Baby food?

[DarkHunter]

I was just reading something in the forms about giving geckos baby food? I have a 2 year old Leopard Gecko and i was never informed that they were to have baby food unless they needed it if they were under wieght or sick? Can i offer her baby food as a treat? If so what are the best kinds to give her and do i just leave it in her dish for 2 hours then take it away? or do i syringe feed it to her?
Sorry for all the questions tonight lol
Thanks
Shannon
:confused:

[Bighead]

May not hurt, but they are talking about arboreal geckos that feed on nectar (among other things). My giant day geckos and gargoyle gecko both eat baby food. Crested geckos and some house geckos do too.

[Wuntu Menny]

I feed it regularly to my cresteds, gargoyle, and Halmahera giants. They're all making complete pigs of themselves as we speak.

WM

[DragnDrop]

I give my breeding females yogurt as a treat once a week or so. Most of them love it, only the odd one doesn't touch it. You might try peach or the favourite here- strawberry. There's no problem with lactose if you use the live bacterial culture kind.

[Youkai]

I usually make my own fruit mixes for my crested geckos. My old leopard geckos (13 yrs) always have loved mashed strawberry, which I offer them after I've made the other mix. I used to have a male that would attack a spoon so enthusiastically to get to it that I had to use a baby spoon so he wouldn't damage his mouth.

I only give this to them once every couple of months, however. I'm fairly certain I read in one publication that leopard geckos will eat fallen fruit they happen across in the wild, but I can't for the life of me remember what book/paper that was.

[DragnDrop]

Originally posted by Youkai
I'm fairly certain I read in one publication that leopard geckos will eat fallen fruit they happen across in the wild, but I can't for the life of me remember what book/paper that was.

You're right, they do eat it. Good source of vitamins and minerals, and if there are maggots and other bugs inside, great protein too. An easy meal, no need to hunt.

I think you read it on the KS leo forum about 2 years ago. The poster quoted Dr Dr. Frederic L. Frye. The post is in the 'old' leo archives, at http://forum.**KS**.com/lgecko/messages/62353.html Sub the appropriate name for the **KS** :)

A snip from that post:


"According to Dr. Frederic L. Frye, DVM., PhD., MSc., CBiol., FIBiol., FSRM., and Professor of Comparative Reptile Veterinary Medicine and Pathobilology at UC Davis Veterinary School, author of countless books and probably the most reputable Reptile Scientist in the world, (whew!)Leopard Geckos are OMNIVOROUS in the wild. The following are direct excerpts of his e-mail correspondence to me, which also addresses the question regarding the subject of feeding Leos fruits and baby food: ----------------------


It should also be noted that under natural (wild) conditions, leopard geckos consume substantial quantities of fruits, nectar, pollen, grubs, miscellaneous winged insects, and spiders---not crickets. The most common native fruits are mandarin, persimmon, fig, pistachio, loquat and cactus pear that has fallen.

Most any tropical fruit, as well as soft, ripe stone fruits are acceptable. Also, don't forget that fruit nectar, scraped mango, soft figs, peach, nectarine, apricot, pear, etc., are all appropriate, or if necessary, strained baby foods containing these fruits can/should be fed a couple of times weekly; you can add whatever mineral supplement to these soft, tasty goodies. Also, they make a splendid vehicle for supplementing their diet with calcium lactate, calcium gluconate, calcium carbonate, etc.

[Youkai]

You may be right Hilde, I remember that bit of article there.

and if there are maggots and other bugs inside, great protein too.

Sadly, even in my fridge, fruits don't quite get to this stage. (Some have gotten close.)

[LISA127]

I have never tried to give them baby food. I can't imagine they would take to it, as they seem blind to anything that doesn't move. lol

[Bartman]

Yea how would you feed em the strawberries?? I highly doubt my leopards would even see it

[Tim and Julie B]

When feeding fruit to leos you simply put a little in a dish or spoon and let them lap at it. They do not require fruit, nor do they eat much but it's good to try them on it, since they do in fact eat small amounts in the wild, usually in times of drought when water is scarce. You can use the beginner fruit baby foods or mash up your own. Peaches, apricot, mixed fruit, berry and papaya are some of the favorites for all of mine. None are fond of banana though.

Julie

[snakegal12345]

yeah mine likes peach baby food and give it to him on the occaision first time my parents have bought baby food in 10 years lol

[DragnDrop]

Originally posted by Bartman
Yea how would you feed em the strawberries?? I highly doubt my leopards would even see it

The fruit we'd be giving them is 'human food grade quality' , which just sits there and does nothing. Wild leos would run across overripe fruit what's been invaded by bugs, has fly maggots and who knows what living inside. It will be moving somewhat, or have something moving inside it to get their attention. Since I have dart frogs, I have fruit fly cultures all the time. I use real fruit, not the artificial media. Once in a while I'll scoop out a bit of the maggot riddled culture and offer it to the adult leos. They notice it almost immediately, since the maggots are so plentiful that the culture seems to be boiling. The movement attracts the leos, and they clean up every drop.
If you want to try offerring fruit to your leos, let them lick a dab off your finger. They probably wouldn't recognize 'dead' fruit as food since it's not moving. Letting them get a taste for it first will help. A dab on the lips or nose to lick off or wipe off... that can help you judge whether yours will eat it or not.

[golfsk8er]

I used baby food to get one of my new babies eating but have never thought of using it as a treat? will they even know its there if it isnt moving?