so i have kept leos for over 7 years and bred them several of those years, but never have i witnessed this behavior till just a few moments ago. my female leo who is about a week or so from laying her first clutch of the season came out of her hide and started to open her mouth and lick her lips... so i watched her. she continues to open her mouth and then begins shaking her head as if she is trying to regurgitate, but nothing comes out because she has not eaten today yet. last night i found some regurgitated meal worms in the terrarium. she is in there with a male and another female, all are in good weight and health. the substrate is repticarpet. one hot spot is about 82 the other is around 97 and the rest of the enclosure is about 70-74. they have a warm moist hide/laying box, a cool hide, and another dry warm hide. diet is mealies(27/7 access), super worms, crix and the occasional wax worm. 24/7 access to water and 1:1 calcium and vitamin powder mix. any info on this behavior would be much appreciated. thanks!!!
leo dry heaving??
- Thread starter MiamiLeos
- Start date
GeckoGathering
GrizLaru
- Messages
- 4,323
- Location
- Indiana
Health
I never had the problem, but from reading a article on dry heaving.
stating:
"It sounds very much like an anxiety equivalent rather than an organic physical problem.............."
IMO:
SEPARATE the female to her own habitat. She wants to lay and too much stress
not being able to seperate herself as she would in nature.
Good Luck.
Take care. HJ
I never had the problem, but from reading a article on dry heaving.
stating:
"It sounds very much like an anxiety equivalent rather than an organic physical problem.............."
IMO:
SEPARATE the female to her own habitat. She wants to lay and too much stress
not being able to seperate herself as she would in nature.
Good Luck.
Take care. HJ
I have seen this before. The open mouth and head shaking is prior to regurgitation or vomit. To my understanding, my girl had developed huge egg follicles in her; the follicles are "pressing" her stomach, so she went off food for many months. When I gave her some slurry, she couldn't even pass the food down her system and so she regurgitated them.
I am guessing it could be the eggs in your girl that caused her to regurgitate, when your girl lays, she'll be back to normal.
I am guessing it could be the eggs in your girl that caused her to regurgitate, when your girl lays, she'll be back to normal.
thanks for the info. i figured it might have something to do with eggs and the extra stress of breeding season. i have not seen any more of this behavior and i will continue to keep a close eye on her. i will take her to the vet if the behavior continues. again, thank you both very much.
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