Having Some Issues with my Female..

[Neon Aurora]

I suppose I should fill out this form thing.

About your leo:
- Sex: Female
- Age & Weight: a little over 1 year, 34 grams
- How long have you owned your leo: a little over 3 months
- Where was he/she obtained (ex. Pet store, breeder, wild caught, friend): Very reputable breeder

A) Health/History
- How often do you handle your leo: Not really ever, unless I need to move her to clean her tub
- Is your leo acting any different today? If so how does he/she normally act which differs from now: She ystill behaves the same way. Sleeps during the day, is pretty active at night, but doesn't eat.
- Has he/she had any problems in the past, if so please describe: She didn't eat between her first and second clutch, which is partly what's causing the problem I'm having currently. She's also been taking an unusually long time to lay clutches.
B) Fecals
- Describe (look any different than normal): They are normal
- When was the last time he/she went: 6 days ago
C) Problem
Okay, here's my story. I bought this leo from a very good breeder and when she came in the mail, there was a note left in the box that said she is ovulating and I should pair her with a male soon. So I did that, and everything was fine. She laid her first clutch three weeks after being bred. But then she wouldn't eat after her first clutch. It took he four weeks to lay her next clutch, after which she ate for a little while. She gaine a bit of weight back and when she stopped eating again, I figured it was close to her next clutch. Well, it's been 5 weeks since her second clutch and she's dropping weight quite a bit. She's not lethargic, I haven't noticed any straining, and her vent looks normal, so I don't think she's egg bound.. I posted pictures, too, just in case she might not actually have eggs and is not eating for some other reason.

The other problem I'm having in with her tail. Recently, when I pick her up to move her so I can clean, she starts shaking her tail violently. Sometimes it keeps twitching for almost a full minute. She also does this in the presence of crickets(not the normal hunting tail shaking. It's much more violent) but she shows no interest in the crickets. I'm afraid her tail might be trying to fall off. If it fell off, I'm not sure she would survive losing what little fat she has left.

Housing:
A) Enclosure
- Size: 16 qt tub
- Type (ex. glass tank): tub
- Type of substrate: paper towels
- Hides, how many, what kind: 2, 1 most/warm at about 90 degrees, and one cool at room temp
B) Heating
- Heat source: strip of 4 inch heat tape
- Cage temps (hot side, cool side): 90 degrees on warm side, room temp on cool
- Method of regulating heat source: thermostat
- What are you using to measure your temps: digital thermometer with probe
- Do you have any lights (describe): no
C) Cage mates: none
- How many (males, females)
- Describe health, or previous problems

Describe Diet:
A) Typical diet
- What you're feeding (how often, how much): She will only eat crickets, but as I said, she hasn't shown any interest in eating for weeks
- How are you feeding (hand fed, left in dish, ect): dusted crickets running around in the tub at night
B) Supplements (describe how often): I've been dusting with calcium every feeding since she was producing eggs, but she hasn't been eating
- What vitamin/minerals are you using (list brands): reptocal I think it's called. It's worked for me for years
- What are you gut loading food with: flukers

Here's some pictures

 

[acpart]

It doesn't look to me as if she's gravid. Will she let you hold her and gently poke a cricket at her mouth? I have one female who lost quite a bit of weight after her last clutch and looks to have a bit of a calcium crash as well. Initially she was too weak to eat on her own but I was able to get 3-5 mealworms or crickets into her using this method. She's now eating on her own.

Aliza

 

[Neon Aurora]

Well that would be great if she wasn't gravid. That would explain why she hasn't laid. I'll try this morning to poke some crickets at her.

EDIT: I gave it a try and got 3 dusted crickets in her belly! It's a start. I'm very relieved.

 

[DrCarrotTail]

Glad to hear she's eating again! I would agree that she doesn't look super gravid to me but the light and angle of the picture makes it a bit hard to see.

 

[Neon Aurora]

It does seem like she would be obviously gravid at 5 weeks. My camera isn't very good, so it's hard to get good pictures. I couldn't get her to eat this morning, she just kept spitting out the cricket I stuck in her mouth. She is about to shed, though, so maybe that's why. If she isn't gravid than I guess I don't have to worry too terribly much. She's underweight, but if I can get some food in her using this method than I'm sure it'll be okay and she'll be eating again before too long.

 

[Neon Aurora]

Just giving an update. I've been able to get her to eat 2-3 large mealies a day(with much struggle sometimes) and I've been syringe feeding her supplements mixed with water. I do one day water + calcium plus by repashy and then the next few days with water + pure calcium(since I don't want to overdose her with vitamins since I'm not sure on dosage). She hasn't shown any interest in eating on her own, but she's pooping now, so I figure she must not be egg bound or anything.