He's losing colors! Noooo!

[lecko167]

I got my first leo about 2 months ago, he's grown into a bright handsome boy but he's losing his purple stripes. Will he lose these completely? Also, that tail, as you can tell (lol no pun intended), is huge. I'm worried it's too fat, but he has an insatiable appetite. The flash washes his color out a bit but here my fat boy is now-

Here he was 2 months ago-

 

[fl_orchidslave]

Their colors change as they mature. It looks like he's not going to keep the striping. His tail tip is regrowing due to injury and will look a bit different. They don't regenerate to look like the original tail. If you think he's a overweight, cut back on feeding amount a little. I've had to put some of mine on a diet because they would get too fat and it's not healthy for them.

 

[Quantumhigh]

Really nice color on him now. Shows what some good care will do. Nice weight on the tail and really healthy looking. Do you know he isnt maybe a she? A clear underside pic posted would get a sure answer. Reason I ask is first pics like looks like eggs in her right side.

 

[lecko167]

I'm not worried about the regenerated part of his tail, that occurred before I got him. I'm worried he's maybe overweight or something. Thanks guys!

Here's a pic of his/her underside:

 

[fl_orchidslave]

He looks like a she. Is there a small fat pocket showing on the left side of your photo? If so, yes do cut back on the eats a bit.

 

[lillith]

Two votes for "she". How often is she fed and how much?
Some geckos are just little piggies.
She might keep a splotch or two of lavender in the middle of the spotted sections. She has some really lovely emerine-like colors, I love the orange in particular.

 

[BrightReptiles]

Definitely he's a she lol

 

[lecko167]

Thanks guys! Oh no! I thought I had a boy! She gets anywhere from 5-8 medium crickets, but lately I've been giving her 10 since they've been small. She still hunts and watches me after I cut her off at 8.

 

[Quantumhigh]

I would let her eat as much as she likes. Eggs might be developing which take alot of nutritional resources away from going to her and into the eggs growth. Once she is ready to lay eggs (duds or not) she'll likely stop eating for small periods. Then when the eggs get laid or reabsorbed she'll start eating again like crazy to regain any lost weight. If you have plain calcium on hand leave a small soda cap or dish full and she'll lick it up as needed for egg production.

 

[lillith]

She doesn't look to be ovulating or gravid to me...why do you think so?
Just wondering what you're seeing that I'm not...I think she's just chubby.

 

[lecko167]

If it helps, she is my only gecko that I've had for months now and she hasn't been with a male at all since before I got her. Also, how old would you suspect her to be?

 

[lillith]

They can lay eggs without a male, they're just slugs (nothing will grow).
My guess is 9-12 months old, closer to 9-10.

 

[Golden Gate Geckos]

Definitely a "she" and does not appear to be ovulating or gravid based on your photo. She is still a sub-adult, so I wouldn't restrict her feeding. It's disappointing when their black bands fade into that lavender color and then it goes away. Sometimes I wish they would just stay that way. Very pretty gecko!

 

[dean]

great lookin leo, but I think the tail is a deformity...not regen. This one I have has same type of tip(sorry not great detail in pic). She was hatched that way, I think maybe temp swing, but only egg out of about 20 at that time with issue. I donated her to friend as pet, since I couldn't be sure of defect or temp.... Maybe I am wrong, but the pattern is perfect match to rest of tail, and regens usually don't do that-again I think.... Just suggesting in case you bred her and got surprise in the hatchlings... but she's beautiful!
Maybe somebody with better experience could confirm this....?

 

[sausage]

I think shes lovely. dosnt look atall over weight to me : iv seen geckos with kankles defo not her heehee

 

[lecko167]

Thanks guys! Her tail has always been that way and since I work at the store I bought her from I've known her since she was a tad older than a hatchling. Is it too late to introduce another female?