females aren't eating so much and have become picky

[amsdadtodd]

I'm going to make this my final update, unless anything else causes me to wake the thread up again.
Hopper is readily eating mealworms if I put them down in front of her, and the same for hornworms. It's been a while since she took a roach or a cricket, but she has finally begun to gain weight. I now make sure to put a mealworm down for her every time I go in their room. This seems to be getting her into the habit of eating again, and she's finally passing stool again as well. I think we're out of the woods and it's just a matter of getting her able to catch the faster food for herself, while still keeping her nourished on the easier prey.
Thanks to all who have weighed in and followed this saga.

Todd

 

[acpart]

I'm glad things are working out.

Aliza

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

:cheer: for all, Todd! Thanks for hanging in there with Hopper and sharing your struggles.

 

[amsdadtodd]

I thought I'd share some pictures to show off a bit of success. Hopper has been gaining weight and visible tail mass. She's easily eating mealworms and loves her hornworms. I've gotten her to eat a couple of small turkestan roaches and crickets, but she's not as enthusiastic with those. At least she's eating some variety and a bit of calcium and vitamins. Thanks again all who hung with us on this issue, it seems solved now!

Todd

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

Hopper's doing great! Thanks for sharing before and after pics. Hope it's all downhill from now on.

 

[amsdadtodd]

Thank you Elizabeth. I know she still has more weight to gain, but we're on the way, and her appetite is at least stimulated again. She's still a bit picky, but is eating enough and still has her fun way of greeting me, even if she has just eaten.

Todd

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

You're definitely welcome, Todd. :biggrin:

I believe that having fun with our pets is what it's all about.

 

[amsdadtodd]

I just thought I'd share some Hopper update info. She continues to gain weight, slowly, but I'm relieved to see how much her tail is plumping up. She just weighed in at 43 grams, which is a modest gain, but a gain nonetheless. Here are some pictures I just took of her, I know they're not very good, it's hard to get a good shot one handed from a cell phone, but they should at least show how improved she is from earlier pictures in this same thread.

I have learned one new thing about her this week. Since I've been having a bit of insomnia lately, I've wandered down to check on them around 1:00 to 2:00 AM. She seems much more alert at this time of day, and if I put a cricket in with her, she instantly pursues, catches, and eats it. Much more readily than at lights on or lights out. I wonder if that crepuscular nature we are told about is not so absolute with all leo's?

Todd

Baby's got Back!

 

[JessJohnson87]

Look at that tail! She did get chunky!

Most of the time, I'm up around 1-2 in the morning and I've noticed that Ziggy is more active the later it gets. Unless it's cold out then he sleeps a lot.

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

Hopper's tail is impressive, Todd! :cheer:

 

[amsdadtodd]

I just love showing off pictures of how well Hopper is doing, after such a horrid looking weight loss earlier this year. So, here is another one! Happy New Year all!

 

[JessJohnson87]

Woooooo she is a chunky butt! But she looks great

 

[CWilson13]

What a change 5 (nearly 6) months can make! I had to go back and look at the photos from July to see what you meant about drastic weight loss, that must have been nerve wracking and scary to say the least. Very happy to see Hopper has the nice big fat tail once again