Weird behavior after eating...

[avoidtheboyd]

So occasionally after feeding my gecko she'll sort of have a little spasm. It's kind of like shes cringing her whole body and I was wondering what could be causing this. Both times she's done this she has eaten quite a bit so I was wondering if it was possibly caused by overeating?

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

So occasionally after feeding my gecko she'll sort of have a little spasm. It's kind of like shes cringing her whole body and I was wondering what could be causing this. Both times she's done this she has eaten quite a bit so I was wondering if it was possibly caused by overeating?

Are her feeders no bigger in width than the space between her eyes? How often are you feeding? How much?

How are you managing her calcium and vitamins?

 

[avoidtheboyd]

Her feeders may have been a little large then. For some reason she brumates in the winter so she doesn't eat very often in the winter but once I got home from college she started to be a little more active. She wont really eat dusted food so I put calcium drops in her water and sneak some vitamin worms in every so often. There is always a dish of calcium in her tank too.

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

Her feeders may have been a little large then. For some reason she brumates in the winter so she doesn't eat very often in the winter but once I got home from college she started to be a little more active. She wont really eat dusted food so I put calcium drops in her water and sneak some vitamin worms in every so often. There is always a dish of calcium in her tank too.

Ethan ~

Good to know that the behavior may have been due to excessively large feeders.

How's the tank doing for heat? An UTH and an overhead dome should both be used. The large overhead dome will provide much needed warm air space. 88-93 F ground heat over heat pad, no greater than 85 F warm air temp, and 77 F cool air temp?

 

[avoidtheboyd]

The temps are fine I think it was just the feeder size.

 

[cricket4u]

So occasionally after feeding my gecko she'll sort of have a little spasm. It's kind of like shes cringing her whole body and I was wondering what could be causing this. Both times she's done this she has eaten quite a bit so I was wondering if it was possibly caused by overeating?

Hi,

I am not sure what you are trying to describe, however it may be a good idea to make a video of her eating. If she is twisting her body in an S-shape while swallowing, I suggest you have her examined by a vet. She may have gone off or decreased food intake due to dehydration if she is twisting to swallow. What brand calcium and multivitamins are you dusting with? Temps?

 

[avoidtheboyd]

Im pretty sure it was just the feeder size because I fed her smaller worms last night and she didn't do it. The calcium is Repti-cal with d3 on the food and repti-cal without d3 in the tank. I'm also fairly sure that shes not dehydrated because she always has fresh water and I've seen her drinking several times.

 

[cricket4u]

Im pretty sure it was just the feeder size because I fed her smaller worms last night and she didn't do it. The calcium is Repti-cal with d3 on the food and repti-cal without d3 in the tank. I'm also fairly sure that shes not dehydrated because she always has fresh water and I've seen her drinking several times.

I see that you have already made up your mind. Just so you know, there are many causes of dehydration, not just lack of water.

 

[avoidtheboyd]

I mean i'm not saying I made up my mind but its kind of looking like thats what it was. Tell me how she would've gotten dehydrated and steps to fix it and I'll maybe consider that was what it was...

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

Im pretty sure it was just the feeder size because I fed her smaller worms last night and she didn't do it. The calcium is Repti-cal with d3 on the food and repti-cal without d3 in the tank. I'm also fairly sure that shes not dehydrated because she always has fresh water and I've seen her drinking several times.

Ethan ~

Please post a picture of this leo.

How often are you dusting the prey?

Zoo Med's Repti-calcium with and without D3 is good. A multivitamin is suggested with a schedule something no more frequent than this:

Keep a small bottlecap of pure calcium carbonate in their tank 24/7. Vitamin D3 helps metabolize calcium. Unless your vet recommends differently, lightly dust the prey:

Week #1
Phosphorus-free calcium with vitamin D3---1x
Sticky Tongue Farm's Miner-All Indoor (does contain vitamin D3)---1x

Week #2
Phosphorus-free calcium with vitamin D3---1x
Zoo Med's Reptivite with (or without) vitamin D3 (Either "with" or "without" formulation contains vitamin A acetate.)---1x

Then Repeat This Cycle

 

[cricket4u]

Ethan ~

Please post a picture of this leo.

How often are you dusting the prey?

