My gecko has turned very clumsy and can't even pick up a meal worm :( PLEASE HELP!

[calin]

Hi everyone! I've been on this forum for a few years now since I got my leopard gecko, but I don't post on here too much. Like I said, I've had my hypo tangerine baldy for a few years now and she's been eating perfectly fine up until about a month ago. I usually feed her daily by dropping a few meal worms in front of her and letting her eat that way. Although lately it seems like she's becoming more and more clumsy to the point where she'll lunge after a worm, but misses it. She'll either miss the work completely or she'll grab it in her mouth but then drop it. And it seems like after a few attempts, she'll just give up and not want the worm anymore. And I can tell that she's hungry because she keeps lunging at the worms, but she's having no luck actually getting it in her mouth. I considered the fact that she might be going blind. But if that was the case, I don't think she'd be lunging at the worms in the first place, right? Has anyone else had this problem? I'm a little worried because I can tell she wants to eat, but just can't.

 

[calin]

Oh and I forgot to mention that she doesn't appear to be sick, and hasn't lost any weight recently. Here is a picture I just took of her for reference

 

[5HiddenLizards]

I have a partially blind leo that has better aim than my regular one, who misses all the time.

Have you changed anything, whether it be food, supplements, etc.?
Maybe she just isn't hungry? She looks very healthy.


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[calin]

I have a partially blind leo that has better aim than my regular one, who misses all the time.

Have you changed anything, whether it be food, supplements, etc.?
Maybe she just isn't hungry! She looks very healthy.


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No, nothing has changed in the way I feed her. I think she actually is hungry because she'll get very excited when she sees me drop a few mealworms in front of her and instantly lunges after them. But after a few misses, she'll just give up and not want to eat anymore.

 

[5HiddenLizards]

The only thing I can think of. Right now would be some problem with her jaw...but it looks fine in the picture. Does it feel extra soft or out of the ordinary?



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[calin]

No, her jaw feels and looks normal. I've been feeding her nothing but mealworms almost since I got her a few years ago because I don't like dealing with crickets. Maybe I'll pick up a few wax worms tomorrow and see if she has better luck with those.

 

[5HiddenLizards]

Well, that is strange indeed! I hope someone with more knowledge chimes in. I hope she's ok & starts eating again!



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[calin]

No worries...thanks a lot for the help!

On seconds thought, I've been feeding her regularly but haven't used any supplements in a while. Could a lack of calcium have anything to do with this?

 

[5HiddenLizards]

Yes that was what I was thinking, but since you said you hadn't changed anything, I assumed supplements were included...you should start dusting again, or leave a dish in her tank, whichever you were doing.



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[calin]

I'll start dusting again and see if that helps. Thanks a lot!

 

[SA Leopards]

Do you keep a dish with calcium in her viv 24/7? If not, I would really advise you to add one. Hope you come right with her!

 

[Landen]

the only thing I can think of would be a calcium deficiency that has caused her jaw to become rubbery and therefore not allowing her to actually keep the mealworm in her mouth (although the picture you posted does not show any signs of this). If this is what is going on it could be impacting her ability to strike if her limbs are rubbery as well. Try keeping calcium/vitamins available to her and if she improves then that may have been the issue.

 

[panicbess]

Dust every feeding!! This could possibly be the reason.try for a week or so. I have a blind Tang myself with that same prob..I freaked the first few weeks but i just have too hand feed so she doesn't feel so stupid,.

 

[Kulwiec]

Calin! Crazy seeing you on another forum! (my350z)
Had the same problem with my gecko a few years ago to the point where I had to hand feed him, started dusting again and he was back to normal in a week or so.

 

[EnigmaEcho]

my gecko has eye problems as well ( related to enigma syndrome) so i need to hand feed her every time- she prefers crickets and gets far more excited about them then mealies ( they are harder to grab and see for her- so she gets disheartend quickly)- the only other thing i can think of to help restimulate her into feeding ( if it doesnt seem to be anything beyond dusting again and there are not ilnesses) is that she may be bored with her food- sometimes a change can be good, just like our bodies will instinctively tell us "hey, im low on sugar" and make us crave things. what i find that works with clumsiness and the such, is i will use chop sticks and grab the cricket ( partialy paralize it as well) but allow it to squirm in front of her- she bites onto it alot easier now ( especialy now that i understand how her aim works) and the chop sticks ( wooden) are softer than metal tweezers.
ok, that was alot- sorry! i know you hate the crickets ( i hate HATE crickets!) but she may want to hunt something too- you can try one cricket at a time in her tank and let her chase it- if she hast issues with that, you can start removeing legs and then chopsticks, etc.
if she is not loseing weight and seems still healthy, thats good. just try lots of things- this may be temporary or a life change- either way, i know your doing what you can