Really worried :( PLEASE reply!!

[Ingo_gecko]

I posted the other day about my gecko which i got last tues and it still hasnt eaten anything.. (1 week 3days later).. Well keep popping in to the shop to see what they think and first they said she's probably settling in, which is fair enough, second they said maybe shes not hot enough, so moved the heat mat to cover 2/3 of the tank, then they suggested trying wax worms..

Tried wax worms and she just licked it and turned her nose up! Went and bought a digital themometer today and think i have found the problem - the 'hot' side directly under the heat mat is only 75-78 degrees (F) and i know it should be more like 90? Am really annoyed as lady in shop said that the heat mat and set up will be fine and get to 90, when it clearly isnt hot enough. The heat mat doesnt have any temperature controls on it/ thermostat etc so i cant make it any hotter, but i know they need belly heat?

What can i do to provide more heat??? I've heard some say light and some say don't so im confused!

Also, when i held her under a light i could see a blackish area in the stomach??? (she has pooped once, maybe twice in the week and half ive had her) Anyone know what this is????

Here are some pics, they arent great but you can kinda see what i mean:

http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e218/alys12345/DSC04099.jpg

http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e218/alys12345/DSC04098.jpg

http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e218/alys12345/DSC04100.jpg

(Left hand side of her belly)

Sorry about all the questions im really worried about her as am quite attatched already!! And feel like the shop has ripped me off!!!!!

Thanks

 

[LeapinLizards]

First of all, what brand UTH are you using? The ones I've had experience with in the past had NO troubles getting to even 100*F without a thermostat. Is it a used one? Also...you say "directly under the heat mat", do you not mean OVER?

Also, what substrate are you using between the UTH and temp probe?

The blackish area you see in her tummy is probably her liver, or other organs. Gecko's bellies are relatively see though. Once there is a problem, their livers will engorge, and take up 1/3-1/2 of their belly...you would know if that were the case.

From what you've said, it sounds like she's not eating because she thinks it's winter time

 

[voretaq7]

I'll leave the health questions to someone else, but either your thermometer or your heat mat is defective (if the heat mat doesn't feel warm to the touch, it's the mat).

Replace it ASAP and your leo's appetite might improve.

 

[Ingo_gecko]

Thanks for replying, I dont know what brand the mat is, but heres a pic if it helps:

http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e218/alys12345/DSC04101.jpg

Have measured in serveral areas over (didnt mean under sorry!) the heat mat and have found places that are reaching 88 degrees??? So surely its warm enough?

The black area is quite large, about 1/2 her belly?

Am going to take her to the shop soon so they can have a look but dont want to stress her more

Also, she was on sand in the shop (as were all their geckos) and is on sand now... could it be impaction??? I am changing her to paper towel within the next few days as have read up about sand being really bad - Its exo terra black sand.

Another thing - she is said to be 4/5 months old, and she was housed with a male in the shop... is it likely they would have mated? Or are they too young?

Thanks

 

[LeapinLizards]

First, do not take her to the shop. If you are that worried, you need to take her to a vet. Traveling with leos REALLY stresses them out. If she was on sand at the shop, they obviously are not as knowledgeable as they want you to believe.

I would definitely remove the sand...if she's not eating and having issues, the sand can be an added problem. Like you said, definitely put her on paper towel to monitor her better

4/5 months is too young to breed, at least I'm pretty sure! It has to do with size, and they are still too small. I'm fairly positive that your female wouldn't have ovulated that young.

 

[Ingo_gecko]

Thank you
I will get some paper towels and change her to that tomorrow.
Will ring vet and see what they have to say, as like you say i dont want to stress her any more..

:]

 

[LeapinLizards]

No problem...

I don't think she's a vet case at this point. Some leos will go off food for a few weeks even when stressed out. I got leos about 2 weeks ago I think it was, and the last one finally started eating yesterday. I know it's hard, and stressful, but sometimes they just surprise you and start eating out of the blue.

Have you tried offering a couple different feeders? I know you mentioned wax worms, and I assume you've tried meal worms and crickets? What was she being fed at the store, and was it from a bowl?

