Force Feeding Geckos - long term

[congener329]

There is a long thread in the health section (under "moving on from loss of appetite...") explaining the reasons and process to where I am now, but as I am looking specifically now on force feeding, I am also using this section.

The situation is that I have a blind Gecko (confirmed by vet). We have now learned the technique for force feeding him, which we have managed for 3 days so far. NEO is not happy about it and is quite agitated. Tonight he was screaming whilst trying to complete the deed and we only managed to get 2 crickets fed.

Does anyone have experience with long term force feeding? And if so, generally how long will it take for NEO to settle into the process and become less stressed over it? Is this something that he will get into at some point, or will he just become more and more stressed?

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

 

[acpart]

I read the last page of the post you refer to about the force feeding but I haven't seen the youtube videos. I have a few geckos who have had feeding problems and one or two that needed me to hold them and feed them for a number of years (one had an enlarged liver, didn't respond to treatment and wouldn't eat on her own --I hand fed her for a year until she finally died; one is very reluctant to hunt and I have had to hold her and feed her for most of her 11 1/2 years, one barely eats during the winter and needs help to "get started" again, one has had a tough time recovering from laying and is now finally beginning to eat on her own).

This is what has worked for me as more of a long-term thing (and didn't involve screaming):
--holding the gecko and poking the back end of a mealworm into the mouth until it opened up and bit down. I find that this works best with mealworms because crickets and roaches are too soft and they get squished before the gecko opens its mouth

--squishing a superworm and rubbing the guts on the mouth. Also, getting some of the guts on a syringe and poking it into the mouth.

--putting the gecko and a few feeders in a small, dark tub for a few hours and leaving it alone.

If he is so distressed and screaming with the feeding, consider just getting one feeder into him every day as a kind of transition. Possibly he'll eventually get used to it and take it better.

I haven't read the whole thread, so I don't know the whole situation. I have a supersnow who rarely eats between Nov. and May. He usually loses about 20 grams during that period. Occasionally he also gets a respiratory infection (his nostrils get clogged) and recently has had a buildup of sperm (I think) in the hemipenes that can eventually make them swell up if not dealt with. His cage, temperatures, humidity, etc. are all fine. Currently he is fat and sassy and 80 grams. I have learned to leave him alone, to keep offering but not get too bent out of shape. I've had him for about 7 years. He came to me as a 10 month old and weighed 28 grams, so he's come a long way. I don't know if other aspects of your gecko are OK except for the not eating and beginning of weight loss, but it's always possible that you have a situation like I do with Oskar.

Aliza

 

[congener329]

The vet advised to avoid mealworms because of the fat content and the fatty liver that he appears to have, but I agree that the crickets are a little soft and make it difficult...

I have already tried a feeding box but he just doesn't see the food, but I am going to try that approach again just to see if there is a way I can adapt to get him to take it.

I can put up with the biting etc - but I didnt feel comfortable with the screaming .

During the year that you had the leo with the liver problem did you have lots of health issues with him and what do feel was his quality of life??