Tommy won't eat.

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matt0101

New member
It has been about 7 days now that he hasn't eaten. There are no visible symptoms that I can tell aside from refusing food. He doesn't physically appear to be losing weight, although I have no accurate way to weigh him because my scale isn't calibrated correctly and I can't afford a new one. He will not eat mealworms, superworms, or crickets. I have tried all three.

As far as I can tell his temperatures are correct. I keep his humid hide moist and I change his water every 1-2 days. He is 3 years old and up until now he has mostly had a very big appetite, eating as much as I would give him. Before he stopped eating he had slowed his appetite to 1 superworm every ~3 days (would refuse a 2nd.) This had been going on for about 2 weeks.

Any advice is appreciated. Let me know if you would like me to record video of an attempt to feed him or take any pictures, etc.
 
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Yoshi'smom

Yoshi'smom

New member
Perhaps he's getting ready to shed soon. I know they can loose their appetites before a shed.
The photos didn't upload.
Perhaps you could share as much detail about his enclosure and your feeding schedule/dusting. This may help us rule out any other issues.
 
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matt0101

New member
strange that the photos didn't upload. here is the link to the album: tommy - april 7, 2016 - Album on Imgur

i don't think he is going into a shed, because he just shed last week.

for the past several months i've been feeding him around 3 times a week and giving him 2 superworms each time. i dust with zoomed reptivite+d3 every 2nd feeding. this is all approximate, because i don't keep to a strict schedule.

his enclosure is 36x18, with a warm end and a cool end. his substrate is 2/3 slate tile and 1/3 paper towel. the paper towel is toward the cool end. i try to keep the warm end air at around 80f, and the floor below his warm hide and humid hide is fluctuates between 89-91 or so where the thermostat probe is. he has a warm hide, a humid hide, and 2 cool hides (one is a cave, the other is just a plastic aquarium plant with big leaves that i hang over one area.)

i heat his enclosure with a UTH and 100w ceramic element (in the warm end) and i keep a 12w light on for 12 hours a day located about 3 feet away from his tank.
 
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TheresaB.C

New member
Leos can go a few weeks without eating and not loose weight. If he dose start to loose weight, not shed or have in normal poops, take him to a vet.
 
Elizabeth Freer

Elizabeth Freer

Well-known member
It seems like Tommy's husbandry is fine! The only caution I'd make is to use Zoo Med's Reptivite multivitamins with D3 no more than 1x per week.

Unless he begins to lose weight, I would not worry.

I clicked both photo links. Neither worked. This is the imgur message I get: "Zoinks! You've taken a wrong turn."
 
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Elizabeth Freer

Elizabeth Freer

Well-known member
I now see lots of pics! :biggrin:

Tommy is pretty hefty. He may have self-started a diet. I think that's a really good idea. He'll live longer if he weighs less. :)

As you know, just give him 24/7 access to fresh water.

Several months ago I heard from a geckophile in the EU. He has a female leo whom he did breed. This female is now 32 years old!
 
Zux

Zux

New member
He looks good and as my friends have said, everything looks sound husbandry wise. This time of year (breeding season) males have been commonly known to lose interest in food, they have other things on their minds I guess.

Let us know if this fast continues for more than a couple of weeks and keep a good eye on his weight during that time.

I know only too well it can be worrying the first time your gecko goes off food but believe me when I say, it is in their nature to do so at certain times of the year and as-long as nothing else is awry you have nothing to worry about.

Kudos to you for taking good care of Tommy !
 
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matt0101

New member
thanks for the advice everyone. it is relieiving to hear all of this. i'll try to post an update the next time he eats. =)
 
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matt0101

New member
Update: Tommy has eaten 1 more mealworm since my last post and that's it. He has eaten a total of 3 mealworms in the past ~4 weeks. The first 2 he ate were dusted, the 3rd was not. He pooped last night and it was very small, but it looked healthy as did the urate. He shed last weekend, and is still behaving normally as far as I can tell.
 
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matt0101

New member
I'm going to leave a dish in his tank with 10 mealworms for him to eat if he wants.

He is still refusing all food aside from the 3 mealworms he ate during April. This is very upsetting. =(
 
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Elizabeth Freer

Elizabeth Freer

Well-known member
matt0101 said:
I'm going to leave a dish in his tank with 10 mealworms for him to eat if he wants.

He is still refusing all food aside from the 3 mealworms he ate during April. This is very upsetting. =(
Click to expand...

I realize that Tommy's not eating is quite stressful. :sorry:

As long as you keep him hydrated and he maintains his weight, I think he might be alright. I don't know what to suggest.
 
Zux

Zux

New member
I have a female doing the exact same thing right now and has been for over three months at this point. No visible weight loss and everything else normal. Eating about the same amount as yours. I am convinced its tied to her ovulation & the breeding season.

Try not to worry too much and if you do start to see any significant weight loss then consult your Exotics Vet.

I tempt mine into eating sometimes with freshly molted roaches and soft grubs like wax or butter-worms.


Hope that is of some help.
 
Elizabeth Freer

Elizabeth Freer

Well-known member
I don't recall, Matt. Have you ever tempted Tommy with Phoenix worms?

The largest ones are only about about 2 cms or 3/4 inch.

They are known generically as black soldier fly larvae. They are sold under the names: Phoenix or calci or repti worms, & NutriGrubs.
 
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matt0101

New member
how long should i wait before taking Tommy to the vet? he has zero interest in eating food and it doesn't look like this will change any time soon.
 
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