pinkies

[K1LOS]

What size should a leo be before it can be fed a pinky? I don't have a scale, so grams won't be of any use, inches is all i can use.

my male is significantly smaller than my female, and i'd like him to put on some size. I was hoping to have a go at breeding this year, so they could both use a little weight anyways. Thanks

Geoff

ps: what is the average size of a pinky? maybe a picture next to a quarter or something would really help here

[Linds]

I don't have any mouse pinkies right now so I couldn't take a pic, however a safe guideline is to go with a pinky that is no larger than the space between a geckos eyes. Just use your best judgement... does the pinky look like it is too large to fit down the gecko's throat easily?

[K1LOS]

they won't tear the pinky up? they are gonna swallow it whole?

Geoff

[drewlowe]

Yes they will swallow it whole. As linds says make sure it's not too big. Try a 1 day old pink if it looks too big don't do, if it looks alright then go ahead and try. Sometime though leos don't want the pinkie the first few times.

[huhet]

i didn't realize that they ate pinkies. is this a normal thing to do?

[Reptile Kings]

Yes, especially for breeding females. It helps in putting weight on them quickly when they lay a clutch of eggs.
Wouldn't give them too many though, they may get addicted. Maybe a few a month.
Experienced layers tend to like pinkies more often than non breeders.
-Sam

[DragnDrop]

I tend to feed one small pinky to each of my breeding females for each clutch she lays, none during the 'off season' time. The males don't get any, they're chubby enough, but the females can make use of the extra nutrition for producing eggs and replenishing their own reserves.
Don't be surprised at the reaction you get to the pinkies - some leos love them, some loathe them. I've never been able to make a pinky eater out of one who refused the first one, but any that took the first one with gusto will take every one that's offered.

[Bighead]

Are you all feeding your leos f/t, f/k, or live pinkies?

[DragnDrop]

F/T is okay, they'll usually accept them.

[Optimus Prime]

I usually feed live pinkies some of my females won't eat F/T I guess they are attracted to the squirming.

[sketchy4]

how much would you say bout 2 pinkies are? i havent tried feeding my leos pinkies yet as they are almost a year old each.

[Reptile Kings]

Well pet stores tend to sell 'em for around the $2.5CDN range each! Which is too much. But you can get them online or at reptile shows anywhere from 0.50cents to a dollar CDN. You can feed leos pinkies, as long as the pinkies are smaller than their heads, any bigger and they won't be able to swallow them, and if they somehow do, most often they will regurgitate it. Try getting newborn or day/two old pinkie mice for smaller leos.
Mine also prefer live over frozen, they can see it better when it's moving.
-Sam

[seann]

.95 cents each usualy per pinkie

[Bighead]

ya, $2.50 is really high in my area at least. I used to buy mine for $1.25 before i needed to buy in bulk (not just for leos).