I need some help... really bad...

[PacHerp]

So guys, I've got this female tremper I've had for about a year, and she hasn't been eating for about a month. good thing is, she hasn't lost a gram, (I haven't weighed her this week yet, I will as soon as I post this). She is steady at 62 grams, and looks healthy. She is in shed right now, but looks to be having a little trouble. (not eating it, yet... )

Her name is twinks, as in "twinkie" because she LOVES waxworms.. haha... I don't feed them often, it's just when she gets them, she get soooo excited and begs for me to hold her.

anyway, so.. I'm worried... one, because she hasn't pooped in, well, a week, and 2, she isn't eating, not even a single waxworm now. Her eyes are clear, her outward appearance looks good, she is active, just not eating or pooping.

so... I put together Marcia's "Slurry" tonight, and I'm going to try it out once she is done shedding.

all together, I'd really like to hear your stories, and maybe get some advice as to the best way to deal with a situation like this.

I thank you in advance....

 

[PaulSage]

Is she ovulating?

 

[PacHerp]

hey Paul,

It doesn't look like she is ovulating from what I can see, but I will check again after her shed is done... and good news, she is starting to eat it!!!

I haven't seen any pink areas when I examine her belly... she is a virgin, so I know she isn't gravid or anything like that... I'll continue to keep a close watch to see how she is doing...

 

[Sandra]

If she is not eating, it's normal that she doesn't poop. Can we discard impaction?

If it makes you feel any better, I had a gecko gone on hunger strike for five months and she didn't lose any significant weight.

I don't know if it was a coincidence, but mine started eating again with pinky mice.

 

[Golden Gate Geckos]

Some geckos lose interest in food this time of year... when the days start becoming shorter and daylight diminishes, and the temperatures go down. In the wild, they would be going into brumation for winter.

As long as her floor surface temperature are around 90-94 degrees in the warm side of her enclosure and she isn't losing any weight, TRY not to worry too much (easier said than done).

Also, my slurry is designed to help sick geckos that are not eating while being treated and/or to provide a stool so a vet can do a fecal test. It isn't a substitute for an otherwise healthy gecko's food, or medicine that will 'cure' anything.

 

[PacHerp]

hey, I was hoping using something like the slurry would help 'stimulate' her appetite.... would you agree? or should I just let her be, and hope she will begin eating again eventually?

any thoughts?

 

[Golden Gate Geckos]

If anything, the slurry will make her full so she won't be hungry enough to eat her regular meal! LOL!

 

[robin]

let her be, as long as she isn't losing any significant weight she will be fine

 

[malt_geckos]

What would you all call significant weight? We have two geckos that haven't eaten since we got them. They are both still looking like rollie pollies. But we got them from Mike on here, and now they aren't eating either....so we aren't really sure why they are on a hunger strike. ??? The male has lost 6 grams in 3 months and the female has lost about the same.

 

[Golden Gate Geckos]

I would consider 'significant' to be 10-20% of their body weight.

 

[PacHerp]

hey everyone,

thanks for your all of your help!

I'll let her continue her hunger strike unless she begins to loose 'significant weight'. I don't know if I posted, but she lost 2 grams this past week. I'll continue to keep everyone updated...

 

[PacHerp]

UPDATE

so now 9 days later she is weighing in at 56 grams....

she has eaten a few mealworms here and there... but I'm still concerned. She doesn't look horrible, and I know most people would say 56 is a healthy weight, but she is a big girl, and the 62-65 gram mark is her normal weight range. I'm just assuming this hunger strike is from the winter months...

just wanted to update you guys.

 

[nwheat]

They do often slow down alot during this time of the year. In my limited experience, I haven't seen them stop altogether to the point of losing several grams unless they're ovulating, or something is wrong, though.

I had a gecko that was similar to yours a couple years ago (this time of year, to). I took her to the vet; they did a blood test and found that she had a bacterial infection. I gave her antibiotics and she started eating again and is doing well now.

One trick to get reluctant feeders going is to remove the head from a mealworm and let them lick at the, um, delicious part. This will often get them to snap up the whole mealworm.

Good luck with her!

 

[Ccrashca069]

One trick to get reluctant feeders going is to remove the head from a mealworm and let them lick at the, um, delicious part. This will often get them to snap up the whole mealworm.


Thats a good way to put it Nancy. I have noticed for the last week my leopards are not eating as much either. So it must just be the time of year.