Advice Please. My Geckos haven't eaten for 2 weeks and tails are thinning quickly

[feeblminds]

Hi.

I have 2 Leos, R2 and D2. I started them on mealies which they quickly went off, then moved to crickets. One liked them and the other didn't, so finally I settled for hoppers which they both loved, seemed like a winner. Both leos are now 1 yr old and have been on staple of locusts for 6 months +.

Suddenly they both stopped eating, very strange as sometimes one is picky and wont eat for a while (before shed, etc). After about a week I though this strange as I was taking out hoppers every morning and replacing them with new but none were being eaten.

I decided to try some new food items for variety so I got waxies, butterworms and dubai roaches. I find it really strange that they will not touch waxworms as in the past they have loved them.

I think one of them has eaten a couple of dubais but the bigger of the leos I dont think has touched anything for at least 2 weeks maybe 3. Her tail used to be really fat but now I think is getting very thin.

I am really worried about them, their poos seem normal. I havent changed tank round (except removing spider I found in there).

Every night when I'm in the room, they both try to climb the glass and will hapilly walk all over me, they are very playful but they just are not eating properly.

Should I be taking to the vets or has anyone any thoughts.

The air temp is 30c one side and 25c on the other. There are 4 hides including 1 wet hide.

Ive attached a piccy of the troublesome twosome, the one whos tail has shrunk a lot is the one sat on the hut, her tail used to be at least twice as fat.

 

[PaladinGirl]

I am kind of having almost the same problem with Toon, she maybe eats one dubia every couple days that I see. She always has left overs in her tank. I was going to post something but then I saw your post so I'm hoping we hear some good advice. But I don't know, to me your geckos look pretty healthy. They were bigger before? I think they slow down with the food as they get older. Toon is about 6 inches long, not sure how old. I'm hoping that's why she's slowed down. I can't really tell if she's losing weight but I'm considering weighing her soon.

 

[Thorgecko707]

its that time of year

 

[tlbowling]

I have a few that are doing this same thing? (They are all females too? Not sure if that has ANYTHING to do with it?) One is worse than the other 2 .

Yours look totally healthy to me. But 2 of my females do too...I'll weigh them tonight, and see if they lost weight...one I KNOW did, and I relocated her to another room entirely!

 

[prettyinpink]

First, please take a look here http://geckoforums.net/showthread.php?t=70912

Second, they look pretty healthy but if you ever notice them loosing weight that's usually a concern. I'm not too happy about that sand or two leos together, but I'm not going to get into that... that's up to the owner.

Just by looking at them they look really healthy to me, and if you stated that they're pooing...that's also a good sign. They're adults, and adults don't eat too much. I'm not sure how long you've had them.

Are you keeping feeders in their tank? I would grab some supers and put them in a food dish that they can not get out of and make sure you have a couple-few always in their tank. They could be wanting to eat at a different time then you're wanting them.
And if you didn't already know, make sure feeders are not left in their tank over a long period of time or they'll start munching on the leos (ie- crickets, roaches, ect)

Always double check temps with your hands, esp with sand to make sure there's no hot spots in there.

Hope this helps

 

[prettyinpink]

Wanted to add, my girls will usually go off feeders every once in awhile and will even sometimes loose weight. After this happening to me a few times I stopped getting worried, I just made sure I kept the feeders in there all the time and always made sure their temps were good and they were pooing.

 

[feeblminds]

Thank you all for the replies, it is reassuring to know it's possibly just time of the year. Tbh its my first time with Leos and seeing one of them lose so much weight off her tail and the sudden change it eating habit was concerning me. I;ve order some supers to try leaving in the tank with them. Maybe Im just being an over cautious parent and worying too early.

I'll check the sand for hot spots but have a feeling i will find them as i have a small heatmat and a 75w red light cos its pretty cold here in the UK. Maybe I should reconsider.

I've spent hours reading on the net over the whole substrate issue but everyone seems to suggest differently. I just do my best to keep the and dry and fine to avoid impactation.

I'll keep an eye on them leaving supers in. Also I do remove the feeder each morning to prevent nbbling, never had to before though as they used to eat them all.

Do you think housing them together could be an issue?

 

[feeblminds]

Replies to questionnaire if it helps

About your leo:
- Sex
2x Females
- Age & Weight
1x year. Weight unknown.
- How long have you owned your leo
11 months.
- Where was he/she obtained (ex. Pet store, breeder, wild caught, friend)
Pet Store
A) Health/History
- How often do you handle your leo
2-3 times per week
- Is your leo acting any different today? If so how does he/she normally act which differs from now.
Only not eating.
- Has he/she had any problems in the past, if so please describe.
B) Fecals
- Describe (look any different than normal)
Same
- When was the last time he/she went
Definately in the last week although not as much as normal
C) Problem
- Please briefly describe the problem and how long it has been going on
See above

Housing:
A) Enclosure
- Size
90x45x45
- Type (ex. glass tank)
glass tank
- Type of substrate
sand
- Hides, how many, what kind
4 (3dry and one moist)
B) Heating
- Heat source
heat mat and 75w red light (kept on in day off at night)
- Cage temps (hot side, cool side)
30-31c hot (drops to 27 at night)
25.4x cold
- Method of regulating heat source
heat mat and light
- What are you using to measure your temps
2 temp probs (electric probes) measuring just above sand at moment
- Do you have any lights (describe)
75w infa red
C) Cage mates
- How many (males, females)
i have 2 females toegether
- Describe health, or previous problems
General health good. Previous problem was one gecko face planting the glass door daily and trying to climb upside down on the cge lid. Prevented second by remvoing high rises from cage and eventuall she stopped jmping into the glass.
Describe Diet:
Hoppers
A) Typical diet
- What you're feeding (how often, how much)
4-6 large hopper daily between 2
- How are you feeding (hand fed, left in dish, ect)
put in viv to chase
B) Supplements (describe how often)
- What vitamin/minerals are you using (list brands)
calcium Vertak every 6 times per wk
nutrobal Vertak every 1 times per wk
- What are you gut loading food with
This one
http://www.livefoods.co.uk/product_info.php/feeder-insect-diet-1kg-gut-load-food-p-1236

 

[Pinky81]

Do you think housing them together could be an issue?

Honestly this is a 50/50 subject. Some have females housed in appropriately sized viv's with no issue. And then on the other hand it can go the completely opposite...with injuries or tail loses, or one bullying the other and hoging the food.

My first suggestion to you is get your self a Gram Scale!!! This way you can monitor what their weight is. Your two look healthy and at a decent weight. Tail size is NOT the way to monitor weight as the tail can appear smaller due to hydration, growth of the leo..etc. your simply kitchen gram scale is the best thing you could buy!