6 days of constipation - eating like a pig! What to do???

[ggg111]

My girl hasn't pooped in 6 days but keeps eating 8-10 mealworms every day except for one day I skipped and one day I substituted with crickets. Is this OK? What should I do? I heard put a drop of olive oil on the nose and let it lick it off. Is this what I should do or should I wait?

Please help. Thanks!!!!!:main_laugh:

 

[gitrdone0420]

I would give her a few drops of Mineral Oil.
Just my opinion.

 

[maximusx6910]

i agree

 

[ectoid]

Our little guy is having this same issue. It's been five days since he last went, and he's had roughly 45 crickets in the mean time.

He's been in his humid hide for all of the last few days, except when he comes out and eats.

He is housed on tile substrate, hot side temps are 90-95, cool side is 82-85.

We've had him for about two and a half months, and I would guess he's about 3 months old. Since we've had him he's always been a big eater, and he's always done his business daily. He weighs 36 grams and is about 7 inches long.

How worried should I be right now? I soaked him in lukewarm water for 15 minutes(I don't have mineral oil tonight). What other steps should I follow?

Has the OP had any luck or change in status? Good luck.

 

[Mel&Keith]

Repeating the warm water soaks every few hours can help.

For those who haven't given warm water soaks before: Remember that the water should feel tepid to you because you want it to be around 90F-95F. If it feels warm to your hand then it's probably too hot!

 

[ectoid]

I soaked him again today, and he was quite upset with it(under the same conditions last night, he was very calm).

However, he did defecate while I was out. Hopefully we won't have another issue like this, it has been kind of nerve wracking.

Thanks for the helpful replies, and good luck to the op.

 

[got spots?]

DO NOT FEED THEM!
I have not had this happen to me but just think about it. You use the bathroom to expel waste which if left in your body will be toxic. If more and more waste is stuck in your body it will hurt/kill you. It sounds like your leo is impacted to me. I would give a warm soak and if still no progress (after a drop or two of mineral oil) take him/her to the vet.

 

[ggg111]

how could it be impaction? All I feed is mealworms and freezedried crickets (occasionally), and they are not on sand. No luck today yet!

 

[mindgamer8907]

As I understand, even chitin (mealworm, cricket, and other insects exoskeletons) can accumulate and still make for hard passing through a short digestive tract. Feeding more only exacerbates the problem. My little guy/gal did the same thing when I first got her and my gf's new little guy will eat until he's bloated and we have to take food away til he poops. It's as simple as that for now... and the soaks/mineral (or olive) oil... that works nicely.

 

[mindgamer8907]

Forgot to mention, if they haven't eaten in a while previous to the constipation, they may just not be pooping what they already don't have to poop... their vents are running on empty you know?