Crestie Feeding Question

[rabernet]

So, we've been hands off on the new kids and they appear to get along, are often sleeping next to each other (two males).

We got back Monday night - put them up and offered CGD - no worries if they didn't eat, figured they were stressed but it was there if they wanted it.

Tuesday night - CGD still.

Wednesday night - CGD and Phoenix worm - next morning, one Phoenix worm gone, later all gone from the deep dish.

Thursday night - CDG mixed with a bit of peach baby food and Phoenix worms - uh, what is this? Some how these darn worms can climb the side of the dish, and the sides are vertical. Worms climbing out of dish - maybe cresties didn't eat the worms Wednesday? Can't tell if wiggling ones on the bottom of viv are Wed or Thurs worms

Friday - no sign of worms, maybe they were eaten, maybe they are in the deep recesses of McCastle. Tonight going to drop four crickets in and see what happens. No reaction from cresteds - will never be able to get crickets out of McCastle without completely breaking it down - think cresteds will be fine.

So, all of this, and no licks that I can tell out of the CGD, so I'm concerned whether these guys are eating or not. I did witness one drinking water out of his shallow dish.

We're still not handling them at all. Should we handle them and offer off of a spoon?

[jglass38]

I wouldn't worry at all. I have been told that sometimes it takes days for them to get settled and start eating. I still have never seen my Crestie eat the baby food or CGD but she has lived for 5 months. Recently I found she loves crickets. Its the first thing I have ever seen her eat!

[mlededee]

robin they will be just fine. not eating is pretty much the #1 concern people have with their new cresteds. it can take a while for them to settle and start eating as jamie said, sometimes up to 2 weeks or so. your initial success with the cgd also depends highly on what they were being fed by the previous owner. if they were being fed cgd then no worries, if not then it may take some adjustment and coaxing to get them to start eating it.

you can go ahead and start handling them now if you are ready to do so. generally speaking short handling periods won't stress cresteds to the point of not eating the way it can with newly acquired ball pythons. 3-4 days is usually enough time to let them settle before you start handling.

mix up some cgd with a little peach baby food for flavor and then get them out (one at a time obviously ). dab a little on their noses and wait for them to start licking it off--once they do hold up a small spoon with more cgd in it or just put some on your finger tip for them to lick off. that should help them to get the idea that the cgd is food and is yummy. then just leave the cgd in a dish for them like you normally would. once they start eating it out of the dish you can gradually decrease the amount of baby food that you mix in until you are mixing it without any at all.

i'm glad to hear that the boys are doing well and getting along together. also, if they didn't eat the crickets you will probably see one or two of them eating cgd out of the dish if it is shallow enough that they can get into it. sometimes i find a cricket or two in a gecko cage that way when i didn't know they were in there, and sometimes the cresteds find them that way too and CHOMP!

[rabernet]

Thanks Christie, we may have to try that Monday, seeing as I have a Canine Assistant at home this weekend that's very energetic.


It's funny, I know these guys are nocturnal, so all day they stay immobile, but when we get up at 5 in the morning, you can see them out and about but they FREEZE when we walk into the room - if I don't move, you can't see me!!!!

Uncle Kracker was precariously perched on a branch the other morning, looked like you could tip him right off of it and froze when I walked out. Should have grabbed my camera! LOL

[frankykeno]

Try that nose dabbing with the CGD Robin. That's how we got little Sprocket to start eating out of his dish of it. Lots of dabs on the nose then we did try with the spoon though silly Sprocket thinks spoons are for sitting in (SPLAT! ohhh lookie CGD covered crestie! then run up mom's arm leaving many little stickly gecko footprints behind).


Actually quick question on feeding of my own if you don't mind me horning into your thread Robin. Sprocket's eating his worms just fine, seems to lick at his CGD but he seems to hate his vitamin powder. If I dust the worms, he won't touch em. If it get sneaky and mix it into his CGD he doesn't seem to like it as much. I'm thinking of mixing it into baby food for him (something very flavorful like peach). It's Zoo Med's Reptivite (white powder stuff..."new improved super stick formula" lol). I'm wondering if it has some sort of taste or texture he doesn't care for (and no I'm not dabbing it on my own tongue...even I have limits LOL)

[mlededee]

i use rep-cal herptivite and also their calcium with d3 and haven't noticed any issues with it but i dust crickets with it.

keep feeding the cgd as is, just mixed with water. you don't need to mix anything else into it. instead of dusting the worms you can put some of the powder into the container that you keep them in--assuming that you aren't keeping them dormant in the refridgerator. that way the worms will eat it and be gutloaded with it but little sprocket won't know he is getting the powdery goodness.