How do you make/keep your leo's so chubby?

[GoGo]

Well, lately, though its getting better, weve been having weight loss problems here. And I just wonder, how do you all keep your leo's so dang chubby? We only have one geckos thats only like 2/3 the chubbyness of all your geckos(Most of you have really chubby geckos so i use a general all). HOW DO YOU DO IT? X-X

 

[moosassah]

I'm no expert, but have you had a fecal done? If you are having issues with eating & keeping weight on there may be more to it.

Or housing/bullying--similar sized roommates?

If all else appears to be good, maybe it's time to switch up the food or gutload them better.

 

[GoGo]

Weve tried: Crickets, Mealworms, Superworm, Silkworms, Hornworms, Butterworms. Everything gutloaded on its appropriate food. Im TRYING to get a fecal done, its just been very difficult with my dad. Maybe if i press the, THEYLL DIE, issue a bit more itll work.

 

[acpart]

To some extent it depends on the gecko. Right now I have 2 holdbacks from last year that were born within 2 days of each other from different parents and are "rooming" together. They are fed the same and receive the same amount of attention with feeding but one is 68 grams and one is 48 grams. Some of my adults get up over 100 grams in the early fall and virtually don't eat most of the winter and go down to 85-90 grams.

That said, this is what I do to make sure my geckos get the best and eat as well as they can: I gutload the feeders well to make sure what they do eat is nutritious. I try to pay attention to what each is eating and what their feeding needs are. For example, I have one gecko that either doesn't see very well or is really uncoordinated. She tries to strike at superworms and crickets but usually misses. At one time I was feeding her crickets but I had to block off most of the tank and herd the crickets toward her. Now she's eating superworms and it still works best to drop them in front of her. Another gecko I had was hand fed for nearly 2 years. If someone isn't eating and isn't breeding, shedding or ovulating, I try switching the feeders around and providing a little assistance (putting feeders in front of them, holding them and gently pressing a feeder against the mouth) to see if that works. So far everyone is healthy and eating to at least some extent.

Aliza

 

[GoGo]

Im sitting here right now with the #1 thinnest having most problem gecko infront of me, she has a choice of hornworms, butterworms, mealworms infront of her, all ready earlier she killed silkworms instead of eating them. If I have to i will run to the store a block from here and buy her crickets too.In my avatar picture this gecko is the one in the far right, she looks NOTHING like that now. Her color has changed(not in a bad way), shes thinner and her tail is not even half that size, FOR NO REASON. Weve tried housing her alone, housing her with another gecko, 2 other geckos, 3 other geckos, alone, 1 gecko and alone again, and nothing seems to matter the gecko just wont improve.

 

[GoGo]

Okay, tomorrow were calling their vet to ask about getting a fecal done.

 

[curiousKathy]

Okay, tomorrow were calling their vet to ask about getting a fecal done.

Excellent idea! Could you let us know what you find out at the vet's? Hopefully it's nothing serious...

Kathy

 

[moosassah]

Again, I'm guessing but, with the amount of switch ups you've done on her environment, maybe you should give her time alone & leave her that way. Maybe she's stressed beyond belief & you haven't given her enough time to relax. I'd still get that fecal done too. Let us know how she's doing. Good luck.