Hunger Strike for Leo?

[Makai]

I may be worrying TOO early but our little leopard gecko hasn't eaten in a couple of days. Now --before this feared hunger strike, I did "treat" the little guy to some mealworms (4) and he gobbled them up in a short while.
Could he be showing favorites (not wanting to chase crickets now). I've even crippled a cricket and laid it right in front of him but he bailed on the offer.

He DID eat good a couple of days ago but I would expect him to want to chow down with each offering. I'm human and this gecko thing is VERY new to me (and the family).

This seems to be the place to ask..

[albiez420]

very sweet so he loves them and doesnt want anything else, too fattening and needs good balance

[albiez420]

he has said that for years......

[Makai]

They're actually waxworms (so I'm told) and he will eat these but seems to not want crickets anymore...

Is this OK?

[Makai]

Hi Rev B,

That "might" be it. We're in North NJ and what a change in the weather recently. I'm still hungry though. I'll keep this in mind and monitor the leo carefully (keep a list of what he eats).

Regarding temp - he should be fine. The warm side is between 80F-90F. We have a G.E. 50W Spot Heat Neodymium daytime basking light during the day and use a ESU Reptile RedHeat 50W Incandescent basking lamp during the night (this lamp is a little cooler than the G.E). If there are better choices for lighting, please advise.

Thank for the reply(s).

[bcj68]

I recognize this. The mealworm probably chewed it's way out of the LG's stomach.

[LizardLover88]

They should only have 2 worms a week they are very fating

[BambooZoo]

Find yourself an electrolyte if you get worried, you also do not say what age he is which may also be of importance?

bcj.....it is a myth that a meal worm can tear the inside of the stomach and eat their way out. It is the opposite that happens.....when a lizard is extremely close to death the meal worms are an opportunistic feeder and bore their way IN to the body. I use mealworms as scavengers in my environments and no lizards are bothered by them unless the reptile is within an hour or two from death.

Pat

[Tonkatruck]

It's the wax worms that are high in fat, not the meal worms...I did start keeping meal worms again mainly for a back up because they run me low on crickets so often...and use them once or twice a week. I do not use them as a staple food. Most time you can find keepers that do use them as staples and I have found no research concluding them to be bad.

Learn something new every day huh Pat...I did not know they bore their way in.

[dee]

UMMMM............. Did you guy's look at the date on this post!!:woohoo: :whistle: :woohoo: