how can I get my geckos to eat their mealworms?

Question

They have always been on a cricket diet and that is simply all they will eat. They are uninterested in the worms, but I successfully got them to eat a couple via assist-feeding. I will buy more crickets later, but I want to get them to eat the worms too. I thought I would try something new, and I'm too stubborn to give up now.

They are marbled geckos, and the mealworms are small.

Answer 1

I have found through much research that many non responsive geckos (in regards to food) become responsive through vibration or movement. You will probably have to feed by hand, try tweezers. Don't squeeze the worm too hard, you want it to wiggle. If it doesn't move, the lizard won't want to eat it because it thinks its dead. You may need to assist in the beginning, but they should get the hang of it. They will eventually chase the worms when they are hungry. Many pet stores even sell vibrating food dishes for this sort of problem.

Answer 2

Don't feed them anything but the worms. Make them choose between starvation and mealworms. They will make the right choice. Give them a cricket every once and while, but only after they get used to the mealworms.

Answer 3

You don't mention what type of gecko you have or what size of mealworm you are feeding....

All geckos (& lizards) are more apt to eat the appropriate sized food item. Too small & they might not be interested - too large & they may be freaked & stressed out.

I also have more success feeding recently molted meal worms (when they shed their hard exoskeleton & are relatively soft & easier to digest)

Answer 4

my gecko has to have all food shaken with calcium powder..even the crickets..she will eat the crickets but not as enthusiastically as when they are dusted first. she refuses mealworms too, unless i put them up to her mouth. i think they need to be really moving around for the gec to want to eat them. that's why they sell those vibrating feeding dishes in pet stores.

Answer 5

well do you speak gecko ,, lol,, just keep trying but if the like crickets and the geckos like it then just feed them that , also go to the nearest pet store ask one of the animal people what else geckos can eat ......good luck....love the car insurance commercial staring your geckos...lol..........

Answer 6

maybe the worms dotn move fast enough to stimulate them to want to eat em??? I know my leos ONLY ate crickets & if they werent hoppin all around they usually ignored them

Answer 7

Threaten to take away dessert, unless they eat the worms.

Answer 8

ok in order for it to eat it you could move it around so the geko will think is mocing most gekos dont eat anything that does not move

Answer 9

honey im sorry they only live three weeks without another geck in a heated tank with lots of real green plants and bark

Answer 10

try some earthworms, they really wiggle
how about some bugs, there should be plenty this time of year