Not pooping

[Green_Snake]

I've had my gecko for 9 days, and she hasn't gone to the bathroom yet. She's eaten about 12 geckos, and seems normal enough. Is there anything I should be doing? Should I worry?

Thanks,

Draba

 

[rottentreats]

She's eaten about 12 geckos

:main_robin:

I sure hope that is a typo ... mine also has not been pooping... only peeing. But she does eat...

 

[gothra]

Have you checked every corner for poops? Any chance she has pooped inside her hide or something? If she really hasn't pooped for 9 days, I would be worried too. Perhaps you can give her a warm soak and a little massage to the belly, see if that'll help.

p.s. I hope she has eaten 12 crickets, not 12 geckos...

 

[Green_Snake]

LOL!!! yes that was a typo. She's eaten AT LEAST 12 CRICKETS :main_yes:

I'll try the worm soak.

Thanks,

Draba

 

[Green_Snake]

I put her in some warm water, and she freaked out. She was in there for probably a minute. Any other ideas? At what point in time should I consider a vet?

Could it be that she hasn't had enough to eat? I think a better estimate would be 15 crickets. She seems hungry, and I just gave her two more. Sadly, I'm out.....

 

[brsisko]

If she is young and new there is a chance she is stressed. If it happens for a few more days then I would call a vet. Are you using sand as a flooring for your gecko?

 

[Green_Snake]

She's young, and this is the 10th day I've had her. She's quite skittish, and if she comes out, she hides as soon as she sees me. I've been sick for a few days, so I haven't been paying as much attention to my reptiles as I usually do. Besides the no pooping, she is normal. However, pooping is a rather important factor.

If she hasn't pooped by tomorrow (knock on wood), I'll probably set up a vet appointment. I suppose it could be stress. I've had her for a little over a week. I don't get her out that often, and only for extremely short amounts of time

Edit: She's housed on repti carpet

 

[fallen_angel]

No poo for that long is definitely not a very good sign, but if the problem is due to stress, taking one that young to the vet can stress it out much more. However, the gecko is eating, and they don't normally eat when they are highly stressed out.

We have a gecko that has problems disposing of waste, but it's really more of a deformity that can't be helped more than it already has been. Sometimes I have to assist her with her waste, and the warm water soaks will only help if the gecko is relaxed (the warm water is supposed to relax them too).

Try getting a tupperware container, or just anything with a lid and air holes, and put the lid on after you put her in the water. Just make sure the water isn't higher than the bottom of her belly (just enough for her feet to be submerged) and keep a constant eye on her. For hatchlings, I also recommend putting some paper towel strips in the water so that they have something to "hold on" to and don't slide around everywhere.

Give her time and she should calm down and stay still. Leave her in the warm water for 15-30 minutes or so. If the container you use is the size of your hand, you can hold the container with the palm of your hand supporting the bottom, and your body heat will keep the water at a nice temp Also, another general rule for warm water soaks is the smaller the gecko, the smaller the container you should use. Hatchlings in particular don't like to have or be anywhere that has too much wide, open space.



This is just my opinion, as everyone has one and not everyone will agree.. but a gecko that age is perfect for getting used to people. You may want to consider handling her every so often now so that she's not a scaredy-gecko forever. Once they are adults, it takes much longer to get a gecko used to handling, and sometimes all the handling/time in the world doesn't tame them if they weren't handled much as hatchlings/juveniles.. Of course, I wouldn't worry about that so much until she is pooping normally.

Best of luck to you and keep us updated!!

 

[fallen_angel]

How warm was the water when you tried? That is one other important factor.. if the water is too warm or not warm enough, the gecko won't relax either (some reptiles will actually try to bite you if you put them in water that's not the right temp!) So when you add water to your container, make sure that it doesn't feel warm to you. Ninety-eight degrees, our body temp, isn't exactly optimum water temp, so you'll have to make sure the water feels slightly cool to you I recommended using your body heat to keep the water warm, but the water shouldn't feel warm to you at all when you put the gecko in it I hope this will help!!

 

[Green_Snake]

I gave her a bath. She WAS NOT happy

 

[Green_Snake]

Still no luck :main_no: . I'm trying to find a good vet that I can afford.

 

[Green_Snake]

She pooped!!!!! Thanks to everyone who gave advice.