My rescue leo is fat but not eating help

[savannahgecko]

Hi. Hoping to get some advise. We rehomed a 5 Yr old female Leo. She let's you hold her she doesn't move much.. she will just sat on your knee. I have only had her for 2 weeks but she hadn't eaten any bugs I don't think. I have tried her with a selection. I have tried to feed her myself and just leave them in. She hasn't had correct lighting or uvb. She now does have correct temps and correct uvb..lighting. She seems to have a fat belly..however isn't eating. I am thinking of going to a vet any help? Please

 

[acpart]

It's not unusual for geckos to not eat, sometimes for quite awhile. There could be a lot of reasons: getting used to a new space, ovulating, winter. Maybe what you're feeding her isn't what she wants to eat. I have a similarly fat gecko who is eating now, but for quite awhile she didn't seem to be eating at all. UVB is OK, but not essential and if she's in the hide all day she may not be benefitting. The best way to deliver D3 is to supplement every other feeding. If she's not eating, you can dip your finger in water, dip it in the supplement and rub it on her lips. Keep offering small amounts of food and try not to worry. It just takes awhile sometimes.

Aliza

 

[savannahgecko]

thank you so much Aliza this helps, does she look ok to you? i have thought that she wouldn't be receiving the uvb as she hides all day, am I best to just turn the uvb off all together? thanks

 

[acpart]

It's not going to hurt her, but as long as there's ambient light in the room to let her know when it's daytime and when it's night time, she'll be OK. I don't put lights on my leopard gecko cages because I have a lot of them and I also have a lot of planted enclosures for other species that need lights for the plants. Arcadia does make a deep heat light that supposedly sends UVB into the hides.

Aliza

 

[savannahgecko]

I will have to check that deep heat bulb out thank you for the advice very helpful have a lovely day