Need advice concerning a recovering egg bound female.

[scm133]

Sakina, my Snow Enigma is recovering from a serious egg binding issue. At the time of breeding, she was one year, and 54 grams. Last time a weighed her, she was 34 grams!!
She laid the first egg (fertile) 12/21/13, and then started rapidly losing weight, and refused to eat. She finally laid the 2nd egg (dud) on 1-21-14.
I really thought that I was going to lose her. Her tail is pencil thin, and you can see her hip bones, and spine.
In the last two weeks, she has started to eat 2 crickets daily, and her poop finally looks normal. Her belly finally looks round.
My question: Will she try to develop eggs again?
I hope not!! She needs a good year to recover from this. I pulled her lay box out after that second egg.

 

[acpart]

Keep watching her belly to see if eggs are developing. Some people say cooling the gecko will stop egg development but I don't know about that for sure. Good luck with her.

Aliza

 

[scm133]

Thanks, Aliza. I thought about cooling her, but it also slows down their eating. So I don't think that is an option for me. I guess the only thing, like you said, is to watch her belly.


GulfCoastGeckos

 

[DrCarrotTail]

To prevent ovulation I would make sure she's as far away as possible from ovulating/breeding females and any males so she can't smell them or hear their tail vibrations. I would also make sure you handle her before any males or wash your hands well. These would just be precautions so she doesn't feel encouraged to try to breed.

I would keep an eye out for ovulation and if she starts to ovulate I've heard to try cooling her warm side by a degree or two to 88 or 89. It shouldn't affect her eating too much and temperature slows down eating because it also slows down metabolism so she shouldn't lose weight eating less at a slightly lower temperature (if that makes sense). Below 85 degrees I just wouldn't feed at all since the gecko may be unable to digest it's food. Like Aliza, I'm not 100% sure this will help a whole lot or stop her but it seems like it would be worth a shot. I might also remove her moist hide or lay box if you see ovulation. That might encourage her to stop as well.

 

[tb144050]

I would also like to know a few things relevant to this situation:

1) Once a female has "received" a male's fluid, what happens to the fluid? Where is it stored, or is immediately introduced to egg-cells before being stored?

My next question is based on the possible answer to the first question...

2) Can a mated female actually stop developing her eggs? (I know they can reabsorb unfertilized eggs...just unsure about fertilized eggs)

Thanks!

 

[scm133]

Thanks, Lisa!!!
She is isolated in a "hospital" tub. She is not near any of my other geckos. It was obvious early, that she had some infection from retaining the egg so long. Now, that has finally cleared up, but she is still in quarantine. So far her tummy is full, but no signs of ovulation...fingers crossed!! If I see any signs, I will do as suggested. And the lay box has been gone since the last egg. Thanks everyone for replying!!!:main_thumbsup: