New adult leo not eating

[Scully]

Hi everyone, newbie here

After doing my research for a few months, on Wednesday afternoon I bought my first adult leopard gecko and he seems very happy and healthy. I just can't seem to get him to eat. Part of me is panicking like new rep owners do and the other part is wondering if it's down to relocation stress.

His name is Data, he's 9" long, approx 1 year old and weighs 78 grams. His cool end temp is 23C and his hot end hovers around the 31-32 mark with his UTH on a thermostat. I also have a 15w energy saver bulb to give him a day/night cycle because of the positioning of his house in the room. He's got a warm hide, a cool hide and a moist hide and loads of things to climb on and explore. I've tried to keep handling to a minimum the past few days but he's actually very friendly, docile and inquisitive so he's seemed more than happy the few times I have interacted with him. But he just won't eat! I've given him mealies like he was eating in the reptile shop and taken the back legs off some size 3 crix but nothing :/ He ate two mealies and a wax worm the first day I got him (they were a present for my Beardie to say sorry for getting another lizard :biggrin and has pooped twice in his corner.

Some photos to show how healthy he looks. He's up now like a cheeky child not staying in bed!

Also, I have a spare 15w UV bulb, would this be better for him than th regular bulb I've got in or should I stick to how it is now?

 

[kvnsu]

It seems he is acclimating since you have his set up right , and the bulb you are using as a photo period now is fine.. Remember it can take days to a week until they are done acclimating ! I wouldn't worry too much as long as he is acting normal and pooping .

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

I also have a 15w energy saver bulb to give him a day/night cycle because of the positioning of his house in the room......Also, I have a spare 15w UV bulb, would this be better for him than th regular bulb I've got in or should I stick to how it is now?

A warm welcome to Geckos Unlimited, Scully.

Super cool photos! Data is very handsome! He's at a good weight for his length and age. (My mature female Cha is 9 inches total and about 72 grams.)

I'd just stick with the 15 watt incandescent. You might even wish to dim that to half power. When one adds UVB, then the powdered D3 is not necessary. One thing is it's hard to tell for sure just how many D3 rays leos would absorb from UVB because they spend much time in their hides during the day.

When Data outgrows his warm moist hide, perhaps you'd be interested in this hide: http://www.amazon.com/Zoo-Med-Repti...-1&keywords=zoo+med+repti-shelter+3+in+1+cave

 

[Conched]

Nice looking gecko !!

It can take a few weeks for the gecko to become acclimated to his new home. Try not to hold him much during the first few weeks until he is on a good feeding schedule. This will help speed up the acclimation process.

If he spends a lot of time in his moist hide that is ok but make sure it is on the warm side of the enclosure.

When you have a few minutes start a separate thread an add a few photos of your enclosure along with the heating parameters so we can make sure everything looks good for long term success.

Best of luck.

 

[Scully]

Thanks guys! I noticed some lick marks in the supplement I'd put in for him this morning. I've read conflicting things about having bowls of powder out 24/7 but thought if he's not eating his dusted worms at least he's getting his vitamins. The supplement is one my local rep shop makes up which is calcium and nutrobal mixed together, I've brought my beardie up on it from 3 mo and he's super healthy so I'm going to use the same for Data. He's also been up and about more at dusk the past two nights which is good to see.

I'll get some photos of his house later tonight. He hadn't spent a lot of time in the moist hide until last night/this morning when I saw him peeping out. It's I the warm side and I put moistened/damp paper towel ripped up in there as I haven't had a chance to get any moss for him yet. the moist hide is an exo terra gecko cave which he seems to prefer sitting on top of and peeking out of his viv from

 

[Scully]

Some photos of my setup and temps:

 

[Scully]

I tried to post some pics of my setup here a few days ago but they've never showed up :/ anyway I have good news: Data pooped!!!!! I just got home to find a very healthy looking poop which I broke apart (gross I know) and it looks like he found a cricket in his viv and chomped on that he is also exploring a lot more as he settles in.

 

[Conched]

Great news !!

Your enclosure looks great. Don't forget to periodically check behind that rockwall along the back. Bugs like to get behind it. I wish they did not have those little cutouts on the bottom that allow crickets and mealworms to get behind it.

 

[Scully]

I found a mealworm behind it the other day, the little demon. The cutouts are great for running thermometer and thermostat probes through so they're like a necessary evil.

Glad you think my enclosure is ok! I had been worrying about that for no other reason than I've never had a leo before lol. He seems to like it though and he has plenty of space.

 

[mecoat]

You could try plugging the gaps with a mix of flour and water - mix flour and water to make a mouldable "pastry", push it in all the gaps, it'll dry hard, plug the gaps, and if anything does eat it it's only flour they're munching on. I've done that to plug the cable holes in the side of the viv - don't want sneaky ecapses from the viv.

 

[Scully]

Thank you so much everyone for the reassurance and advice, Data has eaten his mealworms tonight like a hungry lizard should he did just need time. I haven't handled him for a week now and intend to give him another week of just licking my hand before I offer it to him to walk onto if he'd like. Small steps to make a long lasting trust I hope.