Crestie Feeding Questions

[frankykeno]

Sprocket is doing fine though I don't know if he's the right size for his age having never had a Crestie before. He doesn't seem overly interested in his CGD but I'm going to try mixing it with babyfood more and see if that helps (or maybe I just think he should be eating more of it lol).

He quite likes mealworms and crickets. I'd like to order some phoenix worms online (www.wormman.com) since I can't find a local supplier but I'm wondering if I order 150 smalls is it reasonable to assume he'd automatically eat them since he eats mealies and crix? I'd hate to get stuck with a bunch of phoenix worms and nothing to feed them too LOL.

Since I'm concerned he's not eating as much CGD as I think he should, how often should I be offering crix/worms per week? He seems to be doing good and is growing and joy of joys...still has his lovely long tail!

[recycling goddess]

jo,

i have two i've always though they weren't eating enough of the CGD. LOL so i think it's just us cause mine have grown lots.

i mix mine with baby food instead of water... to add the goodness of the baby food as well.

i know mine love silkworms but i've never tried phoenix worms... sorry, no help there.

[mlededee]

it is best to mix the cgd with plain old water in order to keep the nutrient balance intact and to avoid giving your geckos too much sugar. if you must you can add some organic sugar free baby food in with the cgd, but even then i'd try to use as little as possible.

keep in mind that cresteds don't have terribly large stomachs. i serve my single adult males their cgd in 1 ounce deli cups (looks like a short shot glass) and only about a third full. that is plenty for two days and they don't always finish all of it.

if sprocket likes mealworms he will probably also like the phoenix worms. he is used to eating something squimy out of a dish of some sort so if you offer the phoenix worms the same way he will probably at least try them.

one other thing you can do to get your crested to have more of a taste for cgd is to dust his crickets with with it whenever you don't dust with other vitamins and calcium. that will get him smelling it and eating it with the crickets and then when he smells it in his dish he will remember the yumminess.

[frankykeno]

Hmmm good thought about dusting his live prey. I am having one other issue with him Emily. He seems to hate his vitamin powder suppliment. If I dust his worms with it...he won't touch them...the little stinker. I sneak it into his GSD as often as I can but he tends to not want the GSD when I add it in. Rotten thing doesn't seem to like the vitamins and heck he can't eat Spiderman Gummie Vites like Mikey does LOL.

So educate me a bit please. I know waxworms aren't the best but what is the best worm for Sprocket...silkworms or phoenix worms or some other sort of worm. He does love his crickets but I'd like to offer him a variety of things to nibble on.

[mlededee]

maybe you should just dust the crickets with the vitamin powder since those are his favorite insect. that way he is most likely to get some of it in his system.

if you want you can add some baby food to his cgd until he starts eating it well and then gradually decrease the amount of baby food your are using until you are back to mixing with plain water. the thing with cresteds though, is that if they know they are going to get their favorite (crickets or whatever it might be) they will hold out for it. so if sprocket gets crickets regularly enough to expect them on a certain schedule he will skip the cgd on purpose. you wouldn't think they would be able to rationalize that way but believe me, they can!

silkworms or phoenix worms would be a great food item for sprocket. maybe you can try them both and see which he seems to like best or what is easiest/cheapest for you to keep.

[frankykeno]

Thanks Emily! I never realized Sprocket would reject his CGD because he knows he's getting his crickets. Geesh...outsmarted by a dang lizard! LOL I'll try your suggestions and read up on keeping/storage for both phoenix and silkworms. It seems that Toledo only has darn waxworms in any pet store I've been in so I'm likely going to order the others online and end up with 100 plus of the darn things. I really need more worm eating lizards don't I.

[mlededee]

really need more worm eating lizards don't I.

now you're thinking.

[recycling goddess]

silkworms are high in protien. butter worms are high in calcium. they make a GREAT balance for most worm eating critters.

[McAdry]

Hun we really really don't need anymore worm eating creatures lamo

[mlededee]

everyone needs more worm eating creatures!