchlings get 5/day and juvies get 10-15 every other day).
Your info regarding the temps. is not correct. They should be housed at 88-90 degrees at the warm end and 80-82 at the cool end. This will help him to properly digest his meals. They can ,and do, survive at lower temps but that's not ideal.
Good Luck!

John Yezbak
North Coast Geckos