feeding question please.

Hi all,

well after yet another futile attempt to get Tripod eating crickets I've admitted defeat but have at last I found a site that sells silkworms in the UK and they arrived today so tonight I offered one to Tripod, it took him a few minutes of sniffing and backing off before he gave it a go, 3 silkies later and a nice full tummy a very happy Tripod has taken himself off for a sleep.

I thought I had finally cracked it with the crickets but after one nipped him when he was picking it up to eat it he wouldn't touch them again so was just eating mealies but because of his rapid weight gain he was only having 5 a day. I've noticed this last week a small protein bubble starting to form behind his front left leg so would it be ok to feed him 3 silkies and 2 mealies a day and should I still dust every feed or can I now start feeding every other day and also cut down on the dusting. Because I don't know how old he was when I got him I can only estimate at approximately 6 months but I can now see that he is definitely a little boy as he has the V and 2 little bulges.

At 6 month of age he's still growing, so it would be normal for him to feed a lot and gain good weight. In this case I don't think you need to worry about the protein bubbles.

But what multivitamin dust are you using? Some multivitamin supplements contain protein, like repashy calcium plus. If you are feeding silkworms, and silkworms are high in protein to begin with, you may want to dust every other day instead of every day.

As long as he's still growing, you likely don't have to worry too much. But if the bubbles grow larger and the tail becomes noticeably fat, you do want to start going on an every other day feeding schedule, or feed less per serving.

Thanks Mardy, I use the zoomed calcium with D3 and multi vit, his tail is very fat and I was advised a few weeks ago to cut down on his food (he was eating between 10 & 12 mealies a day) so I cut it down to 7 and then down to 5 on the 1.1.12 he weighed 56 grams at 5 months old, I've just popped him on the scales now and he weighs 72 grams so he's a big lad bless him. He's filled out in his body so his tail doesn't look quite so out of proportion like it did before but it is still very plump.
These are a couple of photos taken just now.

He is absolutely gorgeous! :O
OMG, I'm so jealous! lol, he's seriously stunning!

Hi Kathryn, thank you he is a gorgeous boy and I love him to bits.

Very pretty, he's quite a big chunky boy I might say

I agree that he is a chunky monkey. I would cut his feeding down to 5-7 mealies or 2 supers every other day and dust 1 feeding with the multi vit and one with the calcium with D3. I don know how to put it gently cause he is a very pretty leo but honestly he is on the verge of obese in my opinion... sorry...

Hi Kel don't be sorry I've come on asking for advice and that's what you've given me so thank you, I have looked everywhere to try and find out when I should start feeding every other day and there seems to be a lack of information on that part of feeding so now I know and I can do right by him. This morning he has had 2 mealies and tonight I shall give him 3 silkies and then I won't feed him again until Friday.

what happened to his foot?

Hi Peach75, I don't know I rescued him 5 months ago as a tiny baby and he had already had his little foot amputated and no one seems able to tell me what happened.

he is absolutely beautiful
I love chunky leos!
My banana is on a diet now...She's 91g again haha

Hi Sarah, well I've now sat and worked out that I can feed him 3 items a day so he can have 1 mealie and 2 silkies and if he still stacks on the weight I don't quite know what I shall do as he won't eat runners or jumpers only wrigglers. What diet have you got Banana on as I might be able to pinch a few ideas if you don't mind that is.