I would recommend the same thing as I recommend to most people. To by Tremper's book about leopard geckos. It helps to understand their physiology, behaviour, to take better care of them by avoiding following "common knowledge" which is not accurate. It's the bible for leopard geckos owner and a must have.
females aren't eating so much and have become picky
- Thread starter amsdadtodd
- Start date
There is more than one way to do things, and different protocols work for different combinations of geckos and their keepers. I offer food every day to hatchlings and every other day to adults. That doesn't mean they eat every time (well, some do) but it is on offer. I don't deliberately cool my leopard geckos before breeding. Some of them cool themselves by sleeping on the cool side and not eating. I have not yet found any correlation between egg production with the geckos that eat or don't eat, cool or don't cool. By making a wide range of options available (food, but not forcing, cool and warm places in the cage) everyone seems to sort out what works. The process is not without occasional problems, but now in year 11 of breeding, things seem to go about the same every year.
Aliza
Aliza
My point is not to force my way on other people. My point is too get rid of the usual "I know everything, I never experienced everything but since the internet say so, it is true". I've seen too many people actign like that and geckos ending badly.
About the cooling period, German bioligists which studied egg production/cooling period/life expectancy results are that after cool females ovums were better, also, this cooling perdiod seems to be beneficial for the life expectancy, since after a very demanding period for their boy, they can fully recover. Of course it does not mean they can't breed without it. And as you said some females do it on their own (my biggest females stop feeding in winter, and enter by themselves in a cooling period).
Anyway, when people make a statement, not proven with their experience or research, but only because it's written on the internet, and without any "source". I tend to lose my cool. Everday on various French and European fora or facebook groups, we can see a lot of sick geckos only because "they know everything, it was on the internet".
About the cooling period, German bioligists which studied egg production/cooling period/life expectancy results are that after cool females ovums were better, also, this cooling perdiod seems to be beneficial for the life expectancy, since after a very demanding period for their boy, they can fully recover. Of course it does not mean they can't breed without it. And as you said some females do it on their own (my biggest females stop feeding in winter, and enter by themselves in a cooling period).
Anyway, when people make a statement, not proven with their experience or research, but only because it's written on the internet, and without any "source". I tend to lose my cool. Everday on various French and European fora or facebook groups, we can see a lot of sick geckos only because "they know everything, it was on the internet".
amsdadtodd
New member
It's time for some good news on this thread!
My turkestan roach colony has undergone a major population explosion, so I harvested a few to feed the girls just now. The scurrying of the roaches around their tanks triggered a hunting response the likes of which I haven't seen for either of them in quite a while. Hopper chased and caught a female in short order and I watched her gobble it up. There are a few more in her tank, I'll see how she does with them over the next hour or so and remove any that are left.
I'm glad I didn't give up on feeding her yet. The temperature on her warm side is down to between 85 and 87, I think I'm going to turn her back up a bit so she can digest her meal.
I've learned from the last few weeks not to declare victory yet, but I'm certainly encouraged by this development tonight!
Thank you to all who have weighed in, your advice has certainly been helpful and informative!
Todd
My turkestan roach colony has undergone a major population explosion, so I harvested a few to feed the girls just now. The scurrying of the roaches around their tanks triggered a hunting response the likes of which I haven't seen for either of them in quite a while. Hopper chased and caught a female in short order and I watched her gobble it up. There are a few more in her tank, I'll see how she does with them over the next hour or so and remove any that are left.
I'm glad I didn't give up on feeding her yet. The temperature on her warm side is down to between 85 and 87, I think I'm going to turn her back up a bit so she can digest her meal.
I've learned from the last few weeks not to declare victory yet, but I'm certainly encouraged by this development tonight!
Thank you to all who have weighed in, your advice has certainly been helpful and informative!
Todd
Elizabeth Freer
Well-known member
Fingers crossed.....
amsdadtodd
New member
More optimism with Hopper today. She ate three good sized blatta lateralis last night and it has set off quite the hunting response. This morning, she was still clearly in hunting mode and I was glad when cleaning her tank I stirred up a baby roach I hadn't known got in with the adults last night. When she saw it scurrying around her tail started quivering and she pounced on it and gobbled it down.
I'm still in watch mode, but certainly optimistic. I've turned her heat back up, clearly she's eaten and now needs to digest.
Is it actually possible that she got so bored with her regular diet that she went on a hunger strike?
Anyway, I hope that this new found appetite continues so I can get some meat on her bones. She has certainly stayed tiny, she's 20 grams less than Berry, who is the same age and was the same size when I got them.
Thank you!
Todd
I'm still in watch mode, but certainly optimistic. I've turned her heat back up, clearly she's eaten and now needs to digest.
