2 Week Old Still Hasn't Eaten

[Spark]

I was just getting a little concerned. I've had my first hatchling in her home for 2 weeks now and she's got everything she needs (hides, moist hide, heat, water bowl) but she still hasn't eaten. I've tried jiggling the mealworm in front of her and leaving a few in a food dish for her but she is yet to actually consume one. Is this normal or is there something else I can try?

Sam

 

[GeckoRing]

I have had this happen a couple of times. Try feeding her some slurry to stimulate her appetite. You will need a small syringe and just put a drop at a time on the side of her mouth, that way you don't accidentally put it on her nostrils.

 

[lytlesnake]

Or try some small crickets. Put 2-3 in there and see what happens. If she eats them put a few more in there. You could also try very small superworms if you have access to them.

 

[Halley]

Or try some small crickets.

This might be a idea, sometime leos take to them better, beacuse of their movement.

 

[mcvancleave]

what is the normal time that a hatchling should start eating?

 

[acpart]

Some of mine start off pretty slowly and may only eat 1-2 mealworms. If I see poop regularly I figure they're eating. I had one last season that was considerably smaller than the clutchmate and didn't seem to be gaining. I held her in my hand and gently pressed the mealworm against her mouth and she grabbed it. The down side to that is that she got used to eating from my hand and I had to spend a week teaching her to eat from the bowl. Once she learned that she doubled her size in less than 2 weeks.

Aliza

 

[Spark]

Thanks for the tips. I just tried that last idea and it worked like a charm. I held her in one hand and pressed a cricket up to her mouth and she ate it. She took two small crickets before appearing full so I left it at that and we definitely got some progress tonight. She finally ate after 15 days!

 

[fallen_angel]

That's great! I am glad she is eating

 

[mcvancleave]

was wondering my current hatchling is real early by incubation times about 20 days and weighs almost 1gram. Healthy as far as i can tell runs like a champ and is not afraid to lunge.

 

[rubym]

Our smallest one ( 2 grams) was about 8 days early and she didn't eat until she was 7 days old. I was stressing out. She eats fine now and is up to 8 grams ( 3 weeks old).