Gravid for a long, long time

[puppiesandkitties]

I received a phone call from my friend. We got our first leos at the same time and share the hobby of raising them.

He has a female who is very small and stubby, but she is fat. Her name is Flower. That's just her shape. She has already had three other clutches in the past--one every year. But he claims that she had never did this before and he is concerned.

The leo has been gravid for 5 1/2-6 weeks. Her belly is very fat now and it drags. She is so gravid that you can see the egg color in her sides without turning her over. Good thing is that she just ate 11 wax worms, and wanted more, but he wouldn't give them to her, because she may vomit them up. She is very active, still drinks, and haven't started digging yet.

I told him that she may be fine, since she is still eating and drinking, but I get his point when I saw her. The belly seems like it is gonna pop, and you can feel the shape of her eggs. She has a lay box in her cage and everything and it is of the right moisture. Should he still go to a vet or wait? I think that he should wait, since she is eating and wants to eat.

 

[fallen_angel]

How often was she laying eggs before? 5-6 weeks isn't too long of a time, I would suggest to wait and see if she lays soon. We have a female that blows up when she is carrying, and she literally looks like she is going to pop for about a week before she lays. She too has taken 5-6 weeks to lay one clutch before. I also agree that if she is eating, she obviosuly isn't too stressed out or anything Maybe take her to the vet in a week if she doesn't lay; but I hope that everything turns out okay, best of luck to your friend!

 

[puppiesandkitties]

Thanks. He is very anxious and impaitent. I would be too, if I had a gravid gecko. The sooner they lay, the sooner they hatch.

Also, it may be his conditions, but he has the healthest leos, so I don't think he is doing wrong. He has no heat lamp on them. It is the same temp as outside in his room, which is an addict or an loft, so he puts no lamps on them in the summer. The temps are 90ish here. When I pick up those leos, they are very warm. You think that Flower would prefer a heat lamp? If she is put in a cooler room? It is kinda dark in his room, since the lights being on makes his room hotter.