Still not eating (7 days)

[rchase54]

Its been a week since we moved her to the new house, but my Waggles still isn't eating :/ She's too young to be ovulating, I'm pretty sure. And she doesn't seem all that stressed, so idk what's wrong and its really starting to worry me :/

 

[SamsonizeMe]

Do you have a scale to weigh her with? If she's not losing weight it's not as worrisome as if she is. I have a girl that hasn't eaten on her own for two months but she hasn't lost very much weight so I'm just waiting her out for now.

Make sure your warm side is 90-95*F on the floor of the tank.

 

[Khrysty]

Check and make sure she isn't ovulating. I've had females as small as 15g go off feed because they're ovulating.

Otherwise, double check your temps, try offering a different sort of food, and if all else fails - - relax. As long as she's not lethargic, not having any weird poops, and not losing that much weight I wouldn't worry. Sometimes it just takes them a while to adjust to a new place

 

[Khrysty]

whoops sorry, double post

 

[rchase54]

The thing is, I just woke up today to find the weirdest poop in their poop corner today. It had the white thing thats usually their, but other than that it was just yellow goop. Almost like runny jello

 

[SamsonizeMe]

That is typical poo of a gecko that hasn't eaten in a while. Should be okay.

 

[Kat&Rin]

Yah I just got back from a week long vacation and I found one poo like the one you described, I figure she was just picky and didn't eat the mealies I left in her dish (silly girl) though some of them *are* missing....either because they underwent metamorphosis and are now beetles that were eaten or are hiding, or because she ate some of them (hoping its the latter) as said above, as long as she isn't losing weight you shouldn't worry as much. They aren't always happy with changes so she might just be a little more sensitive and upset by the move. Have you tried giving her something different then normal? I find that when Rin gets picky its usually because she's bored of her current food and wants something else, if you haven't already I'd try enticing her to eat with waxworms, silkworms, hornworms, crickets or mealworms depending on what she usually eats.

Best of luck!!

 

[rchase54]

I used to feed them both crickets, but I switched to mealies because crickets smell horrible. She had no problems switching to mealies, she used to eat like 7-10 of the per feeding. But ever since the move, she hasn't been eating them. Although last night I managed to persuade her to eat a couple after I cut them open and let her lick their guts for a bit. Maybe she just doesn't recognize them as food anymore or something? Idk if its just her personality or what, but this gecko doesn't seem like its "all there" sometimes, so maybe she just forgot she is supposed to eat them or something.

 

[Kat&Rin]

hmmm well that is kinda odd. All I know is that Rin was eating mealoworms one day like a pig and the next day she refused to even LOOK at them, let alone eat them. Anything else she'll eat so its just her being picky I hope Waggles is though.

 

[stager]

I would find out from someone who knows here how long without food will become a problem. New to this but maybe try wax worms just once to fill here up.

 

[sausage]

If youve moved house then wiggles is most likely just stressed even if she dosnt look it.
It might still be her cage but every thing else she can smell and see is diffrent dont forget, not to mention the jurney i guess was scary for the little thing lol
some time even small things can stop them from eating. i have a male whos not eating cos i compleetly changed the sub in his cage!
Two of my females also refused to eat any thing for about 6 monts :S didnt seem to lose any weight at all. I did start to worry come the 6th month then all of a suddent they just started to eat again like gannets like already said some times you just have to ride it out. Just intervene if she loses a lot of weight really quickly.

 

[Wild West Reptile]

I love when people suggest to give wax worms to geckos that wont eat to fill them up. Ummmmm......the gecko IS NOT EATING....that means no mealies, crickets, roaches and for sure no little wax worms that barely even move!!:wall:

The only thing you can do is keep offering food until THEY decide it's time to eat. THEY will eat when THEY are good and ready. If they are not sick with a disease, then dont worry. A week is nothing. They can go much, much longer without food as long as they were healthy to start with.

Sorry, but I hate when people suggest wax worms when their gecko isn't eating. They aren't very nutritious for them to start with, and don't move a whole lot to stimulate a geckos instinct to hunt. I would personally suggest getting the biggest crickets you can find....dust them with calcium and vitamins...and put them in the tank until they eat them or the crickets die. This is what a very knowledgeable breeder told me to do when my geckos where not eating for over a month. It worked btw. :main_yes:

* If the crickets don't work, try silkworms if you can get them. The bigger the better. I had a stubborn little girl who wouldn't touch anything...superworms, mealies, crickets, roaches...NOTHING, but she destroyed 5 silkworms in a minute and it jump started her appetite. And btw, they are the most nutritious food item you can give a gecko. Good luck!

