LeopardGeckoBreederFan
New member
is it normal for all of you females to go on hunger strike when ovulation starts? All but one of my females are going on hunger strikes and I want to know if that's normal...
All my females go on hunger strike?
- Thread starter LeopardGeckoBreederFan
- Start date
cricket4u
New member
Hi,
To a certain degree it's normal. A few days to a week or so I wouldn't worry, however, not months. It is always best to rule out other possibilities even if the obvious is visible(ovulation). The obvious is not always the answer. Always try different insects and make sure everything is up to par. We may assume they stop eating due to ovulating when in reality the UTH is malfunctioning.;-) I'm sure you get the point by now. Here is a list to remind you of what to look over after a week has gone by (off food) and/or other symptoms or concerns develop.
#66---Leo Not Eating? Troubleshoot these causes......cricket4u (July & Nov 2013)
"Leos are very greedy and normally eat right away if everything is set up properly. However, I know there are exceptions. Try switching the hides. (The Exo-Terra hide is more secure and may be the reason. If he's not utilizing the heat, chances are he may not eat.) If that does not work, lower the temp as Elizabeth suggested. You may want to cover the sides of the glass so that he will feel more secure.
Improper temps---air temps too hot or too cold
Improper humidity---too dry is most common
Stress---too much handling---lack of hides or not enough---cagemate bullying, cage too small, et cetera......
Repetitious Diet---variety is important
Spoiled food---upset stomach or simply a bad experience (common with superworms)
Food offered at the wrong time of day---lights on
Wrong size prey---too big or too small
Improper photoperiod
Prey not recognized---leo needs moving prey to elicit feeding response
Malfunctioning heating equipment---goes unnoticed---should be checked daily
UTH is too warm---unregulated---gecko avoids the warm spot, therefore will not eat (need thermostat)
Most common of all CHEAP thermometers => false temp readings
Too much calcium causing constipation and/or loss of appetite
Parasites
Infection
Metabolic---calcium or vitamin deficiency
Impaction
Dehydration
Pain from an injury or otherwise"
To a certain degree it's normal. A few days to a week or so I wouldn't worry, however, not months. It is always best to rule out other possibilities even if the obvious is visible(ovulation). The obvious is not always the answer. Always try different insects and make sure everything is up to par. We may assume they stop eating due to ovulating when in reality the UTH is malfunctioning.;-) I'm sure you get the point by now. Here is a list to remind you of what to look over after a week has gone by (off food) and/or other symptoms or concerns develop.
#66---Leo Not Eating? Troubleshoot these causes......cricket4u (July & Nov 2013)
"Leos are very greedy and normally eat right away if everything is set up properly. However, I know there are exceptions. Try switching the hides. (The Exo-Terra hide is more secure and may be the reason. If he's not utilizing the heat, chances are he may not eat.) If that does not work, lower the temp as Elizabeth suggested. You may want to cover the sides of the glass so that he will feel more secure.
Improper temps---air temps too hot or too cold
Improper humidity---too dry is most common
Stress---too much handling---lack of hides or not enough---cagemate bullying, cage too small, et cetera......
Repetitious Diet---variety is important
Spoiled food---upset stomach or simply a bad experience (common with superworms)
Food offered at the wrong time of day---lights on
Wrong size prey---too big or too small
Improper photoperiod
Prey not recognized---leo needs moving prey to elicit feeding response
Malfunctioning heating equipment---goes unnoticed---should be checked daily
UTH is too warm---unregulated---gecko avoids the warm spot, therefore will not eat (need thermostat)
Most common of all CHEAP thermometers => false temp readings
Too much calcium causing constipation and/or loss of appetite
Parasites
Infection
Metabolic---calcium or vitamin deficiency
Impaction
Dehydration
Pain from an injury or otherwise"
Last edited:
LeopardGeckoBreederFan
New member
Thank you! I'll be sure to look into all this! I didn't answer bc I've been sick the past couple days lol
Elizabeth Freer
Well-known member
You are welcome.
Be sure to troubleshoot all those possibilities for your female leos not eating asap.
Hope that you feel better very soon.
LeopardGeckoBreederFan
New member
I don't think most of those are likely. How would I know if they've had too much calcium? I have all my females in separate cages except for two of them, but they went on strike before the other one that went on strike. I never offer food when the lights are on, I don't use moist hides with the two that are together just bc every time I have they've never used it, so it was just taking up space. Unless their thermometers are wrong, their temps haven't changed. I always feed them live prey so its always moving. They just ignore it. The photoperiod is always regulated-I have the lights on a timer and with my other female she gets light from a window across the room. I never use superworms, but there is a slight possibility that the crickets from petsmart had been spoiled and they might have been too big bc they only have 2 sizes (I usually get my crickets from premiumcrickets.com but it was too cold for them to deliver so I had to make due with petsmart crickets). But my male has stopped eating too and he doesn't eat the crickets so...idk. plus my other female that I fed the crickets to hasn't stopped eating. They have no obvious injuries and they move like they normally do, not showing any signs of pain. I'd have to take a fecal sample in to make sure they don't have parasites and that's gonna be a pain, but I need to do that for my snake anyway. So...any thoughts based on this?
cricket4u
New member
How would I know if they've had too much calcium?
Refusal to eat calcium dusted insects
Pale colored feces
Loss of appetite
Vomiting
Dehydration
Excessive thirst
Lethargy
Constipation
Behavioral signs of discomfort
The problem is these symptoms are also consistent with MANY other conditions. This is only one of the reasons it's important to take your leos to an experienced reptile vet for a routine exam, which includes radiographs and blood analysis. Without the proper knowledge, experience and diagnostics, you can easily draw the wrong conclusions and cause more harm than good.
Also make sure to keep a daily log on almost everything related to the care you're providing, such as what you feed, dates of defecation, activity, frequency of dusting, etc. Take all this information with you to the vet.
Refusal to eat calcium dusted insects
Pale colored feces
Loss of appetite
Vomiting
Dehydration
Excessive thirst
Lethargy
Constipation
Behavioral signs of discomfort
The problem is these symptoms are also consistent with MANY other conditions. This is only one of the reasons it's important to take your leos to an experienced reptile vet for a routine exam, which includes radiographs and blood analysis. Without the proper knowledge, experience and diagnostics, you can easily draw the wrong conclusions and cause more harm than good.
Also make sure to keep a daily log on almost everything related to the care you're providing, such as what you feed, dates of defecation, activity, frequency of dusting, etc. Take all this information with you to the vet.