Gravid P. laticauda laticauda killed by male?

[mkschaefer]

When I got home this afternoon, I found my female P. laticauda laticauda dangling from the bamboo in the enclosure. I immediately knew she was dead (perhaps killed by the male).

When I was misting and feeding the pair this morning, I noticed that she had shed her skin on the side of the enclosure. It was sticking to the glass and was the length of her body. I have never seen this before. I wonder if the male was harassing her or killed her after she shed her skin.

She was carrying her second clutch. Her first clutch is incubating and should hatch around Christmas Day. I have not witnessed any aggression in the past, but I haven't been scrutinizing their interactions.

If the male is responsible, I don't know if I will keep a pair again in the size enclosure I have "them" in (30 cm x 30 cm x 45 cm, i.e. 12"x12"x18"). The female was eating well, appeared to be in good health, and was almost a year and a half old.

The enclosure, on the far right:

She was gravid (her second clutch):

Any thoughts?

 

[kruler]

Sorry to see this. I would expect to see some visible wounds if she was killed by the male. Also, the unusual shed seems more than just a coincidence, no? Would it be possible to have a necropsy performed?

 

[Crandall Geckos]

How long was she gravid for? She could have been egg bound. Also I have noticed that every time before a gecko lays their eggs they usually shed. So maybe that could have something to do with it?

 

[John_Woodward]

i had the same thing happen with my sundbergi ladiguensis. The female was just dead on the ground. No apparent bite marks so i am really confused on what happened, but i surmise it was the male. The best thing is just a bigger cage or if you find one male that causes something like that to isolate him and try another pair. Right now I am working with some borbonica that get along great for quite awhile now, but environmental issues seem to be the biggest issue i have noticed. Male phelsuma are psychotic sometimes though.

 

[geckoboy30]

it cant be the male its not right!

 

[PrestonG]

That is really strange especially if there are no signs of a struggle of sorts. I have come across a few almost full body shed pieces and thought nothing of it. I agree with John though that Phelsuma can get psychotic at times. Once had a male Klemmeri (noted as one the most laid back and gentile breeds) take two really big chunks out of a mate he was housed with for 2yrs she ultimately did pass away a week or so later. I was hesitant to place him with a female again but did so after a while and have had no problems for almost a year now.
I would surmise that people keel over for no apparent reason and sadly the same can happen to our pets, heart attack, stroke ect
Sorry for your loss

 

[mkschaefer]

After talking with Kurt Lance last weekend and thinking about the situation a little more, I do believe I am likely responsible for her death. A few weeks ago, in addition to reducing the photoperiod, I began cutting back how much I was feeding some of my Phelsuma lone adults and pairs.

Because I reduced how frequent and much I was feeding them, I consequently cut back the amount of calcium ordinarily supplied. This probably played a factor in, or was the factor contributing to, her demise. She was nearing one and a half years old and this was her second clutch. I can imagine that the young female on her second clutch didn't quite have what she "needed," became bound with eggs, and died. Perhaps I should have waited to pair them until the spring. I am pretty sure I am to blame and am bothered that didn't address this issue.

Her first clutch should be hatching in the next two weeks.

She could have died from some other causes, but it does not appear likely. My other Phelsuma slowed down and I just counted on this pair slowing down as well. What a sad learning experience.