Wait till they shed to feed?

staceyleigh

Member
Messages
369
Location
CNY
Why do people recommend waiting until after the 1st shed to feed? Is it harmful to try feeding a new baby in 1st day or 2?
 

scm133

GULFCOASTGECKOS
Messages
1,285
Location
Alabama
I always wait for the first poop :) .....which usually occurs on the third day. Day 1-3 they are absorbing the egg yolk, and they usually shed, and eat that too. You can offer food, but they don't want to eat.


GulfCoastGeckos
 

DrCarrotTail

Moderator
Messages
3,590
Location
Ridgewood, NJ
If you're worried about them being hungry it never hurts to leave a few mealworms in a bowl in their container. They'll hunt for them when they get hungry :) Most babies hatch with some yolk in their belly and they just aren't hungry until they absorb it, shed and eat their shed and poop it out. Feeding before this is usually just a waste of time and if the insects you're feeding get out they can stress the baby.
 

tb144050

New Member
Messages
1,050
Location
Texarkana
My hatchling is on Day 5 now and I can still see the dark shadow of stomach contents....so I am not suprised that my little "Star" didn't seem interested in the pinhead cricket I dropped in for 10 minutes. :)
 

stager

New Member
Messages
2,112
Location
Jersey
I've never had one eat before shedding, and some believe leaving one crickets in to so can stress a hatchling
 

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