leopard gecko help please

emmhobbs · #1 09-22-2011, 05:24 AM

Hi

i wondered if anyone could help?

I have had a leopard gecko for a year - 18months. she was thin when we got her having only been fed on mealworms. after 6months she picked up having hoppers and was very happy. we ended up with another female gecko and they did get on so we put them together. everything has been fine for another 6months....until the last shed. she went off her food as usual, shed and then never started eating again.

iv checked the temperatures they seem fine- we have a heat mat and a heat bulb with it being a 3ft viv.
she sleeps with the other gecko and there seems to be no disputes but to be on the safe side iv separated them 72hours ago but she is yet to eat. nothing in the vivarium has moved.
she has her moss box, hot side hide, cold side hide, bowl of mealworms, calcium dish, water and a little bridge hide under.

i considered it being worms but surely the other gecko would be thinning too?
now iv separated them i can at least say she is pooping so think i will get that tested.

we have started force feeding her waxworms the last few days, i think shes taken 4 just to kick start her but i dont want to resort to this really.
last week she shed again.

If anyone could give any suggestions or advice tht would be great

many thanks
Em

Yoshi'smom · #2 09-22-2011, 06:44 AM

I would stop feeding her waxworms!! It'll be much harder for you to get your gecko to eat well again! Otherwise, I think it's just the change in season. My boy has lost his appetite as well. He still eats but not as much. When the seasons change and it's starts to get cold, they start to conserve energy and precious fat stores. This could be why she's not eating.
If however, she is loosing weight & refusing everything, I think it's time to separate them and take her to a vet. Something else could be preventing her from eating. The vet should know the best course of action for her.
Let us know how things are going. Hope she eats soon.

emmhobbs · #3 09-22-2011, 09:13 AM

Hadnt thought of that with waxworms and not feeding herself, was just trying get something down her, alot of people had recommended waxworms in times of need, i understand their no a long term solution.

She has lost weight sadly. shes was 60g and is now 50g
theve already been separated, i hoped she would feed when the other had gone but she hasnt after 72 hours i was going to give her another day then get her looked although my vets arent the most clued up about reptiles sadly. shes alert and active but stalks food licks it then walks away

emm

M&S-328 · #4 09-22-2011, 10:47 AM

I second not using waxworms!
They can only be used sparingly as a treat - no more than 1 waxworm a week! Tops!
Leopard geckos can get easily addicted to waxworms and will refuse any other food source once you take them off and try to get her back on her normal feeders.
Imagine you had a child that would only eat cheese burgers and fries, as a parent you might allow them to eat that occasionally as a treat, but you would not let them live off that as you would realize that it could kill them. Waxeorms are like that for leopard geckos - like a big ball of fat and goo that they love to eat, but cannot live off of.

My suggestion is: if she will not eat her regular feeders on her own then instead of force feeding her the waxworms you should either: A, get some emergency food (I believe one of the brands you can look for is reptaid critical care food) which is like a paste you will have to force feed her with a syringe or (if she will lick it off) you can feed her off the end of a small spoon. or B, you can find the recipe for making her a "feeder slurry" - which basically is a mix of mealworms, possibly crickets, possibly baby food, her regular vitamins, water, and maybe some critical care food or other medicine.

Hopefully she starts eating again and gets back to her old self soon! Good luck!

emmhobbs · #5 09-22-2011, 04:52 PM

shes will not willingly take anything, not even the waxworms. i did attempt to crush a few mealworms up with water n calcium and then added a bit of baby food the other day but it was very lumpy yet watery. i can try again.

noones got any thoughts of anything im doing wrong that would of caused her to stop eating then?

do female geckos have cyccles by the way?

emm

humminbird · #6 09-22-2011, 06:19 PM

Hello there! I am new to the site but I ran across your profile here for help. I have had Leopard Geckos for a long time now and also worked with them in the pet store I worked in. Honestly she sounds as if she is just plain and simply, dying. They tend to do that, stop eating, start shedding constantly, and become very weak and thin, and stays hidden all the time. There really isn't much you can do about that, I am sorry. But removing them away from each other wasn't good, it would just stress the sick one out even more. But I do wish you the best of luck. Please keep us updated.

Yoshi'smom · #7 09-22-2011, 07:13 PM

This sounds like it's a parasite. I would have separated them as soon as I noticed anything amiss. I would have a fecal done with a vet asap and continue to force feed her if she still shows no interest in food. Are you gutloading and dusting your feeders at least twice a week?

emmhobbs · #8 09-23-2011, 02:02 AM

i know if she carrys on the way shes going she will die. but surely their must be a reason, shes was supose to be 3 when we got her so perhaps 4 going on 5 now.
also i wouldnt say she hides away shes active enough and stalks food but then just doesnt eat it.

she has been pooping - i supose this rules out blockages?
also if it was a parasite-i almost hope it is to give us an answer-wouldnt the other gecko decline too, or is that not always the case?

Thanks everyone

emmhobbs · #9 09-23-2011, 02:03 AM

ps we do gut load and dust the hoppers and there is a calcium dish in there too

M&S-328 · #10 09-23-2011, 09:33 AM

A leopard gecko will NOT "just die". There is always a cause, and unless its from old age, that cause is probably treatable.
The only thing you can do now is take her to the vet. Get a few fecal samples (if you can - but at least one) and take it and her right to the vets. It does not matter if you do not have any specialist in the area, its better that you take her in to any vet. If she does have parasites her fecal test results should show that. You will probbly also want to ask them to test for any other viruses and Crypto as well - they wont always check for that right away because its a more complex process.
Most likely the vet will at least be able to give you some critical care food and maybe even some medications (if he can get an idea of what the problem is).
Just do NOT delay! You must get her in to the vet ASAP! If she does have any viruses or such you do not want to let it progress. If it progresses to far then you may not be able to save her.

I wish you the best of luck, and please keep us updated!