when does one get concerned....?

[HeKai]

My male adult leo is not eating much. He must be eating something as he is pooping (thought it is very light brown these days rather than the nice regular brown it should be).

I have heard they can go off their food this time of year.. fair... but he shows interest in his food, goes up and tastes it, then looses interest. This is strange for him. Been about a month that he has eaten very little. His husbandry has not changed so I am not sure what is up. He is out and about at night and as active as he normally is. I am avoiding handling him. He hasn't lost much weight but is down to 45 grams (was 50) so am starting to worry. Need I be?

PS, general question at this point. Last summer re-did all his husbandry primarily based on the advice here and he has much better temp gradients and so on...

 

[Conched]

Loosing 5 grams is not a huge problem.

This time of year some Leos might slow down a bit on the eating.

What are your temps on the hot side ?

Are the poops formed correctly, loose, firm etc..Is he housed alone. Need details.

Also, have you tried offering a different food item.

These are likely all questions you have answered in the past but they are the starting point.

It would be nice to tell you not to worry; but if he looses 5 more than you should have started worrying sooner.

 

[HeKai]

Soooo, details...

The temps were a little hot around 91, even 92 despite being adjusted (as of last night they are only 88 because we have a temperature drop-ambient temps drop, so do reptile temps a bit). His cool end varied between 72-75 but his favourite hide is at the cool end (the magnetic one). I am temped to take it out for a while but it seems to stress him if I do. During the evenings he hangs out under the plants at the warm end).

The last two poops were light brown and seemed looser but they weren't runny. He is housed alone. He eats mealworms, generally, and generally ignores crickets (Recently tried two). He loves wax worms but gets them as a treat occasionally. Not so much into butters. Silks and horns are really too big, he won't eat them and they are very difficult (and expensive to get). So yes, tried crickets, but other than junk gecko food (wax worms) don't know what else to try.

Anyway, there is a start. The enclosure is just shy of 3 feet long.

 

[Saskia]

How do you suspect he is eating something? Do you count his insects? You should take a close count on what you offer him, so you can be sure if he is eating anything at all, even count his mealworms, and preferribly use a dish, so he wouldn´t ingest sand while hunting... how about trying some roaches??

 

[HeKai]

Roaches are illegal and I don't where to get them

I suspect he is eating something because he is pooping-I am getting some waxies, meals and crickets today. And yes, I need to be more careful with what I put in his dish. He seems very interested at first when he sees them move... anyway, I have also fed him on the sand. I know there is huge debate about impaction but the sand decision was made after much deliberations with some reptile specialists (one who is into difficult to keep geckos). He is well hydrated and never had an issue. I will keep you updated...