Feeding problems with fatty, again
- Thread starter Muffins94
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cricket4u
New member
I can't see any signs of ovulation. What I do see is those BOOBS correct? Well I'm glad you are working on her temps. I'm exhausted, too much computer time so I'm heading to bed. keep us posted.
Muffins94
New member
I've looked into those and have found that they either fat deposits or calcium deposits from too much supplementing. However, I don't do the latter so I assume its the former due to when she ate all those waxworms. They have gotten a bit smaller so I'm hopeful with time she'll be back to good size. I admit I made mistakes as a newbie but have definitely made progress and have everything up to par for her! Will keep everyone update. Just threw in some crickets hopefully she will eat them!
Mardy
New member
lol she's definitely chunky. The armpit bubbles are protein deposits, that's where they store excess protein. It used to be thought that that they are calcium bubbles or fat bubbles, but some people had them tested and they came back to be liquid protein. They are usually a result of overfeeding or oversupplementing. Sometimes it's not the fault of the owners because females will often gorge themselves prior to the breeding season, as they are wired to know egg production will take a lot out of their bodies. So they eat a lot before January, and if you breed her, usually by the end of the breeding season those bubbles would be gone since their body would use them up for egg production and for when they stop eating.
The first pic I couldn't see much other than her upper body, which does tell you she's quite chunky. The second pic, right in middle of the picture, it looks to be an ovum. Sometimes it's hard to tell with a chunky female because their body mass block out signs of ovulation. But in the second pic, she's turned to the side, so I think you got lucky and got a glimpse of an ovum. Judging by the location, I'd say she could very well be ovulating. I'd like to see another pic of the middle of her belly if possible. For chunky females it'll help if you have someone help you take the pic, so you could stand her up that way her belly pushes out.
But I agree, glad you've got the temperatures all settled, good stuff
The first pic I couldn't see much other than her upper body, which does tell you she's quite chunky. The second pic, right in middle of the picture, it looks to be an ovum. Sometimes it's hard to tell with a chunky female because their body mass block out signs of ovulation. But in the second pic, she's turned to the side, so I think you got lucky and got a glimpse of an ovum. Judging by the location, I'd say she could very well be ovulating. I'd like to see another pic of the middle of her belly if possible. For chunky females it'll help if you have someone help you take the pic, so you could stand her up that way her belly pushes out.
But I agree, glad you've got the temperatures all settled, good stuff
Mardy
New member
Yup saw that, I was just saying don't worry too much about it. The armpit bubbles come and go especially for females, it happens. Once you control her diet and cut out the more fatty diet, and do less supplementing, they'll go away. Especially with her fasting right now, now is when they use up that excess fat & protein.
I was going to suggest to you to start tracking her weight, just like once a week maybe. This way you'll know her weight fluctuations. One of the best ways to tell if a gecko is ill or have issues such as parasites is to see if the gecko is rapidly losing weight. It happens almost every time, rapid weight loss is clear indication that there's something wrong. It's funny the same works for us humans, or most animals. But say if you've been tracking her weight and she isn't losing much weight while not having much of an appetite, and you know your husbandry is sound since you are just awesome, then you can feel better about it all and not get too stressed out over her not eating.
I was going to suggest to you to start tracking her weight, just like once a week maybe. This way you'll know her weight fluctuations. One of the best ways to tell if a gecko is ill or have issues such as parasites is to see if the gecko is rapidly losing weight. It happens almost every time, rapid weight loss is clear indication that there's something wrong. It's funny the same works for us humans, or most animals. But say if you've been tracking her weight and she isn't losing much weight while not having much of an appetite, and you know your husbandry is sound since you are just awesome, then you can feel better about it all and not get too stressed out over her not eating.
Mardy
New member
She may be too chunky to tell. The ideal lighting is how you took the 2nd pic, with light shining from above giving her stomach a translucent look. But with her size and mass, you won't be able to see it clearly without her stomach being pushed out a bit. I think the best way to see it for a big girl is to have her in a clear container like you have in the 2nd pic, but lift her hind legs up a bit while taking the pic. That'll push her stomach forward for a better look.
Either way, she does look like she has a round bulge on ther lower right, where an egg would be if she is gravid. But again with her size, it's harder to tell for sure.
Either way, she does look like she has a round bulge on ther lower right, where an egg would be if she is gravid. But again with her size, it's harder to tell for sure.