Is it actually possible that she got so bored with her regular diet that she went on a hunger strike?
Anyway, I hope that this new found appetite continues so I can get some meat on her bones. She has certainly stayed tiny, she's 20 grams less than Berry, who is the same age and was the same size when I got them.
Thank you!
Todd
Elizabeth Freer
Well-known member
It's possible that Hopper was on a hunger strike. Time will tell. 20 grams different than Berry is a lot.
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amsdadtodd
New member
I agree that the 20 gram delta is a concern. They do have different genetics, Berry is a Super Snow with a few hets, and Hopper is Mack Snow with other hets. Both too many to list from memory. Anyway, now that she may have found her appetite, I will see what I can do to bring her up to where she should be. Berry is very long and slender at 57 grams, while Hopper is at 35 grams right now. I'm optimistic, but may need to consider some intense supplementation for a bit.
Thank you,
Todd
Thank you,
Todd
amsdadtodd
New member
Hopper now looks like she's going into shed, but she also looks healthier already. Notice her tail in the close-up, I just took these three pictures now. I hope I can get her to eat despite the shed, I got her some hornworms for tonight.
Todd
Todd
Elizabeth Freer
Well-known member
Hornworms: :drool: Come on, Hopper! :biggrin:
amsdadtodd
New member
She had one good sized (about 1.5 inch) hornworm, and licked at another but didn't eat the second one yet. If she doesn't eat in the next hour I'll give it to Berry and get some more during the weekend. She is about to shed, so of course eating is not priority one. Actually, half of my herp room is shedding, both boas are dark and milky eyed and cranky.
Still watching closely, but I feel pretty good about Hopper coming through this situation.
Thanks all,
Todd
Still watching closely, but I feel pretty good about Hopper coming through this situation.
Thanks all,
Todd
amsdadtodd
New member
Well, I couldn't get her to take the second worm tonight, but Berry enjoyed it. I'll get a couple more for tomorrow night, and also will try more roaches Saturday night. At least she's taking food again, and nice juicy stuff that will keep her well hydrated.
Elizabeth Freer
Well-known member
Y-E-S!
Lucky you, Todd, being able to buy hornworms one by one! The best I can do is get some at the infrequent reptile shows in Portland or order them online.
amsdadtodd
New member
I've got a great pet store just a few miles away who try to keep an appropriate supply of hornworms, and many other feeders. They also have a well stocked reptile room, and encourage and potential customers to handle the animals before they make the sale. I've even held a small alligator there.
Anyway, at morning check Hopper was alert and had pooped a bit last night, so hopefully now it's just a matter of keeping her interested in food and getting her growing again!
Thank you,
Todd
Elizabeth Freer
Well-known member
Is that alligator your "next" reptile? :biggrin:
amsdadtodd
New member
No, I don't think so. I hope to be moving to South Carolina in the next year or less, and having them in the yard is pretty normal there, but no, I don't feel the need to have one in my house!
Hopper shed nicely, and has eaten a couple more hornworms. I have her temp back to where it should be, hopefully this problem is over.
Hopper shed nicely, and has eaten a couple more hornworms. I have her temp back to where it should be, hopefully this problem is over.
amsdadtodd
New member
a few days later and still, Hopper is reluctant to eat. She's maintaining at 34 grams, so at least she's not losing any weight, but I cant entice her to eat very much. She'll take one phoenix worm and stop, or one small hornworm and stop. She likes to hunt faster prey like crickets and roaches, but isn't too keen on eating them now. I think I'm looking at having to just feed her a little bit at a time as often as she'll take it, and hopefully will get her back on her game.
Todd
Todd
amsdadtodd
New member
This morning Hopper greeted me as normal, but none of the phoenix worms I left in her bowl last night had been eaten. I fished a mealworm out of their tub just to see if she'd eat that, and she gobbled it up quite readily. So, I fished out 5 more, one at a time, and she ate each and every one of them, provided I dropped it right in front of her and the worm started moving quickly.
Unfortunately, my ready hornworm supply is interrupted until Wednesday, but I have plenty of mealworms on hand, so I'm going to keep offering her a few at a time, two or three times a day and see if I can get her weight up that way. Hopefully, this new found appetite will keep up, she's given me a lot of short-lived hopeful times through this, but I'm going to get her healthy and growing yet!
Todd
Unfortunately, my ready hornworm supply is interrupted until Wednesday, but I have plenty of mealworms on hand, so I'm going to keep offering her a few at a time, two or three times a day and see if I can get her weight up that way. Hopefully, this new found appetite will keep up, she's given me a lot of short-lived hopeful times through this, but I'm going to get her healthy and growing yet!
Todd