gecko missing when she hunts

[corrine]

Well my new gecko, Vixen has a really hard time hunting. She'll see a bug, strike, and miss about 95% of the time. She does manage to get some but I've started giving her mealies out of a dish. Is this normal for her to be missing like she does? She also closes one eye a lot.

 

[zebraflavencs]

Mine do that... takes like 4-6 strikes to get one roach.

Now, eye closing... interesting...
Is there a uvb being used near her ?
Janie

 

[corrine]

Not really. She's above Yoyo's viv so She's not getting that light. She's close to a window but that's covered with black curtains.

 

[zebraflavencs]

When you say closes one eye... is this a constant thing, a hunting thing, or just now and then thing ? What else are you seeing ?
Janie

 

[crypticdragons]

Not really. She's above Yoyo's viv so She's not getting that light. She's close to a window but that's covered with black curtains.

Does she only close it during hunting? Many reptiles do this to "hone in" on their target.

 

[corrine]

She does it frequently but not constantly. It's mostly during the day when she does it. I'm guessing it's because she's sleepy?

 

[zebraflavencs]

Could very well be... Corrine, I tend to feed at night time... around 8-9 pm...
Perhaps you might change up feeding times, and see if that makes a difference ?
Hope that helps out !
Janie

 

[ladyknite]

janie's got it. Gex don't see well in the daylight. It doesn't much matter that she's not getting the light from the cage below or that the curtians block the sunlight. Even the smallest amount of light inhibits her full vision.

For your own reference........At night, when all lights are off.............
Go in there with a flash light. Get her out and hold her so that you will be able to see her eyes. Turn the flash light on. Notice the change?

 

[corrine]

I do feed at night. The gex get fed when the dragons lights go out. At 8 pm the overhead lights in the house get shut off and the blacklights come on. That's when they get fed and are out and about. She's still a little skittish so I haven't been able to handle her. She's slowly(very slowly) getting used to me. I think she may just be keeping an eye on things while she's resting during the day.

 

[ladyknite]

hmmmmm.........
For a temp time, you could put her feeders in a bowl. She'll crawl in with them. That'll give her a smaller "grab" space.

 

[corrine]

I did buy a mealworm dish and some mealworms. She climbed right in there and really enjoyed them. I'll have to try the roaches in there and see if they can get out.

 

[ladyknite]

I can even use a ceramic cat food dish and when i use small nymphs......they don't get out of it.
if one does.......it's ok. That will just keep her alert and prowling.

 

[crystal9534]

my leo misses alot of the time too. but that because she's cross eyed. she's my cross eyed baby she's gotten better since we've gotten bigger crickets though lol