[bombax1212]

I purchased a breeding pair of levis 2 weeks ago. I have not been able to get her to eat anything (the male eats like a champ). The female was apparently gravid, although it was hard to tell at the time, and she arrived in good shape. She laid 2 healthy looking eggs 3 days ago, but still refuses all food. I placed her in a larger tub with 4-5 inches of sand on one side and she actively dug tunnels for a few days before egg laying. I was feeding her during this time, but discovered the few insects I thought she had eaten when I dug for the eggs.

She had one bowel movement in my possession and I did not notice a pre-lay shed. Right now she is in a 16qt tub with about 1 inch of sand. I use bottom heat to keep her at about 84 (I usually drop this to about 8o at night) and a 3 inch hot strip of about 92 (constant). She comes out of her hide immediately at night and lays on the hot strip. She will lick water droplets from her face and I have her sand quite moist and water is condensing on the tubs walls. I feed crickets and Turkish roaches ( I always remove hind legs for crickets and I half cripple roaches). Right now I am offer 1 mid-sized roach each night and remove it the next morning. I bother her as little as possible.

I need to get her eating and make sure she doesn’t become gravid again. I am considering cooling her down to about 70 for a week or 2 and then warming her up. I would REALLY appricate some expert advice right now.

Thanks in advance,
Joshua Bombax, PharmD

[Rob D'heu]

Hard to tell what the problem is because everything you did is ok .
I would try to give some waxmoth larvae , they are very fond of that and it is fat so it gives her a boost .

[NigelMoses]

The bigger the prey item the better, go with crickets for now. Also what was she fed before? Only do a couple to start out with as too many can stress her. I would also go back to the larger enclosure with the deeper sand. Sometimes levis are just strange and won't eat for some reason and then go back to normal after a short period. I also find that my females will not eat a couple days before laying usually will eat the night of laying or next day. I also give my females pinky mice and they seem to love them. I only do this during the breeding season but it helps them maintain weight and I have never had a female refuse a mouse. Also be sure to give her a hide with moist sand, it shouldn't be wet to the touch but should be misted at least once a week under her hide on the cool side. Also if you found feces that is a good sign, I would be more concerned with not finding any feces. The stress of moving and going into a new enclosure could be enough to stop her from eating. As I stated above they are strange creatures, my males often go into their hides for weeks at a time when not breeding and I never see them, other times they don't. Hope this helps.

[bombax1212]

Thanks for the advice. The previous owner was keeping her in a smaller tub, so that is why I moved her into a 16qt tub after she laid. I am trying a wax worm and a roach tonight. My local pet store didn't have any new pinkies, so I can't try that, but I will check with them again tomorrow.

She was out of her hide, which I suppose is a good sign. But this is really starting to stress me out.

[bombax1212]

She didn't eat anything again last night. She has been at least 2 weeks without food and is not looking good at all. I am seriously thinking of putting her down to about 68 degrees and leaving her there for a week or 10 ten days. I don't want to be hasty, but I don't think she is going to make it as is.

Josh

[Rob D'heu]

If she doesn't look good or is weak I would not drop the temperature , this might push her over the edge .
I would also get her feces examined . Do you have a picture of her ? I she constipated ?
Also give her lost of rest(only disturb her if necessary)

[mummabear]

Have you tried hand feeding/ force feeding her? I wouldn't drop the temps either. What about a bit of reptile probiotic? If mine slow down eating i give them a bit of probiotic to lick from a syringe. It seam to pick up their appetite.

[bombax1212]

Another night and still not feeding. She was out and about but doesn't look healthy. I will look into probiotic products. I am considering force feeding, however I have never done that before and I am not really sure how to do that.

[hognose]

With my Levis I've noticed that the feeding response is sometimes better right after spraying, I've been able to get ~ 75% of them to feed during the day by spraying then offering a few food items. On the rare occasions I get up VERY early I've noticed some of them are more active very late in the night (4am) while others get active an hour or so after dark. I'd try to quickly understand when she is normally active, feed her then. If that doesn't work the next day I'd try misting then feeding during her active period.

Really hope something works for you!

Chris

[mummabear]

My suggestion to hand feeding would be hold the gecko in one hand and prey item in the other. Tease/tickle her gently on the nose with the prey item. They will usually bite the prey item, push it in a bit so she swallows. If she wont open her mouth you can use a plastic spoon to gently open the mouth with the prey item on the spoon. When you get it open push the prey item into her mouth from the spoon. I would just give her a couple to start with and see if that gets her appetite going.
The problem is there must be a reason she is not eating. Parasites, impaction, sickness etc. Has she been receiving calcium dusted food while gravid?