Muffins94
New member
Okay thanks! She's been very moody lately as well I've noticed. Doesn't want to be touched or bothered so trying to get these pictures were hard! I'll just wait and see how things go over the next couple weeks. She has a humid hide with Eco earth so if there's any eggs she has a place to lay. However I don't see that happening. If so they'll definitely be infertile because she's never came in contact with another.
Mardy
New member
Moody behavior could also mean she could be gravid, just another sign! I know my breeder females don't like to be held when they're carrying eggs. Of course nothing is conclusive, but piecing lil bits and pieces together, she does seem to be ovulating, possibly gravid. Some females will lay infertile eggs, others will simply re-absorb them. You've got a moist hide with coco fiber in it, so that's the best you can do.
I do agree to leave her alone to keep her stress level low. You know you've got husbandry right, and she's not losing weight rapidly, she'll be fine.
I know my breeder females don't like to be held when they're carrying eggs. Of course nothing is conclusive, but piecing lil bits and pieces together, she does seem to be ovulating, possibly gravid. Some females will lay infertile eggs, others will simply re-absorb them. You've got a moist hide with coco fiber in it, so that's the best you can do.I do agree to leave her alone to keep her stress level low. You know you've got husbandry right, and she's not losing weight rapidly, she'll be fine.
cricket4u
New member
I don't see any signs of ovulation or eggs in these pictures either. Hopefully she will start eating soon after the husbandry changes.
One of the predisposing factors of hepatic lipidosis is obesity. It is seen in many leos with history of fasting post-mortem. Fat develops around the liver causing other conditions which leads to death over time. A fatty diet alone is not always responsible for this occurrence; rapid influx of fat to the liver during fasting can be the primary cause at times.
Please do not panic, she's likely fine at this point. I just wanted to explain once again why allowing them to go off food for too long is not a good idea. How long has she been off food?
Muffins94
New member
Update- I seen fatty eat! I'm so happy!! I plopped in 4 crickets and she immediately went after and ate one! The others hid in the hides so I removed one hide and moved the others so she could get behind them. She was chasing them when I left the room! I'm so happy!
I'm so happy!! I plopped in 4 crickets and she immediately went after and ate one! The others hid in the hides so I removed one hide and moved the others so she could get behind them. She was chasing them when I left the room! I'm so happy!
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Mardy
New member
Congratulations! While it's time to celebrate, I would cut back on her feeding. 4 large crickets is quite a meal for her. I have a breeder female that didn't breed this season, so I'm having to cut back on her feeding as she didn't lose her chunkiness like other females that laid eggs. She's getting 1 roach per feeding, twice a week only, and she's still humongous. So it's a good thing she's eating, but think about not letting her eat as much and as often.
I'm guessing you started feeding waxworms last year when she initially began to lose some appetite due to her first ovulation. Happens to a lot of people, they see their gecko stop being interested in food for the first time so they start panicking and end up feeding things they shouldn't feed. Some even mistakenly start to force feed. Gravid females or male geckos becoming sexually mature will surprisingly sometimes eat only waxworms and nothing else. I suppose they probably know instinctively what their body needs in preparation for a breeding season (they lose 10-15g during the breeding season). It's perfectly normal for them to not eat as much or as often during the breeding season.
So, be careful not to make the same mistake again. 4 large crickets and every day feeding for the past 3 days is quite a lot of food for a chunky female like her Cricket is right in that there's great harm to be done with overweight geckos. It's one thing if you know you're breeding her, like for most of my females, and know they will lose 10-15g each breeding season and use up all that fat/protein storage by the time they are done laying eggs. It's quite another to have a pet gecko that you won't be breeding, and they retain the excess fat & protein throughout the year.
Just trying to help!
I'm guessing you started feeding waxworms last year when she initially began to lose some appetite due to her first ovulation. Happens to a lot of people, they see their gecko stop being interested in food for the first time so they start panicking and end up feeding things they shouldn't feed. Some even mistakenly start to force feed. Gravid females or male geckos becoming sexually mature will surprisingly sometimes eat only waxworms and nothing else. I suppose they probably know instinctively what their body needs in preparation for a breeding season (they lose 10-15g during the breeding season). It's perfectly normal for them to not eat as much or as often during the breeding season.
So, be careful not to make the same mistake again. 4 large crickets and every day feeding for the past 3 days is quite a lot of food for a chunky female like her
Cricket is right in that there's great harm to be done with overweight geckos. It's one thing if you know you're breeding her, like for most of my females, and know they will lose 10-15g each breeding season and use up all that fat/protein storage by the time they are done laying eggs. It's quite another to have a pet gecko that you won't be breeding, and they retain the excess fat & protein throughout the year.Just trying to help!