Leopard Gecko Eating and Weight Concerns

[becca81]

I've had my two leopard geckos for about two months and they seem to be doing well. I keep them in a 55 gallon aquarium in my classroom and yesterday I brought them home for the summer and put them in a 20 gallon long aquarium.

I have one male and one female. The male was considerably smaller than the female two months ago, but they are now about the same size. Do males typically grow faster than females?

Also, many pictures that I see of leopard geckos show a fat tail and abdomen. Although I know mine are eating (all the mealworms are disappearing and they are defecating), they still appear to be a little skinny. I have a calcium dish and I also dust the mealworms with calcium. They occasionally eat a few crickets, but I don't usually dust them before putting them in the tank.

Here's a recent picture (taken yesterday) of the male. I know he's probably not full-grown, but does he look too skinny? Is there anything I can do to fatten him up some? He's getting longer, but not "bigger."

 

[misfitsfiend]

Looks fine to me, as long as they have fat in their tails(where they store it), he'll be fine. But you should deffinately dust more often. It does help. Also you can try fattier feeders ... Wax worms are high in fat, pinkies also make leo's pretty fat, but he seams to small to take a pinky.

 

[versimomma]

I know some will disagree but I personally hate mealworms. They are almost pure chittin (spell?) and I find gut loaded crix and waxies much better. I have recently had a very poorly male (lost the female :'( ) and I have never given him mealworms at all. I am unsure about the prev owner.
You can also over suplement geckos. I dust twice a week with nutrobol and twice a week with pure calcium. I also leave a calcium dish in the viv. I am unsure how much u should or if there is a right or wrong but my male is on the road to recovery

 

[Lasiodora]

Becca,
How often do you feed them and how big are they? What are your temps? Are they both aggressive feeders? Maybe the male is getting more food. Sex doesn't affect growth rate. He looks fine to me. You can offer wax worms like misfit suggested. Crix should be enough though. The occasional pinky near breeding time doesn't hurt.
Mike

 

[becca81]

How often do you feed them

I feed them about 3 times per week. I'll add some mealworms to their bowl or put some crickets in the tank. Usually the mealworms last for a day or two.

and how big are they?

They are each now about 7" from nose to tail.

What are your temps?

I don't have a thermometer in the new tank (I'm still in the process of setting it up), but it usually stayed around 87 - 95 degrees F. They were in a 55 gallon aquarium and I used a 150 W red heat bulb on one end. I still have the same bulb on the 20 gallon, but I'm a little concerned that it may be too much.

Are they both aggressive feeders?

I'm not totally sure. I've seen them both eat, and the female is typically out a little more than the male during the day. I'm guessing that they both eat about the same amount.

You can offer wax worms like misfit suggested. Crix should be enough though.

I just offered a few crickets, and the female immediately went after one. One concern, though, is that when she tried to get the cricket, she got some of the substrate in her mouth and I'm guessing she ate it. I'm using "Lizard Litter" and it says that it's "Ground English Walnut Shells." On the bag it says that it's safe for all lizards, turtles, etc. Is this okay? I was using Calci-Sand in the other tank with no problems, but the Lizard Litter was the only thing I had available at home. Should I change it?

I also use "Bone Aid - MicroStick Calcium Powder." I usually have it in a small dish that I leave in the tank, but yesterday when I got them home I just added it to the mealworm dish.

Here they are together. The male has spots on his body and the female does not.

Here's the female looking for a cricket. You can see the mealworm dish here, too.

 

[versimomma]

The geckos need a hot spot and a cool spot. i have my guy in a viv and i only us a 25w normal bulb. My viv is about 3 ft long and is about 88 in the hot side and about 75 in the cooler side.

 

[becca81]

Those were approx. the temps in my other tank. I've got the bulb on one side of this tank and the humid hide is in the hot part (and another hide in the cool part).

My concern is that since the tank is smaller, it's going to get too hot on the hot side and hotter than normal on the cool side.

 

[versimomma]

That is quite poss. As less space to get away from the heat as it were. Id buy a lower wattage bulb, but first get a reliable thermomter , not a crappy dial and see whats goin on. xx

 

[Lasiodora]

I feed them about 3 times per week. I'll add some mealworms to their bowl or put some crickets in the tank. Usually the mealworms last for a day or two.

They are each now about 7" from nose to tail.


I don't have a thermometer in the new tank (I'm still in the process of setting it up), but it usually stayed around 87 - 95 degrees F. They were in a 55 gallon aquarium and I used a 150 W red heat bulb on one end. I still have the same bulb on the 20 gallon, but I'm a little concerned that it may be too much.


I'm not totally sure. I've seen them both eat, and the female is typically out a little more than the male during the day. I'm guessing that they both eat about the same amount.



I just offered a few crickets, and the female immediately went after one. One concern, though, is that when she tried to get the cricket, she got some of the substrate in her mouth and I'm guessing she ate it. I'm using "Lizard Litter" and it says that it's "Ground English Walnut Shells." On the bag it says that it's safe for all lizards, turtles, etc. Is this okay? I was using Calci-Sand in the other tank with no problems, but the Lizard Litter was the only thing I had available at home. Should I change it?

I also use "Bone Aid - MicroStick Calcium Powder." I usually have it in a small dish that I leave in the tank, but yesterday when I got them home I just added it to the mealworm dish.

Here they are together. The male has spots on his body and the female does not.


Here's the female looking for a cricket. You can see the mealworm dish here, too.

Three times a week sounds fine. Try feeding them around dusk when they are starting to become more active and see if that makes a difference.

@ 7" they are both sexually mature. The male might be putting all of his energy into breeding the female. If that's the case then a little weight loss is okay. Have you seen any courting? Can you see any developing eggs in the female? You can check by turning her around and looking at her belly. The eggs are fairly visible.

150w bulb may be too hot depending on the temps of the room you are keep them in. Get an indoor/outdoor digital termometer with a probe ($20 @ radioshack). Double check the temps. 85-90f is sufficient for a 20g tank.

I have never used that type of bedding before. If you think it won't be passed through their system then don't use it. Remember they actively eat their substrate. I know plenty of people are afraid of using play sand (many of which may chime in and say not to use it) but I have never had a problem with it. I used palysand for the trio I had, and all of the offspring they produced, for nine years. I used to see them eat it and always found it in their feces. Never lost one to sand impaction. A 50lb bag also went a long way. I used calci sand in the past but it was too expensive and not really necessary.

In addition to keeping the calcium in a dish dust the feeders at least once a week just so you know they are gettng it. Especially now during the breeding season.

You have a beautiful pair good luck and enjoy them.
Mike

 

[chris73]

It's possible the male is being out competed for food or is stressed by the females presence. Leo's are solitary animals by nature and don't need or search out companions in the wild except to breed. Try separating and you may see a dramatic improvement in the male's growth and eating habits. I breed the higher end color morph's of Leo's and feed mealworms exclusively and have never had a problem other than faster growth rates than with crickets . I know of other breeders who do the same. Good luck.

 

[becca81]

Thanks for the info, everyone!

I'm going to run out today and get another bulb and get the new humid hide ready. The old one is too big for this tank. I also think I'll feel better if I get some more sand instead of the lizard litter. I don't want to take any chances of them not being able to pass it.

I haven't really been thinking about them breeding, but I guess I should probably do some research just in case.