Advice

[Ink'd Out Geckos]

So as you know this season is my first with Leo's. I've have experience with many other species but yeah new to this. SO after finding many ovulations in my females and pairing them up I know I have a few weeks before they lay. I have a female that looks a lot different then my others. She has a lot of dark spots in her belly. I originally thought she may be eating her cocoa fiber in her lay box and might be impacted but she is pooping normally and still eating though not as much.

Is this normal?

 

[acpart]

It does look a little unusual to me. I'd recommend a reptile vet visit (if you're breeding, it's going to be a good idea to have a reptile vet on hand anyway).

Aliza

 

[Ink'd Out Geckos]

I have a family member who is a vet tech at a clinic and I sent her the pic I posted and a few more. She told me what it looks like is possibly the liver and large fatty deposits with developing eggs. So I guess my girl is just chunky haha. I do realize that can create an issue with egg laying but at least it's not what I originally thought which was her eating a bunch of cocoa fiber and not passing it. I did check the droppings and there was no signs of any cocoa in there and she is digesting her food and passing it. I think she just has a lot crammed in that belly right now lol.

 

[DrCarrotTail]

I'm not 100% sure I see eggs but it could just be the position or lighting. Most of my females stop eating 100% when they begin making eggs and start eating after they lay their first clutch. None of them eat a few days before laying when the eggs are large and taking up most of the space in their belly but attack anything that moves within 24 hours of laying them. I did have a gal last season whose ovary ruptured. Her belly turned a scary solid black for several weeks (internal bleeding I assume) and she stopped eating. She eventually laid two eggs that were very odd looking and did not make it. She's fat and happy today but I am not planning to breed her ever again. My gals belly looked a lot darker than yours. I'm honestly not sure what's going on with your gal and might have someone check her out if she's acting abnormally and you're worried.