[SGilliam]

First, let me say that I have a two year old Fat-Tail Gecko, she resides in a 20 gallon tank with proper heating of about 80-85 degrees with no significant change at night. I have eco-earth for bedding and two hide-spots with a shallow water dish she's had almost ever since I got her. She's been in this new enclosure since November, and used to eat fine.

It's, admittedly, gotten colder outside, and for about two weeks (give or take) now, she won't eat a thing. I usually feed her crickets and occasionally a small Pinky Mouse that she loves to eat, she won't even consider that. She has lost no noticeable weight in her fast, and seems just as healthy as she was a year ago.

I'm not entirely sure what could be the matter, and have been considering taking her to the Veterinarian's Office.

I will note that, lately, she has been digging underneath the water dish when at all possible. A trait she never before displayed up until now, even though she could have before.

Please let me know if you have any thoughts on this, I heard from word-of-mouth that they can sometimes Brumate in colder weather, but I often see her- at night- out from her hide spot.

[Yoshi'smom]

Is there any lighting on the tank? The burrowing under the water dish leads me to believe she's trying to get away from light. OR..... She could be trying to lay eggs. Has she been with a male recently?

[SGilliam]

I have no day lighting on her tank, some light does reach her tank from other sources but not significant enough for her to be bothered. Some light from my window: filtered through the curtain, and sometimes from the room light. She has not been with a male lately either.

[cricket4u]

Originally Posted by SGilliam

First, let me say that I have a two year old Fat-Tail Gecko, she resides in a 20 gallon tank with proper heating of about 80-85 degrees with no significant change at night. I have eco-earth for bedding and two hide-spots with a shallow water dish she's had almost ever since I got her. She's been in this new enclosure since November, and used to eat fine.

It's, admittedly, gotten colder outside, and for about two weeks (give or take) now, she won't eat a thing. I usually feed her crickets and occasionally a small Pinky Mouse that she loves to eat, she won't even consider that. She has lost no noticeable weight in her fast, and seems just as healthy as she was a year ago.

I'm not entirely sure what could be the matter, and have been considering taking her to the Veterinarian's Office.

I will note that, lately, she has been digging underneath the water dish when at all possible. A trait she never before displayed up until now, even though she could have before.

Please let me know if you have any thoughts on this, I heard from word-of-mouth that they can sometimes Brumate in colder weather, but I often see her- at night- out from her hide spot.

AFT's like to burrow, it's natural behavior. If she is digging over her heat mat, then it's possible she wants a bit more heat. A range of 75-90 would be better. I would also steer away from feeding pinkies, they are high in fat. It's possible she is not eating due to the drop in temperatures. I would raise the heat on the warm side to 88-90 to see if that helps.

[acpart]

If your 80-85 degrees is air temp you're probably OK. If it's floor temp it should be a bit higher, like low 90's. I have about 20 leopard geckos and 6 fat tail geckos. In the winter some sleep a lot and barely eat but they don't really lose weight (the leopard gecko who has eaten the least over the last 2 months weighed 101 grams last week). Geckos can also stop eating if and when they ovulate and my fat tails have started that. Sometimes my fat tails go off food for awhile at unexpected times. I've been able to get them started by holding them and gently pushing a cricket at the mouth. The gecko gets annoyed and bites the cricket and often eats it and then they seem to remember about food. In general, if they're not eating but remain active and aren't losing weight I recommend just offering food regularly and not worrying too much.

Aliza

[SGilliam]

Alright, thanks acpart/ Aliza. I think she might be Ovulating, I suspect this only on the premise of her temperament. I may be wrong. My fat-tail gecko seems to have a bad temperament when she ovulates, I've had her around one year now, and she doesn't ever bite, but right before I noticed her not eating, she bit me twice and wasn't going to allow me to pick her up. This could, however, be a false assumption. I've had my fair share of Cresties, Tokays and Leopards (not 20 though, impressive) all were male, and she was my first Fat Tail and first female.

Thanks again, I'll see what she does if I bug her with crickets.

[cricket4u]

Originally Posted by SGilliam

First, let me say that I have a two year old Fat-Tail Gecko, she resides in a 20 gallon tank with proper heating of about 80-85 degrees with no significant change at night. I have eco-earth for bedding and two hide-spots with a shallow water dish she's had almost ever since I got her. She's been in this new enclosure since November, and used to eat fine.

It's, admittedly, gotten colder outside, and for about two weeks (give or take) now, she won't eat a thing. I usually feed her crickets and occasionally a small Pinky Mouse that she loves to eat, she won't even consider that. She has lost no noticeable weight in her fast, and seems just as healthy as she was a year ago.

I'm not entirely sure what could be the matter, and have been considering taking her to the Veterinarian's Office.

I will note that, lately, she has been digging underneath the water dish when at all possible. A trait she never before displayed up until now, even though she could have before.

Please let me know if you have any thoughts on this, I heard from word-of-mouth that they can sometimes Brumate in colder weather, but I often see her- at night- out from her hide spot.

This is what can occur when feeding the wrong type of protein. Keep in mind geckos are way smaller.

Bearded dragon - chewed his foot off due to gout | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

[SGilliam]

Update: I wanted to let everyone know that she's eating again. Tonight, while I was moving some stuff around to put a better Heat mat under her tank under her water dish, I put a few crickets in. She remembered food was good, and hunted most of them down. Thanks, to everyone who settled my worries.

Additionally, from the previous post, I only fed her Pinkies occasionally, but seeing that story I may try and wean her off her favorite treat. It was all I could give her as a snack, I might add: she won't eat meal worms or wax worms.

[cricket4u]

Originally Posted by SGilliam

Update: I wanted to let everyone know that she's eating again. Tonight, while I was moving some stuff around to put a better Heat mat under her tank under her water dish, I put a few crickets in. She remembered food was good, and hunted most of them down. Thanks, to everyone who settled my worries.

Additionally, from the previous post, I only fed her Pinkies occasionally, but seeing that story I may try and wean her off her favorite treat. It was all I could give her as a snack, I might add: she won't eat meal worms or wax worms.

I am glad she started eating again and now you are at ease.