Leo Geckos and Crickets

[PoisonDonna]

Hiya

I have two leos of a few years old, male and female. The female just laid two eggs about two weeks ago (they were about a week apart, her first time) and I couldn't get her interested in feeding again, until now. She wasn't interested in mealworms in the slightest so got some crickets again for her. Now she seems to at least be interested in these, chasing them and the like, but as soon as she goes to grab one, she gets it in her mouth then lets go. Not sure if she's actively letting it go or isn't gripping onto it strongly enough?!

Anyway just wondering if anyone else has had this or a similar issue. I really want her to eat because I know it's important after laying and now she seems hungry again. She's not awfully skinny yet (they've always had quite fat tails) but I don't want her to get any skinnier.

Thanks for any help guys!

Donna

 

[PoisonDonna]

Anyone? I'm getting really worried about her now, she's losing weight

 

[scintillatingstar]

How much does she weigh, and how drastic is her weight loss?
You could try feeding wax worms to fatten her up. But they are not good for everyday meals because they are mostly just fat. You could also try a baby pinky mouse

 

[PoisonDonna]

How much does she weigh, and how drastic is her weight loss?
You could try feeding wax worms to fatten her up. But they are not good for everyday meals because they are mostly just fat. You could also try a baby pinky mouse

Her weight loss is a lot now, she's probably down to about 25g (!) whereas she's normally around 40g, she's never gone a great deal higher, I think she's just a small female gecko really. The male is 60g. Her body is fine it's just her tail has become fairly thin.

I ordered some waxworms for her last night so they should be here tomorrow. She's interested in the food and is catching it, she's just not eating it. At least when she wasn't interested in food I knew she would come around to eating again, but knowing she wants to eat and isn't is worrying me.

And yes their temp is fine, and she's not impacted - they're on reptile carpet not sand.

 

[wings2fly]

I had a female do that with dubia roaches, but I just kept trying each day and she started eating them again.
Do you have plenty of calcium in there for her. She will need extra since she is producing eggs.

Carin

 

[PoisonDonna]

I had a female do that with dubia roaches, but I just kept trying each day and she started eating them again.
Do you have plenty of calcium in there for her. She will need extra since she is producing eggs.

Carin

Hiya

Yup I'm dusting the crickets in a vitamin supplement that supplies the calcium, I've got a dish in there too even though she doesn't ever seem to touch that (except to pee in it sometimes :main_rolleyes

I'm gonna try her with the waxworms when they get here, I don't mind what she eats now I just want her to put some weight back on, really worrying about her now.

 

[scintillatingstar]

or you could try ordering pheonix worms off the internet, another great source of protein and all that good stuff.

 

[PoisonDonna]

or you could try ordering pheonix worms off the internet, another great source of protein and all that good stuff.

What on earth are they? Never heard of them and just checked on the site I order from, nothing listed like that.

Someone suggested locusts, but I take it she'd respond to these similarly as she does to crickets.

 

[Kelentari]

I just ordered some phoenix worms myself at www.premiumcrickets.com. I usually order my crickets from them and recently decided to try the phoenix worms for some variety. Oh, wait, you're in the UK...I'm not sure if they can ship to you...well, anyway, at least you can see what phoenix worms look like...

I hope your girl starts eating soon!

 

[PoisonDonna]

Okay. I got the wax worms today, and having similar issues. I have linked to a video below, it shows the gecko sort of... playing with the food, nipping at it and not eating it. The male eventually ate a couple of worms (he's fat enough anyway, not worried about him) Female is sleeping, gonna try her with them in a bit. Can you guys watch it and tell me what you think please? It's not like they're strangers to worms, I've fed them on mealworms plenty of times before.

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6dlnIdz5srs

 

[SleepyDee]

Someone suggested locusts, but I take it she'd respond to these similarly as she does to crickets.

have you tried them? I've found that none of mine will refuse a locust/hopper where they will refuse waxworms so hoppers are def worth a try

One question though ~ is the female on her own or are you keeping her and the male together? as it might be that if the male is pestering/bullying her and she's getting stressed that may be why she's not eating right

 

[PoisonDonna]

have you tried them? I've found that none of mine will refuse a locust/hopper where they will refuse waxworms so hoppers are def worth a try

One question though ~ is the female on her own or are you keeping her and the male together? as it might be that if the male is pestering/bullying her and she's getting stressed that may be why she's not eating right

I might try, as of yet she's not gone for the waxworms! Think it's gonna be a trip to the vet tbh, even if it's all natural I'm worried about her.

Yes it's a female and male together, they have been for over a year. I know it's down to gecko preference whether you keep them together and they're always been fine, she was housed with another gecko before this one and was fine there also. And the past fortnight I've been keeping a very, very close eye on them and the male hasn't done a thing. Might be worth a try to separate them I guess, but I'm nearly positive that isn't it.