Sorry for all the questions, I just know how worried you feel!

As long as everything else is up to par...heat, hides, etc...she should be just fine and start eating soon.

 

[nats]

Is you UTH mounted "flush" against the the glass and under the tank?
If there is any air gap, that low temp thing will happen.

 

[Libby15]

I would warm it up in there before you spend money on a vet.

 

[RepBex]

your tank is simply to cold for her what u can see in her belly is purly just organs and is normal

tape ur heat mat to the under side of your tank
get a matstat to control the temp
digital thermomitor over the heat mat with the prob of the matstat
get rid of the sand asap that might be why your heat is so low
if u are worryed about the heat put a hot water bottle in there wraped in a towl
i am sure she will be fine once your temps are right

 

[THE WHISPERER]

Another thing - she is said to be 4/5 months old, and she was housed with a male in the shop... is it likely they would have mated? Or are they too young?

Thanks

I had a female that accidently got pregnant by a male that we thought was female at a very young age. so even at 4/5 months I wouldn't throw out the posability. Bring it up to your vet when you go.

 

[Ingo_gecko]

Yes, the heat mat is against the glass, and i am putting the mat and tank on a towel to try and contain some of the heat..
I have tried meal worms and then wax worms today, i asked whether to try crickets but the shop said i didnt need to as she has been on mealies her whole life..
Ok , thanks, thats reassuring Hopefully she'll settle down and eat soon!
How long until i should start really worrying?
Her food was in the same small glass bowl as it is now so she should be used to that..

 

[myjoyoverflows]

Just one little added thing...just because she's been on one type of food her whole life, doesn't mean it's not a good idea to try something new...just wanted to throw that out there...

 

[LeapinLizards]

In my experience, even though they have been fed only mealworms their whole life, a LOT of geckos LOVE crickets, due to the fact that they have to chase them down...it's a prey drive thing. It's worth a try! Just don't get pinheads, or little baby crickets. They are pointless, especially for a 4-5 month old.

 

[myjoyoverflows]

In my experience, even though they have been fed only mealworms their whole life, a LOT of geckos LOVE crickets, due to the fact that they have to chase them down...it's a prey drive thing. It's worth a try! Just don't get pinheads, or little baby crickets. They are pointless, especially for a 4-5 month old.

Exactly...we have some geckos that will only eat certain things....and sometimes the first time that they ate them was once we received them. I would give the crickets a shot...there's not really much to lose if she doesn't want them...

 

[nats]

In my experience, even though they have been fed only mealworms their whole life, a LOT of geckos LOVE crickets, due to the fact that they have to chase them down...it's a prey drive thing. It's worth a try! Just don't get pinheads, or little baby crickets. They are pointless, especially for a 4-5 month old.

Right you are :main_yes:
Crix move alot more than mealies and that movement is what triggers
their feeding behavior (the leo I mean, not the mealies ).
As long as you have 92F belly level temp and some nice dark hiding places
for them to feel secure, they get into a normal rhythm.
Obviously if its too cold, or if they feel insecure or threatened, they will
not eat.

 

[Libby15]

You're missing out on a lot of fun if you're not feeding crickets. Watching them chase them down if hilarious.

 

[Pepper]

Have you tried emptying everything out of your tank, putting some crickets in, and leaving the room? It worked for me, sometimes they won't eat in front of you until they settle down, and my baby leo I got was fed mealies out of a bowl, but he won't eat them out of a bowl with me, he much prefers crickets.

 

[gothra]

I have used one of those heat mat before (at least it looks the same), I have no problem getting the heat well above 90. I think you need to check where the heat is lost; I put cork sheet (insulating material) underneath the tanks to prevent heat lost to other areas.

 

[Digby Rigby]

Ceramic heat emitters

Low wattage ceramic heat emitters connected to a pulse proportional thermostat are far superior to under tank heat . They also provide a more natural and deeper penetrating heat you can get low wattage ones ranging from 30- 60 watts.

Digby Rigby [email protected]