Zoo Med's Repti-calcium with and without D3 is good. A multivitamin is suggested with a schedule something no more frequent than this:

Keep a small bottlecap of pure calcium carbonate in their tank 24/7. Vitamin D3 helps metabolize calcium. Unless your vet recommends differently, lightly dust the prey:

Week #1
Phosphorus-free calcium with vitamin D3---1x
Sticky Tongue Farm's Miner-All Indoor (does contain vitamin D3)---1x

Week #2
Phosphorus-free calcium with vitamin D3---1x
Zoo Med's Reptivite with (or without) vitamin D3 (Either "with" or "without" formulation contains vitamin A acetate.)---1x

Then Repeat This Cycle

Avoidtheboyd~

I have zero husbandry information from you to go on. Even then it would only be a guess. I would have to see your gecko swallowing in the manner you described. The best thing to do is read over the caresheet and make sure you are providing the best care possible. If it continues, even if only occasionally, you need to bring it to a reptile vets attention. We both asked you for the temps and all you said was they were fine.:roll: Make sure they are please.:biggrin:

 

[avoidtheboyd]

92 on the warm and 71 on the cold.

 

[avoidtheboyd]

The pictures aren't the best but she seems to be happy and healthy. She weighs about 80 grams and has a pretty decent appetite.

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

92 on the warm and 71 on the cold.

Ethan ~

Thank you very much for this info and your pictures. Very nice yellow leo! cricket4u should be checking back in a few days re the pictures.

Your leo seems to have a good body weight .

So these are the ground temps in those areas?

Just curious whether you using any overhead heating to maintain a warm air space.

Are you also using any vitamins, even just once in awhile? The supplementation schedule I suggested in post #10 may need tweaking.

 

[avoidtheboyd]

I thought what I was using was vitamins but when i really read the ingredients it seemed to be just calcium. I'm going to pick up a vitamin supplement in the next day or two. Also, my room is really warm so I was wondering if I really needed the lamp? How warm does the air temp in the cage need to be?

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

I thought what I was using was vitamins but when i really read the ingredients it seemed to be just calcium. I'm going to pick up a vitamin supplement in the next day or two. Also, my room is really warm so I was wondering if I really needed the lamp? How warm does the air temp in the cage need to be?

Ethan ~

Good that I asked and that you stuck with this topic for Alani's good health.

Recommend Zoo Med's Reptivite with D3 and Miner-All Indoor.

Miner-all Indoor has D3, but no the other vitamins. Reptivite is higher in D3 but contains vitamin A acetate which is very important for eye health.

Check particular posts following the LGs for Hilde's great share on vitamins, and for Miner-All Indoor and Reptivite specs.

How warm is the air temp say 6" above the max ground temp of your warm hide? How active is Alani with the current setup? (I am learning too.) Generally when the air is warm enough your leo will be more active.

What you have been doing seems good for Alani. However, vitamin deficiencies develop slowly over time. The science of reptile nutrition is in its infancy.

 

[cricket4u]

Elizabeth~ Just finish packing and will be leaving within 5 minutes.:biggrin:

Avoidtheboyd~ Aha, I knew you were not checking air temps.:evil: please start and make sure she has an air temp gradient as well.

How old is she?
So you have only been providing calcium all this time?
With D or without? What brand?

I suggest you buy Reptivite with D or without depending on what you already have. Start dusting 2 x a week at least for the first 2 weeks and then you can reduce if desired. Thanks for posting the picture, but all that it tells me is that she is beautiful and has been fed many mealworms.:biggrin: (I can't see her swallowing) Try to maintain her at this body weight, no heavier. Make sure you feed variety and gutload properly.

I have to get going, but I will check back in when I return. Have a Happy New Year Everyone!

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

Cricket ~

Have a good trip. See you soon.....

Hope that leo Alani is also not dehydrated in your eyes.

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

FYI for all

Im pretty sure it was just the feeder size because I fed her smaller worms last night and she didn't do it. The calcium is Repti-cal with d3 on the food and repti-cal without d3 in the tank. I'm also fairly sure that shes not dehydrated because she always has fresh water and I've seen her drinking several times.

Ethan has been using Repti-cal with D3 on the food and Repti-cal without D3 in the tank :biggrin:

 

[avoidtheboyd]

And after reducing the size of the feeders she hasn't been doing it the last few days hence my reasoning and thought about that was what was causing the issue... :evil: