Let's talk about poo

[dolphin_ac]

Just wondering if anyone else has this issue. My leopard gecko only poos once a week. It's always normal looking and the urate is usually as large as the poo. He eats well 5 to 6 crickets or 10 to 15 small mealworms or 1 or 2 silkworms every other day and is on slate tile with proper temps. Seems to be active too but I have to give weekly warm baths to get his bowels moving.

 

[ChiTea]

Hi,

Once a week does not seem like enough to me. My leopard gecko poops every other day, or every 2 days, pretty much like clockwork.

My best guess based on the information you've provided, is that he's eating too many mealworms. Mealworms contain chitin, which can be difficult for geckos to digest. It has the potential to cause health problems in large doses.

How old is your gecko? My advice would be to eliminate the mealworms completely, and see if that improves his bowels. If not, then something else could be wrong.

 

[dolphin_ac]

Hi,

Once a week does not seem like enough to me. My leopard gecko poops every other day, or every 2 days, pretty much like clockwork.

My best guess based on the information you've provided, is that he's eating too many mealworms. Mealworms contain chitin, which can be difficult for geckos to digest. It has the potential to cause health problems in large doses.

How old is your gecko? My advice would be to eliminate the mealworms completely, and see if that improves his bowels. If not, then something else could be wrong.

Thanks for responding. My gecko is 1 yr old, and mealworms are the only food he'll go after eat readily, and that's only when I drop them into the tank, one by one. He's very picky about crickets. It's really a hit or miss whether he'll go after them or not (even with the legs removed so they're not as fast). He'll eat some one night, then refuse them for the next few feedings. Same with the silkworms. I tried hornworms too but he had no interest in those. I only give the small mealworms, which I hoped was better in terms of chitin levels. He's fed every other day, dusted with vitamins once a week, and calcium once a week.

 

[ChiTea]

Hmm... I really think removing the mealworms (at least for a while) would be the best test to try and figure out the problem. Does he at least catch the crickets if he goes after them? If he's hungry, he'll eat them.

A lot of people on this site have had good luck with Dubia Roaches. I haven't gotten any myself yet (I have to order them online) but it's definitely something I want to introduce to my gecko. Leos are funny - mine refuses to eat any type of worm whatsoever, except for wax worms, which is a very rare treat.

 

[dolphin_ac]

Unfortunately Dubia Roaches are illigal in Canada. It's a shame, since they're highly reccomended as a feeder for geckos. Will try with the crickets again. He's not great at catching them, which is probably why he doesn't bother trying now. He knows eventually there will be a meal coming into the tank that takes less work!

 

[ChiTea]

That is very true - about them not putting in the effort of hunting if they know there's something easier coming along... I have that situation with my gecko, unfortunately... Someone else was taking care of [my now] gecko for the first 3 1/2 years of his life, and was convinced he couldn't hunt, so he was fed crickets on tweezers for that entire time. Now, my gecko won't eat any other way. Occasionally he'll catch one (and if I'm out of town and my friend comes to feed him, she refuses to pick up the crickets) so he's left to get them on his own. Like I mentioned above, if they're hungry, they'll find a way to eat what's available. Good luck, and keep us posted!

Oh! Another suggestion. A few months ago, my gecko was constipated (never figured out why, and it was only once for about 9 days). Since then, I've been keeping track of each time he poops and if it looks normal or not. I feel it's a good way to make sure everything is 'on schedule' and makes it easier to notice how long a problem has been developing, if there is one.