The Annual Miracle

[acpart]

This is about my supersnow male, Oskar, who I don't have a picture of at the moment. Every fall, weighing 80-90 grams, Oskar stops eating. He has a tendency to getting his nasal passages blocked, so he spends the winter losing weight and mouth breathing. About Jan or Feb he goes to the vet to get antibiotics for his annual respiratory infection. Months go by, he drops his weight to about 65 grams and, no matter what I do, he doesn't eat. Then, eventually, the miracle occurs, and he suddenly gets interested in superworms. This year the miracle happened on May 15 and Oskar ate 2 superworms. This has been going on for at least 3-4 years. He was my prime male snow breeder, but he retired 2 years ago once it became clear that his respiratory problems were here to stay. While I don't enjoy Oskar's big eating and weight extremes, I hope this is encouraging to others who may have a gecko that isn't sick, but just doesn't eat for long periods.

Aliza

 

[roger]

This is about my supersnow male, Oskar, who I don't have a picture of at the moment. Every fall, weighing 80-90 grams, Oskar stops eating. He has a tendency to getting his nasal passages blocked, so he spends the winter losing weight and mouth breathing. About Jan or Feb he goes to the vet to get antibiotics for his annual respiratory infection. Months go by, he drops his weight to about 65 grams and, no matter what I do, he doesn't eat. Then, eventually, the miracle occurs, and he suddenly gets interested in superworms. This year the miracle happened on May 15 and Oskar ate 2 superworms. This has been going on for at least 3-4 years. He was my prime male snow breeder, but he retired 2 years ago once it became clear that his respiratory problems were here to stay. While I don't enjoy Oskar's big eating and weight extremes, I hope this is encouraging to others who may have a gecko that isn't sick, but just doesn't eat for long periods.

Aliza

Thanks aliza, its good to know other people are dealing with the same frustrating eating issues.

 

[GeckoDude31]

This is very encouraging! I'm very happy to hear he is eating again. It can be so stressful, not only on the leo, but the owner as well when one does not eat. I sure hope my new leo will start eating soon. It has been 5 weeks now. Stories like this are very uplifting! Thank you!

 

[endrien]

That has to be pretty stressful wondering when he is going to eat again! You have no idea what's causing it?

 

[acpart]

It's less stressful when I see it year after year because I know what's happening and how it will go. Many of my leos hardly eat between about Nov. and Jan. and it doesn't bother me anymore (upcoming Gecko Time article about this). Oskar gets his nose plugged up, starts breathing through his mouth, sometimes gets sores in his mouth because of this and then doesn't get back into eating. I try to push mealworms into his mouth and it seldom works. Last month I managed to get one of his nose plugs out by applying bacitracin for a few days (as recommended by the vet). All I can say is that somehow it works for him and since he'll be up to 80 grams by July, there's nothing I can do but keep an eye on him and make sure nothing out of his "ordinary" is happening. But that's why he's no longer breeding.

Aliza

 

[ajveachster]

We are always relieved to hear we are not alone in our trials. One of my males barely eats and loses several grams during the breeding season. You are also right that it does become a little less stressful when it is a repeat cycle, and we somewhat know what to expect.