Got a New Leo!! Advice needed.

[Argentra]

Last week, I took in a very nice adult Leo from a teacher who had had him as a class pet for a while and needed to re-home him. He is a beautiful fella and quite calm, which is a nice change from my first gecko who you couldn't even reach for without getting bitten.

Here are some pictures I took this evening:
His home (MUCH better than his first one)


Here he is on the tile. (Yes, he JUST finished shedding)


Investigating my watch


And cruisin on the keyboard.



So, what do you think? I know he's an Albino Patternless, but is there anything else to him? Also, I have two important questions:

1 - does he look overweight to you? I ask because it turns out his main diet was Waxworms.

2 - if he IS overweight, how should I go about feeding him, and what? He's currently getting 4-5 dusted large crickets every other day and no worms.

It's been so long since I owned one of these guys...I've forgotten a lot of the finer points of their care.

[Lucas339]

everyone seems to be leaning towards mealworms. i would get him off of waxworms. he does look a lil hefty. i have been looking to get into leos and have found care sheets have changed a little sence i last kept them. they say don't dust with calcium too often...like once a week but dust with some vitamins every feeding and leave some in a bowl for them to lick. thats new to me.

[Clementine_3]

He doesn't look too fat. I would continue with the crickets if he's eating them, they are a great feeder.
What I do is leave some pure calcium in a little bowl (milk cap) all the time and dust with vitamins a few times a month and calcium with D3 a few times a month.
He's really a very handsome fella, congrats on getting him!

[Lucas339]

He doesn't look too fat. I would continue with the crickets if he's eating them, they are a great feeder.
What I do is leave some pure calcium in a little bowl (milk cap) all the time and dust with vitamins a few times a month and calcium with D3 a few times a month.
He's really a very handsome fella, congrats on getting him!

ahh i see....thanks!

[shadraak]

everyone seems to be leaning towards mealworms. i would get him off of waxworms. he does look a lil hefty. i have been looking to get into leos and have found care sheets have changed a little sence i last kept them. they say don't dust with calcium too often...like once a week but dust with some vitamins every feeding and leave some in a bowl for them to lick. thats new to me.

YUP i hve mine on mealworms exclusively unless the female lays eggs then after that's all done i wlll super gutload some crix for a boost of protein and calcium, i rarely dust, as my mealworm food has high calcium/protien, and i even grind up calcium tablets as well, breeder i got them from this is his method and has worked for 5 + years for him, i always have a calc. dish in there though and i think they play in it more than anything but it's there if they need it.

[Laterr]

throwing in my own question now, how many large mealworms would you feed an adult leo? How often?

[dsirkle]

My male is built just like him and has never had a waxworm in his life. I give my leos a primary diet of mealworms that I raise myself and occasionally give them store bought crickets. Crickets stink and I feed them off as soon as I bring them home. My females have smaller bodies but fatter tails than the male. I think that you leo's health and weight look fine.

[dsirkle]

throwing in my own question now, how many large mealworms would you feed an adult leo? How often?

I feed daily but miss occasionally.5 meal worms at a feeding is about average (or 1 super meal worm). Breeding females should be given all they want which is sometimes an unbelievably large amount.

[Argentra]

Thanks for all the replies so far!

I had him on crix because I'd gotten about 100 free from my college (animal behavior lab). I'd like to get him on phoenix worms and dubias as the main staples, with mealies and supers as treats (tho he didn't seem interested in the supers I put in a few days ago).

Good to hear that he looks good. When I heard that they had been feeding him 90% waxworms I cringed. He had been in a 10gal tank with the rim removed (which made it flimsy) with CalciSand, a half log, huge water bowl, red lamp, and no UTH. He seems much happier now.

So, anyone know if he's more than just an albino patternless?

[Argentra]

Update on the new gecko:

He has been named 'Pyrite'. He seems to love mealworms, and I'm trying to find a good supplier for some phoenix worms and silkworms (for the BTS).

Any suggestions on worm suppliers?