loss of appetite - problem?

[Izzisparks13]

Hi, I got a new leo about a month ago, she's still pretty small I don't know exactly how old she is. She was doing fine and eating a lot, then all of a sudden there was a big decrease in her appetite, and I haven't seen her eat myself in about a week. I even peeked in her rock cave and saw a cricket run right by her and she didn't move. I keep putting crickets in but I'm not sure if she's eating or not. I haven't seen her come out of her rock in about a week either. I picked her rock up yesterday to see how she was doing and found her visibly paler, so I think she's going to shed soon. Do leo's stop eating when they shed? Or is it some other problem that stops her from eating? Please help, I'm very worried!

 

[AdamSkates224]

thats what mine did but mine just started eating again. what i did was got wax worms and just waited till he/she started eating again. it took about 10 mins. try that

 

[Izzisparks13]

Thanks, I think I'll do that. She shed last night, but I don't think she's eaten yet today. Grrrrr. Yeah, I'm gonna have to go get some waxworms soon because she hasn't eaten in a long while - her tail is almost totally thin.

 

[AdamSkates224]

mine is almost tolloly thin. he lost his appetite again. i real hope he startes eating again

 

[LadyGecko]

Thanks, I think I'll do that. She shed last night, but I don't think she's eaten yet today. Grrrrr. Yeah, I'm gonna have to go get some waxworms soon because she hasn't eaten in a long while - her tail is almost totally thin.

Leos will often go off their food before a shed but healthy growing babies don't usually take much time off from eating even when going into shed

If this babies tail is down to nothing then she needs vet care asap

She sounds like she has some sort of health problem going on that can be determined by the vet running tests on her-for bacterial infection or internal parasites

Wax worms are not likely to solve the problem

I would start calling around to get her seen by a herp vet asap

Also-A Leo will shed when it is either losing and gaining weight

Good Luck with her

Sandy

 

[Izzisparks13]

Thanks LadyGecko. Untill I get her to the vet, which could be just a little while, should I try and force-feed her some mealies or waxworms? Will that help her untill she gets to the vet? Or will it just stress her out and make it worse?

 

[Izzisparks13]

Oh I would also like to ask - do you see in the picture her tail is tilted slightly to the left? Well It's always like that. Is it some sort of deformity? Or did she loose her tail earlier in life and it somehow messed it up? Just a random question but I am interested to know what's up with it.

 

[zzz888]

First of all, NEVER force feed your gecko!!!
Second, check the floor temperature, make sure it is 90F or 30'C all the time.
Leopard gecko usually don't eat during shed period, that is 2~ 3 days before and after shedding.
Best to be sure, take your gecko to a qualified vet

 

[Izzisparks13]

Yaaaaay! I'm so happy! I decided to try and see if she would eat mealworms, and she did! I guess she just got bored of crickets (thank god, I hate crickets) and wanted something different. She ate four mealies that I offered her. I'm not sure how many to feed a baby leo but I'm pretty sure that was enough to stuff her! If anyone knows how much mealies to feed my gecko each day the advice would be appreciated. Thanks!!

 

[Izzisparks13]

Okay... shes having problems again!! Now when I put a mealworm in front of her she completley ignores it. I've been putting some mealies in a bottlecap and putting it under her rock where she always sleeps. They've been dissapearing, but there's no way for me to be sure if they're being eaten or just escaping, because I've already found a few escaped ones. And now I just discovered this wierd tail deformity thing! There was I think some fresh poop on the floor of her cage this morning though, and it looked pretty normal, so I'm happy about that. But please if anyone has any reccomendations please post!! I am unable to take her to the vet- my parents won't let me. And I'm not allowed to get another one! Please help I love Leos, and I'm doing everything right, shes just sickly! Please help!