LEO NOT EATING?

[RUBYsoho]

Hi, everyone!

So, my 3 year old female leo hasn't eaten since last Sunday (9 days ago), and I'm kind of alarmed by this. This isn't like her at all. She took a bit longer than usual to shed this month - I'd say she was in pre-shed mode for about 3 days, and it took her about 2 full days to actually shed all the skin. This also isn't like her. She usually works like clockwork with things like this: doesn't eat anything during pre-shed/shed, but tends to eat immediately after shed. This time, she didn't. I offered her mealworms 3 nights in a row now, but she ignores them. I tried putting one near her mouth, but nothing. She's also been staying on the hot side of the tank more often then usual, but her behavior otherwise seems the same. She hasn't lost any weight either (or so it doesn't seem - I weigh her by eye & she still seems to be pretty meaty). Should I be concerned? I can't help but worry!

 

[daVinci Geckos]

Try force feed she could just need a boost to start eating to force feed gently hold her in your hand and in the other hand pick up a meal worm (alive works best) and rub it against her jaw line and she will open her mouth then push the meal worm in. Don't worry this is not going to make them angry I've done it before with mine and they and fine with it and start eating maybe a day later. Next if that doesn't work you should probably take her to a vet because not eating for a long time is dangerous. Sometimes my geckos stop eating i wouldn't be to worried but try force feeding it works best for me

 

[RUBYsoho]

Try force feed she could just need a boost to start eating to force feed gently hold her in your hand and in the other hand pick up a meal worm (alive works best) and rub it against her jaw line and she will open her mouth then push the meal worm in. Don't worry this is not going to make them angry I've done it before with mine and they and fine with it and start eating maybe a day later. Next if that doesn't work you should probably take her to a vet because not eating for a long time is dangerous. Sometimes my geckos stop eating i wouldn't be to worried but try force feeding it works best for me

I tried to force feed her last night, but got nervous that I was hurting her, so I stopped. When I put the mealworm close to her mouth, she licks it a few times, but doesn't eat it. I'm just surprised because she usually has a huge appetite. And, like I said, she doesn't seem to be losing any weight, but this is the longest she's gone without eating, which is what raised concern.

I'll keep you posted!

Thanks!

 

[daVinci Geckos]

Your welcome but if shes not losing any weight i wouldn't worry to much

 

[RUBYsoho]

Your welcome but if shes not losing any weight i wouldn't worry to much

Yeah, that's what I was thinking, but like I said, I'm only concerned because this is the longest she's ever gone without eating. She usually LOVES to eat and eats a lot in one sitting. I had to actually cut down on her feedings because at on point, she gained too much weight. I just feel guilty when I see she's chomping at the bit for food lol

 

[DrCarrotTail]

She could just be ovulating and feeling a bit full and funny. Keep track of her weight and if she loses more than 10% start to worry.

 

[RUBYsoho]

She could just be ovulating and feeling a bit full and funny. Keep track of her weight and if she loses more than 10% start to worry.

Thanks for the info. Is there any physical sign I could check for to confirm that she's ovulating? I lifted her up to look under her belly and I did notice what looked like 2 thick red veins, but that doesn't really seem alarming. I also weighed her, and she for as long as she would sit still on my postal scale, she was 2.4 ounces, which seems pretty heavy. Last I weighed her, she was about 2 ounces, so that is a bit of a weight gain. Also, she only pooped twice in the past 10 or 11 days, and they were very small. It definitely wasn't her usual poop, which is rather large and in one big piece. Should I be concerned that she's constipated? I can't help but worry, especially since this is the longest she's ever gone without eating in 3+ years.

Thanks for all the help, guys!

 

[Dinosaur!]

Two red veins? Is their a chance we could see a picture of her belly? the only time I see two red veins on my girls bellies is when they are about to lay eggs. They also go off of food when they are gravid. Is she housed with males, or any other gecko?

 

[RUBYsoho]

Two red veins? Is their a chance we could see a picture of her belly? the only time I see two red veins on my girls bellies is when they are about to lay eggs. They also go off of food when they are gravid. Is she housed with males, or any other gecko?

I'm at work now, but I can try & post a picture later. She has been housed alone for over 3 years, so there's no way she's pregnant. Is it possible for her to lay unfertilized eggs? Like I said, she's never been housed with any other geckos, so fertilized eggs are not an option.