Gecko not eating...

[LCReptiles]

Ok. So I have a female gecko I bought about 4 months ago who is refusing to eat. I haven't pressed the issue because I know some of them take a little longer to get settled in. Well she isn't in dire straits but I paid too much to allow her to get so bad that I cannot get her back. I have made Golden Gate's slurry and she fights so much that I can't give it to her. I have tried mealworms and crickets to no avail. What else can I do?

 

[Embrace Calamity]

Does she have access to belly heat? And what substrate is she on? And how long has it been since she's eaten? What about pooped?

~Maggot

 

[katie_]

Sometimes I think attemting to force feed a gecko will only make your problems worse.

 

[LCReptiles]

They are in a rack system. Belly heat with thermostat at 95 degrees on the warm side. Paper towel substrate. She pooped 2 days ago when I tried to eyedrop some of the slurry on her. Pooped all over me. I have seen her take water and she shed yesterday which probably mean she's dropped some weight.

 

[Embrace Calamity]

They are in a rack system. Belly heat with thermostat at 95 degrees on the warm side. Paper towel substrate. She pooped 2 days ago when I tried to eyedrop some of the slurry on her. Pooped all over me. I have seen her take water and she shed yesterday which probably mean she's dropped some weight.

When did she last eat? And how would shedding mean she's lost weight? Did she eat her shed?

~Maggot

 

[SC Geckos]

She pooped 2 days ago when I tried to eyedrop some of the slurry on her. Pooped all over me. I have seen her take water and she shed yesterday which probably mean she's dropped some weight.

If she is pooping she has to be eating something. Not sure where you got that info about since she shed she could be loosing weight. I have never heard of such a thing.
I would suggest instead of guessing if she is loosing weight, to out and buy a simple digital food scale to keep track of her weight. I would recommend keeping track of all of your geckos weights.

Last thing, I am assuming you did not quarantine the gecko (60-120 days) before housing it with the others. I would not be housing that gecko in the rack with the rest of collection in case she is ill. The last thing you want is for it to effect other geckos.

Good luck.

 

[LCReptiles]

If she is pooping she has to be eating something. Not sure where you got that info about since she shed she could be loosing weight. I have never heard of such a thing.
I would suggest instead of guessing if she is loosing weight, to out and buy a simple digital food scale to keep track of her weight. I would recommend keeping track of all of your geckos weights.

Last thing, I am assuming you did not quarantine the gecko (60-120 days) before housing it with the others. I would not be housing that gecko in the rack with the rest of collection in case she is ill. The last thing you want is for it to effect other geckos.

Good luck.

Typically I would quarantine any new animals but all my animals came from the same breeder at the same time so they were left together. The day she pooped on me was actually the second day I had tried to dropper feed her. The first day I had managed to get a fair amount into her because she tried to bite the dropper so I could squeeze it into her mouth. It wasn't until the second day that she started the thrashing about.

 

[Embrace Calamity]

Typically I would quarantine any new animals but all my animals came from the same breeder at the same time so they were left together. The day she pooped on me was actually the second day I had tried to dropper feed her. The first day I had managed to get a fair amount into her because she tried to bite the dropper so I could squeeze it into her mouth. It wasn't until the second day that she started the thrashing about.

Did she not eat her shed then? Has she been checked for parasites?

~Maggot

 

[SC Geckos]

Typically I would quarantine any new animals but all my animals came from the same breeder at the same time so they were left together. The day she pooped on me was actually the second day I had tried to dropper feed her. The first day I had managed to get a fair amount into her because she tried to bite the dropper so I could squeeze it into her mouth. It wasn't until the second day that she started the thrashing about.

Your whole collection? I saw some earlier posts of yours where you got one from a LPS, a few from a breeder, and had another two for a while and one suddenly died... Either way, I think the best option would be to isolate it from the others and take it to the vet as others have already suggested. Another good idea would be to contact the breeder you purchased it from and ask them about the issue your having. Maybe they could give you some information that could help.

 

[katie_]

Id stop force feeding her asap. Seperate her and bring a sample of her feces to the vets.

It doesnt sound like shes on deaths door, and thas when force feeding is recommended. You force feeding a stressed gecko wont solve your problem.

 

[LCReptiles]

Just a quick update. After meticulously going over every bin in my rack I determined that the tub she was occupying for reasons I have yet to figure out was running about 7-9 degrees cooler then the other tubs. I relocated her to a bottom rack shelf where the temps are spot and have seen a response from her. She is slowly taking 1 or 2 mealworms and I see her moving about the tub more. I don't think she's completely out of the woods yet but she is improving. Thanks for all the help!

 

[Cesar_Da_KIng]

This is good. As the others said i would never recommend force feeding unless the gecko is nothing but bone. Get a scale and record weight weekly and you should be fine. Its winter so they will slow down a little bit but its perfectly natural so dont worry. Mine might eat once a week right now and the hot side temp is 93, its just because its winter so less light and the air temp everywhere but their hot spot is cooler so they will go into their natural hibernation mode.

 

[SC Geckos]

Just a quick update. After meticulously going over every bin in my rack I determined that the tub she was occupying for reasons I have yet to figure out was running about 7-9 degrees cooler then the other tubs. I relocated her to a bottom rack shelf where the temps are spot and have seen a response from her. She is slowly taking 1 or 2 mealworms and I see her moving about the tub more. I don't think she's completely out of the woods yet but she is improving. Thanks for all the help!

That's good to hear. Eating 1-2 mealies is a start. Just make sure they are properly dusted and gut loaded so she can get every bit of nutrition possible out of those small meals.

 

[Ghostoftangerine17]

Glad to hear there's been some improvement :main_thumbsup:

Hope she keeps on getting better!!

 

[LCReptiles]

She is back to her normal self now. Quickly will take down 4-6 mealworms within minutes of them being put in the tub. They are always dusted and gutloaded on Wheat Germ, Oats and generally organic carrots but occasionally apple.