 

[Repkyle]

I to am struggling with a stubborn female, she hasn't ate for nearly 10days now and I haven't noticed poop for almost a week, and I'm not sure how fresh the poop was that I cleared out. As there's no obvious signs of illness or weight loss i'v choose to just monitor her closely and just keep the food there for the taking. I have recently bought a digital scale and a digital prob thermometer because I am getting a little concerned. But like Chris (gecko park) informs us, it could be a number of simple factors and there's not alot to worry about unless they loose weight. So fingers crossed for the pair of us! And our leos of course

 

[Dog Shrink]

Leaving huge crickets in yoru tank with your leo is NOT a good idea... crickets haev been known to nibble and bite leos and the leo usually just sits there and takes it. If you DO opt to leave feeders loose in the viv with your herp be sure you leave a nice chunk of food in there for the insects so they don't harass and nibble your leo. I often hear many things from "breeders" of rabbits, dogs, herps, you pick.. that are often so far off base from safe or right that it is almost embarrasing for them. Don't take it as gospel just because it comes from a breeder, doesn't always mean it's what's best in every circumstance. Using waxies as a feeder alternative for a non-feeding leo is a good way to find out if it is just food boredome or an actual disease, but if another lot of feeders such as butter worms silk worms etc are available then by all means get an assortment and try to see if something trips the trigger. Good luck... keep us updated

 

[OnlineGeckos]

I love when people suggest to give wax worms to geckos that wont eat to fill them up. Ummmmm......the gecko IS NOT EATING....that means no mealies, crickets, roaches and for sure no little wax worms that barely even move!!:wall:

I actually have successfully jump started 2 of my leopard geckos that weren't eating with wax worms. It obviously won't work the same for everyone else, but just saying, some people are recommending them because they do work sometimes.

 

[LeopardShade]

When was the last time your gecko ate? I think she's adjusting to the move. Does she appear active and overall healthy? If so, then there isn't anything to worry about. She will eat when she is hungry.

 

[Wild West Reptile]

Leaving huge crickets in yoru tank with your leo is NOT a good idea

So your saying that Steve Sykes doesn't know what he's talking about? I gotta disagree. As long as you have a chunk of carrot or apple in the tank and keep it fresh, your leos shouldn't have any problems with the crickets. Leaving the crickets in the tank is for when your leos are healthy, but haven't eaten in a couple of weeks. I've done it a couple of times and have NEVER had an issue with crickets nibbling on them. as I stated before...try many different food items until they decide they're ready to eat, but don't lose sleep over them not eating.

 

[Wild West Reptile]

I actually have successfully jump started 2 of my leopard geckos that weren't eating with wax worms. It obviously won't work the same for everyone else, but just saying, some people are recommending them because they do work sometimes.

I am glad they worked for you, but my point was that it seems like everytime I read about leos not eating someone tells them to feed them wax worms. Everytime! This MAY work sometimes, but if they aren't eating at all, you usually need a larger moving insect to stimulate their hunting instinct. Plus wax worms are probably the worst food you can feed a gecko. They are like crack and if you
give them too many they may not want anything else which just created a new problem. I was just trying to suggest a much healthier food like silkworms or crickets as an alternative.

 

[fl_orchidslave]

So your saying that Steve Sykes doesn't know what he's talking about? I gotta disagree. As long as you have a chunk of carrot or apple in the tank and keep it fresh, your leos shouldn't have any problems with the crickets. Leaving the crickets in the tank is for when your leos are healthy, but haven't eaten in a couple of weeks. I've done it a couple of times and have NEVER had an issue with crickets nibbling on them. as I stated before...try many different food items until they decide they're ready to eat, but don't lose sleep over them not eating.

I am glad they worked for you, but my point was that it seems like everytime I read about leos not eating someone tells them to feed them wax worms. Everytime! This MAY work sometimes, but if they aren't eating at all, you usually need a larger moving insect to stimulate their hunting instinct. Plus wax worms are probably the worst food you can feed a gecko. They are like crack and if you
give them too many they may not want anything else which just created a new problem. I was just trying to suggest a much healthier food like silkworms or crickets as an alternative.

I strongly disagree with leaving loose crickets in with any animal that doesn't consume them withing a relatively short time. Sure, you can leave them something else besides a gecko or crickets to munch on, maybe they'll take to it, or maybe they'll eat poop instead. Or all three. And now there's a new breed of crickets that are known to be vicious. Maybe it's an okay risk to some folks............. but different people have different opinions.

I've never offered my leopard geckos waxworms, don't plan to. Even ones I've taken in for rehab that weren't eating. Once they have been accessed and seen by my vet if needed for medication, I'll offer slurry until they are well enough to eat supers or mealworms. No junk just to get them eating, they need nutrition. This is just my opinion, and I realize a lot of folks like to offer waxworms for treats, etc. I really don't understand giving them to an animal whose health may be compromised.

 

[Wild West Reptile]

I strongly disagree with leaving loose crickets in with any animal that doesn't consume them withing a relatively short time. Sure, you can leave them something else besides a gecko or crickets to munch on, maybe they'll take to it, or maybe they'll eat poop instead. Or all three. And now there's a new breed of crickets that are known to be vicious. Maybe it's an okay risk to some folks............. but different people have different opinions.

I've never offered my leopard geckos waxworms, don't plan to. Even ones I've taken in for rehab that weren't eating. Once they have been accessed and seen by my vet if needed for medication, I'll offer slurry until they are well enough to eat supers or mealworms. No junk just to get them eating, they need nutrition. This is just my opinion, and I realize a lot of folks like to offer waxworms for treats, etc. I really don't understand giving them to an animal whose health may be compromised.

I can agree with all of that. It comes down to individual geckos and personal choices. But as long as whatever you do works to get them eating....that's the right choice as far as I'm concerned. Geckos personalities are all different and that's what makes them so cool!