[BlackIrisReptiles]

A few weeks ago I changed my leos from tanks to plastic bins. This, I imagine, has been an improvement for them since their temperatures remain warmer and their hides stay darker. Mind you they've had about 3 weeks to get settled into their new homes, so this didn't just happen 2 days ago.

However, they aren't really touching their food. Their bowls have not changed, so it's not that they don't recognize where their food is. A few details on their set-up: 32 qt tub per adult, hot side remains constant at 90* and ambient temp is at about 75*-80*, substrate is paper towel for the time being, and they are being fed the same small supers and mealworms they've always eaten.

They aren't losing weight, and they'll eat butterworms if I tweezer feed them, but I don't see them making a dent in their food bowls. I have never had any of my geckos stop eating, even during power outages where they'd have no heat for days. And since I don't see it being a heat-related issue, it has me pretty baffled. I'm not worried, but I'm curious as to why they've suddenly boycotted food. Could they be getting ready to hybernate?

[acpart]

It could be a hibernation, or to be more exact, a brumation issue. My adult leos, who are all in tanks, have virtually stopped eating and the floor temps haven't changed. It may be that in the racks they have less light so they're into winter mode. If you still have the tanks, you could try an experiment and put 1 or 2 of them back into a tank and see if they eat more.

Aliza

[BlackIrisReptiles]

No one has any theories? lol
The most common reason for hunger strikes is temperature, but their temperatures are fine. And since this has never happened to me with my group of geckos, I am a little baffled as to the reason.

Edit - Aliza that is what I was thinking it might be. But being in South Florida, where the temperatures still haven't dropped at all I was a little surprised that they would go into winter mode so soon! But I guess it makes sense, there are only about 3 months until breeding season so if they don't do it now, when right?

[kaikara]

I have two tanks and temps in both are the same and exactly what they are suppose to be. One for a male and the other for females. I got my first female from another keeper full grown and she was nice and fat when I got her. That was about 3 weeks ago and she has barely ate anything. At first I thought it was the change but now i am thinking it is a winter/hunger strike type thing. She has lost a little weight in her tail but it is still nice and fat. I have tried different food items and nothing. I have heard that females do this and it can go on for awhile so I am not too worried yet. I am glad she was nice and fat when she decided to do this. Any comments on anything else I can try?

[BlackIrisReptiles]

Originally Posted by kaikara

I have two tanks and temps in both are the same and exactly what they are suppose to be. One for a male and the other for females. I got my first female from another keeper full grown and she was nice and fat when I got her. That was about 3 weeks ago and she has barely ate anything. At first I thought it was the change but now i am thinking it is a winter/hunger strike type thing. She has lost a little weight in her tail but it is still nice and fat. I have tried different food items and nothing. I have heard that females do this and it can go on for awhile so I am not too worried yet. I am glad she was nice and fat when she decided to do this. Any comments on anything else I can try?

Yea, it sounds like our geckos are going into a sort of hybernation. Mine will eat butterworms if I offer them some by hand, but otherwise they're not really eating anything. Mine are also nice and fat so it doesn't worry me, it was more out of curiosity than anything. I'm going to keep weighing them once a week to keep an eye on their condition, and keep adding new worms to their food bowls, but I won't worry about it.

[Palor]

It is conceivable that barometric pressure could have something to do with how and when these reptiles go into brumation. I use the same temps year round, but every year from Dec-Feb my reptiles slow down and eat much less.