Not coming out of a hide

[Isis]

I've got problem with one of my geckos, MSS female- she is shy from the time I bought her (about 3 months) and not even a bit got used to human presence... she was eating a bit but not much until I moved her to a bigger terrarium, now she doesn't eat anything and does not come out of her hide (for 2 weeks now). I don't want to stress her even more but I don't really know what to do with her... the other gecko got used to me in an instance... any good advice? I thought that bigger terrarium would do her good ;/
She was raised in rack, is this possible that she feels bad in the big nice enclosure?

 

[moosassah]

We have a female that is prone to hiding a lot too. If you are feeding mealie worms, put a 10 in her dish & check it each morning. She may be sneaking out to eat when you aren't around.

Double check your temperatures to make sure they are within a healthy range.

As for being shy, patience on your part is the key. Try holding her inside the terrarium for a minute or 2 each day. As she gets more comfortable with you handling her, extend the time.

If you believe that everything is in order & you are still concerned about her health, a trip to the vet is necessary to easy your worries.

Good luck & keep us updated on her.

 

[Isis]

I think she has no parasites and the temperature gradient is good: from about 26deg 37deg. Her only problem is not eating and not coming out- I am checking on her mealworms every day but there is scarecely one or two missing.
I tried holding her everyday but it seemed to only stress her more when I was taking her from her hide and if I am to wait until she comes out, I would have to stay up all night without turning any light on...

But you made me feel better. I will update if I see any progress.

 

[cullens]

mine loves to just sleep and lounge in her hide. mines got a 50 gallon tank to herslef. shes prolly still adjusting

 

[andypg3]

Our little guy/gal is stubborn about coming out of the hide. We've only had it for a week or so, and I don't want to handle or bother it yet as it acclimates to its surroundings.

However, i've found that by tossing particularly active mealies just inside the entrance to the hide, the little guy cannot resist and feels protected enough to hunt. Thats how were making sure he gets enough food. Good luck.

 

[Hale]

My geckoz love their hides, and the normal - who is the most skittish of the two - will be caught outside of it ever so often, but for the most part, they love to be inside their hide because it is large and spacious. Geckos are the type who like to remain hidden for the most part, and will come out to eat. You gecko may still be adjusting but I'm most sure she'll come out eventually. Try putting your hands all over everything in the tank, that may help her getting used to your scent, and keep the feed dish in eye-sight of the hide entrance to lure her out, and make her have to become more brave.

It may also help if the terrarium has lots of semi-hiding places such as a fake branch of leaves over the hide and maybe a thing of fake dead branches where she will feel not so out in the open.

 

[Isis]

She hasn't got out for the whole night, I suppose for the second or third in the row- I've been watching all night.

 

[98XJSport]

Have you tried droping a lively meal worm just inside the enterance to the hide? Mine aren't very comfortable yet, week 1 in thier new tank. But I drop one or 2 in front just to make sure they are eating something. More for my well being than theirs lol.

 

[rubym]

You may try another type of food item and see if that peeks her interest alittle more. It takes some geckos longer to acclamate to a new enviroment also. We have one that took a couple of months to get used to being handles and to start eating good.

 

[cullens]

maybe you should try and toss a couple crickets to see if she will eat

 

[Isis]

No it won't eat. If the solution was so obvious I would not ask for advice ;/
Interesting, she is by all means in good condition- colours are good, no fading, eyes shiny and she is very calm, but not languid (when she looked at me when she was in the previous container she was breathing havily and was very tense, now she feels secure). Maybe she just needs a little time alone, who knows

 

[Hale]

Feed her some waxworms, and keep them outside the hide so she can see them...geckoz love waxworms!! XD

Other than that, give her time. She may be extra sensitive to change.

 

[godzillizard]

If she was raised in a rack---she'd probably feel ALOT more secure in that type of environment

Geckos need the proper diet, the proper heat source to digest that diet, fresh clean water, proper supplementation, AND they need to feel secure!!! stressed geckos won't eat! Best of luck

 

[Bodon]

Has there been any change in temp? Even if hers are constant and your home temp changed maybe it had an effect on her??

 

[Isis]

Actually I think she is stressed but I don't see a reason.. she has 3 hides for herself, clean water, dish with mealies constantly present and temperature is as I said earlier all right.
I think I will take her back to a plastic container- the only reason I could think of is no UHT which sche had in previous, plastic container.

Here's a picture of her: as you can see she came out once or twice, but she gets all tense when she sees anybody even from a great distance...

 

[Isis]

Update: after a month of not-eating the female changed her taste to roaches and she hunts pretty impressively :main_yes:
She is still very shy but comes out every now and then- she must have had a fast. I think she will be getting more active now.

 

[blizzard]

you may still want the uth for digestive purposes. nice gecko though bigggg great color