Noob with a Leopard gecko that hasn't eaten in two weeks.

[themaxx76]

Hello,
I'm a noob here. I have a 6 year old female leopard gecko that we adopted. She is housed in a 20gal long tank, she has three hides, a warm hide that consists of a half log with a heat pad directly under the glass of the tank, a Middle low rocky hide that is filled with moss (misted daily) and acts as a humid hide, and on the far left of the tank, her cool hide. Reptile carpet on the floor of the tank and it's changed weekly. She has fresh filtered water everyday, We feed her crickets dusted with calcium/d3 and she has a small dish of non d3 calcium available at all times. Up until two weeks ago, she was a veracious eater often eating 7-8 or even 9 large crickets. She also enjoyed a superworm or two on her weekend feeding as a treat. Two weeks ago, she has started to loose interest in her food. She would look at it, get all bug eyed and excited as Leos do, nibble at it, and then just walk off. We tried mealworms as well. She has also been trying to find a way out of the tank (there is none), climbing on top of her hides and looking up. When I put my hand in, she climbs up with no problem often perching on my shoulder. She hasn't really lost much weight, and she's had two sheds in the last 3 weeks, the last of which, my wife and I had to help her shed the skin around her face and eyes with a moist Q tip and warm water baths. She has eaten her shed skins and had large healthy looking bowl movements after consuming the shed skin. Is this an Ovulation behavior? Any help as to why she's not eating would be a great help as I'm getting rather worried. Thanks guys!

Mike

Here's some pictures of her from about a week ago -

 

[katie_]

Shes pretty fat, I might even say obese.
2 weeks without eating is no big deal. Thry tend to slow down in the winter, and she could be ovulating.
Ive had females go two months without eating.
As long as they arent losing any weight, there is nothing to be concerned about.
Although this gecko should probably be put on a diet regardless.

 

[Embrace Calamity]

I'd have to agree that it would be good for her to lose some weight. Just to double check (sounds like you're doing a good job with things), does the supplement you're using also contain vitamins beyond D3?

~Maggot

 

[themaxx76]

Compared to a other leopard geckos I've seen, It does look like she could loose some weight. We've only had her for about two months. The Calcium we dust the crickets with is Repcal with only D3, no other nutrients listed. Should she be getting other vitamins?

 

[Embrace Calamity]

Yes, other vitamins are very important. For example, a lack of vitamin A can (will) result in issues, eg shedding problems, lethargy, decreased appetite, eye/vision problems, ulcers, etc. Many people suggest Repashy Calcium Plus to use as an all-in-one and to not use anything else; another option is Zoo Med's Reptivite. As far as I'm aware, there are no multivitamins on the market (including RepCal's) that contain vitamin A acetate, which makes the RepCal with D3 kind of useless for leopard geckos, since you have to buy an all-in-one anyway to get the other vitamins.

~Maggot

 

[themaxx76]

Awesome, I'll pick up some Repashy Calcium Plus Tomorrow.

 

[themaxx76]

Well, she ate a large cricket a couple days ago. I still keep offering her food on feeding days just in case she starts eating normally again. She's lost a little bit of excess weight I think. Those little fat deposits behind her armpits are gone, and I think she's thinned just a little. She's still drinking water, still climbs up on my hand and climbs up to my shoulder and hangs out. I've kept an eye on her abdomen making sure there are no large blue discolorations. I also picked up some Repashy Plus and dust her crickets with them every feeding and I hope she starts eating soon. Here's a couple pictures from today. Have a look and let me know if she looks like she's doing alright. She's still really active and climbs to the top of her houses. She spends most of the day sleeping in her moist hide with the moss. Other than the eating, she's completely normal.

 

[Ozy]

She looks just fine to me. Nice fat tail, good body condition.. My leo hasn't eaten steadily for a couple of months now. I mean she'll eat a few superworms/roaches/mealies here and there, but nothing to write home about. She also hasn't been pooping and peeing everyday like she used to. I was worried, but when I got her she was a tiny little thing. She ate like a little pig for about the first 5 or 6 months of her life, then her eating tapered off. Of course I freaked out, but she's still shedding just fine and all that. So I wouldn't worry too much. If she starts acting lethargic or not wanting to come out or her belly starts looking weird etc. Then I would take her to the vet.

 

[sausage]

mine arnt eating properly yet either i think its the weather. dhe looks very healthy but as already stated it wouldnt hurt to loose a little weight. just keep an eye that she dosnt loose too much and too quickly. im sure its just settling in still. shes pretty though