Baby question

[KRISSYK]

I know when my first 2 babies hatched I was very concerned about them not eating soon enough. You all helped me through that until I got my hatchling tubs set up just right. They are now growing like weeds and eating me out of house and home!! Now (remember I got a late start in breeding last year) my last 2 eggs were late to hatch. The first of that clutch is a month and a half old, the second one I did not think would hatch. His shell caved in and was all fuzzy and did not grow at all. After the first one hatched, I hung on to it just in case. Well to my amazement a little over 2 weeks after his clutch mate hatched, he popped out of his sad looking shell. He was very small and his tail was thinner then I ever thought it would be. It took him a very long time to shed his first skin but he finally got it off. Now I am having a huge problem getting him to eat. I have tried mealies and crickets. He will not even look at them. I tried with my fingers and feeder tongs but he runs. Remember he is now about a month old, and we have been force feeding him for about 2 weeks. Once we get the cricket or mealie in his mouth he will swallow it. We started soaking the mealies in NutriBac hoping that would help. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. This is my favorite baby that I hatched out this last year. I will try to get the hubby (he is the camara man!) to get a pic of him for me.

Thanks in advance
Kristina

 

[Golden Gate Geckos]

Kristina, try not to force-feed... it stresses them out terribly. Here is a recipe for a slurry that may help the little gecko get started on it's own feeding response:

In a blender, combine:
1 small can Hill's A/D pet food (available at most vets)
1/4-1/3 cup Ensure (not chocolate)
1 jar baby food squash
1/4-1/3 cup Pedialite
2 tablets or contents of 2 capsules milk thistle (herbal supplement, liver purifier, found at most drug stores.)
1/2 tsp. each calcium powder and herp vitamin powder
1 large handful of mealworms, added slowly while mixture is blending

Puree all ingredients until completely smooth, and pour into ice cube tray(s) and freeze. Store cubes in zip-lock bag in the freezer until ready to use, then thaw out 1 cube at a time and store in fridge for 2-3 days. I use the empty baby food jar for this purpose, washing it thoroughly after each batch.

*Lately, I have been adding about 1 tsp. T-Rex Gargoyle MRP to each new thawed out cube.

Using this mixture, draw a full 1ml dropper (eye dropper type) and place a drop on the gecko's nose. It will lick it off, and as it does, slowly squeeze out a little at a time. Most geckos love this food, and will lap it up.

Good luck!

 

[KRISSYK]

Here is a pic of him.

 

[KRISSYK]

Try this again.