Geckos not eating

[joseph_f]

Hi everyone
We are having trouble with our marbled velvet geckos (Oedura marmorata). I got a pair from the breeder an their tails were nice and fat. We have had them for three weeks and they don't seem to want to eat. I have them in a red desert sand substrate with a heat pad on one side. Warm end of habitat is 32 while cool end is 26. I have white light during the day and blue LEDs at night. The breeder said to use medium crickets, which I tried for a week. After no success I went to small because the medium ones where bigger than geckos head. The male's tale is looking a little thinner now. They don't stay up long in the evening, however, when they are awake they are full of energy. I tried to forceps feed the male this morning without any luck. Any suggestions as to what we can do? Thanks

 

[Tamara]

Have you tried feeding them something else then crickets?
If you aquired them recently it might take some time for them to get settled in, as long as they are active i wouldn't worry to much yet, but do keep a close on them, and try feeding them some different prey items besides crickets.

 

[jufooty]

are you trying to handle them at all? Are they actually hanging out on the heatpad? I would turn the blue light off as well for now, try not to stress them at all.

 

[joseph_f]

They were not hanging out on the heat pad. I have now turned the heat pad off. I caught a moth and one of them ate it at night. One has just shed again. I will make sure they don't get handled for a few weeks

 

[jufooty]

You should be giving them a day and night heating cycle, why would you turn the heatpad off?

 

[joseph_f]

I mean I turned the lights off. Do you think I should modify the temperature at night by turning the heatpad off at night to simulate day and night heat?

 

[joseph_f]

They are finally eating now. I caught some moths ad they ate them. They are eating the crickets now

 

[Geckodebz]

Hi Joseph
Sorry to read that you're velvets were causing you concern.
I had a similar thing with my knobtails.... Mine was that the male was continually dropping his tail. Very distressing for me, and in no way good for him
I found when I increased their food frequency and amount, they both began to settle, and he hasn't dropped it since
It isn't as glorious as his original, and sadly lacks that oh so cute wriggling knob on the end.... But at least he is eating.
I have tried to feed mine on things other than crickets, woodies, for example, but they simple ignore them, in fact, tend to run away from them.
My knobbies I don't see for a week at a time, as they dig underground burrows, they tend to surface when hungry .
If yours are eating now, hopefully it was just the adjustment to the new sights sounds n smells of their new home.
Remember, also....
I'm sure your breeder would help in any way they can to ally any fears or concerns.
Please keep the updates coming.
Xxxxxooooo
Debz

 

[joseph_f]

Thanks for your reply. They seemed to have settled down now. I caught a few moths and they ate them and now they are eating crickets.