Moved to a aquarium, now she wont eat!?!

[Boa'sUnlimited]

Hey guys

well last Thursday I moved my leopard gecko Lilly into a 70 gallon aquarium thinking she'd like the extra space to roam around.

But now she wont eat?!??

Before when she was in a tub she ate whenever i offered food to her

Should i move her back to the tub?

Its been 6 days and she hasnt eatten more than 1 mealworm!

What should i do?

 

[Dog Shrink]

My leo went from being tub raised to a natural tank and it took him FOEVER to adapt, I actually still don't think he's totally adapted. He stays pretty much in one spot and that's it unless I come harassing him

Going from a tub to a 70 gallon tank which is HUGE could be a bit of culture shock for your lil gal. It's like starting all over. Give her the week to settle in then offer her food again, or if she eats out of a dish just count what you put in the dish to monitor her food intake. It took Eros about 4 days in the new tank before he'd take food, but then again I didn't offer it for 4 days so I'm really not sure if he would have taken it sooner or not.

 

[Boa'sUnlimited]

My leo went from being tub raised to a natural tank and it took him FOEVER to adapt, I actually still don't think he's totally adapted. He stays pretty much in one spot and that's it unless I come harassing him

Going from a tub to a 70 gallon tank which is HUGE could be a bit of culture shock for your lil gal. It's like starting all over. Give her the week to settle in then offer her food again, or if she eats out of a dish just count what you put in the dish to monitor her food intake. It took Eros about 4 days in the new tank before he'd take food, but then again I didn't offer it for 4 days so I'm really not sure if he would have taken it sooner or not.

alright ill wait a lil more

thanks!

I was just worried because she always tgook food now she wont, but it makes sense that she may be a little shocked in a new tank thats big

 

[Dog Shrink]

Is there any way you might be able to slide a cardboard divider in the tank to segment it off to a smaller area for her to start with, then opening up the whole tank after she feels comfortable in her smaller section?

 

[Boa'sUnlimited]

Is there any way you might be able to slide a cardboard divider in the tank to segment it off to a smaller area for her to start with, then opening up the whole tank after she feels comfortable in her smaller section?

I dont think id want to do that, the whole point was to give her more room. If she doesnt fell safe or is feeling stressed in the tank ill just move her back to the tub

the tub isnt much smaller, its about 2 feet long and 8 - 10 inches wide

the tank is 3 feet by 18 inches wide so it isnt too much bigger

 

[Dog Shrink]

It could be that the glass is much more clear than the transulcent tub walls she's use to. I have black on the sides of my tank, and a backdrop for the entire back so the only surface he can see out is the front. If you have the other 3 sides covered, maybe if you were to use some frosted contact paper in the front to cover maybe 4 inches of the surface she'd feel less vunerable and adapt better with the new sights and sounds, while still providing you with some viewing pleasure.

 

[Boa'sUnlimited]

It could be that the glass is much more clear than the transulcent tub walls she's use to. I have black on the sides of my tank, and a backdrop for the entire back so the only surface he can see out is the front. If you have the other 3 sides covered, maybe if you were to use some frosted contact paper in the front to cover maybe 4 inches of the surface she'd feel less vunerable and adapt better with the new sights and sounds, while still providing you with some viewing pleasure.

Thanks, ill do that!

Two sides are against walls so ill cover the other side and cover a bit of the front

thanks!

 

[Dog Shrink]

You're welcome. I do highly suggest either totally black sides, this eases Eros very much, just use construction paper. Even if it's against a wall it still gets the shadows. You can also spray paint the sides. Allow a couple days for fumes to disappear, then voila. And it scrapes off nicely with one of those widget razor blades.

 

[Boa'sUnlimited]

You're welcome. I do highly suggest either totally black sides, this eases Eros very much, just use construction paper. Even if it's against a wall it still gets the shadows. You can also spray paint the sides. Allow a couple days for fumes to disappear, then voila. And it scrapes off nicely with one of those widget razor blades.

Yeah ill do that then, ill buy that really thick construction paper from the dollar store and coter the 3 sides

Thanks!

 

[Dog Shrink]

Happy to help :main_thumbsup: We used regular black construction paper outta a kids pack of paper for my son's python when it was little and it didin't discolor for about 2 years.