Gecko mood swings...grumpy!

[GeckoFanboy]

So nothing AT ALL has changed about my 2.5 year-old male leo's husbandry. He's been very healthy. Looks great! I've changed nothing about his feeding. I take great care of him and treat him like royalty. I don't handle him much as I don't want to stress him out, but lately...

...he's been very quiet. Not coming out and walking around as much. Sometimes spending a couple days in his moist-middle hide. About a week ago, when I went in to check on him, I caught him crawling back into his hide, so I reached in just to gently stroke his tail...and he actually growled at me on his way into his hide, LOL. I thought it was funny. He's never done that. The few times I've held him, he'll pout and stay hidden afterwards, and I'm very gentle with him.

He's been eating dubias, mealworms and crickets in rotation. But I've noticed he hasn't been pooping as much. Right now he's got about 3 nice dubias, 7 mealworms, and about 7 large crickets in him. I thought he'd poop lastnight, but didn't, LOL. WTH?

I know leos slow down during the months of July to January, but he just seems a little more slower this winter. Is it because he's getting older? I should note he's always been a grumpy gecko...not a very nice one...like my last gecko of 17 years (sweet as pie). I know how to raise a healthy gecko, but he's got me puzzled. He appears very healthy, but he's just been acting wayyyyy grumpier than usual. Almost hibernating.

I should add, his poop looks very healthy, but he's just not pooping as much as normal. I'm like, "Where's all that food going?" He eats like a hog. I'm truly boggled. I've given him nothing to impact him at all. He's on ceramic tile.

Any ideas?

Mods - if this is in the wrong forum, sorry. Wasn't sure which forum to post in.

 

[acpart]

They may be more reclusive and grumpy in the winter. Sometimes it takes a long time for them to poop and then it's huge. Or you discover that they've changed the poop spot and you haven't been looking for it there. Sounds within the normal range of behavior and poop production to me.

Aliza

 

[GeckoFanboy]

LOL, he just pooped a couple of minutes ago. Looks normal. He's hiding again though. He's being very anti-social. Can't wait til January...that seems to be when he gets rambunctious.

 

[GeckoFanboy]

I have found he poops most frequently when eating crickets. When he eats dubias and mealworms, his poops are farther between. I guess crickets digest the easiest. I'll have to order him some hornworms, now that the weathers getting really cold. They're full of water and he digests them real easy, no matter how big they are. I never order hornworms during the warm months, as they grow really fast during shipping.