corviknight
experienced pet owner
Hi all, my leopard gecko has barely eaten in weeks, perhaps longer. In the last two weeks I have attempted common trouble shooting, such as addressing possible temperature shortcomings, trying different foods, etc.
Here's some basic diagnostic information:
Blue - about 5 years old (got him as a baby), sex uncertain. appears average weight/tail fat and coloration, no signs of physical issues. Normal behavior.
Usual feeding - normally when he's eating properly he gets gut loaded (with lettuce) crickets, dubia roaches, and mealworms. (I switch out which one every few weeks) These also get dusted with Repashy's Superfood calcium plus. He usually eats with gusto. (though is terrible at hunting, so gets handfed)
Habitat - He is in the same 20 gallon long that he's always been. In this, he has a zoo-med "rug" in place of substrate, a screen lid, and three hides. His cool side is usually about 75 degress F. Since addressing temperature shortcomings (more on this later) the floor of his warm side has averaged in the high 80s during the day. His heating is provided by an UTH as well as a UVB bulb. The bulb is elevated appropriately to prevent overheating. His tank is elevated with rubber feet to keep it safe with the UTH. I have a thermometer + hygrometer on his cool side and a temperature gun on his warm, so I always see what the temps are. One of his hides - the one in the middle - is a humid hide.
I have attempted getting him waxworms as a treat to lure him into eating, as well as super worms. I know these aren't normally suitable and I do not feed them regularly. He ate two waxworms but refused any from then on.
About two weeks ago I opted to replace his UTH heater with a new one, because his old one was a decade old (was used on the same tank before I had him). Sure enough, the floor temperature is in a better range now (as listed above). This seems to have roused his spirits, and I was hoping that after a week or two of having belly heat back he would return to eating normally. This has not seemed to happen. I'm really at a loss. I considered that he might have been brumating, but again, with higher heat he hasn't returned to eating as would be expected after that. The only other "recent" (last few months) change I can log is that I am handling him. He was not hand tame beyond occasional petting for years, and now is relatively calm when held in my hands outside his tank. I limit these sessions to 15 minutes long and no more frequent than once a week (with weeks inbetween of no handling - its highly irregular)
Essentially, I'm at a loss of what else to do, besides try and see if there's an exotic vet in my area. (from previous experiences, I'm not hopeful) If any other diagnostic info would be helpful, I can provide. I'll attach pics of him too. (he was out of his tank in said pics) Like I said, he seems to be doing great in every way besides the seeming lack of eating. It's possible but not likely that he's eaten a cricket here and there, as I left a few in his tank when he wouldn't take them from the tongs.
Thanks for looking and for any suggestions or explanation.
Here's some basic diagnostic information:
Blue - about 5 years old (got him as a baby), sex uncertain. appears average weight/tail fat and coloration, no signs of physical issues. Normal behavior.
Usual feeding - normally when he's eating properly he gets gut loaded (with lettuce) crickets, dubia roaches, and mealworms. (I switch out which one every few weeks) These also get dusted with Repashy's Superfood calcium plus. He usually eats with gusto. (though is terrible at hunting, so gets handfed)
Habitat - He is in the same 20 gallon long that he's always been. In this, he has a zoo-med "rug" in place of substrate, a screen lid, and three hides. His cool side is usually about 75 degress F. Since addressing temperature shortcomings (more on this later) the floor of his warm side has averaged in the high 80s during the day. His heating is provided by an UTH as well as a UVB bulb. The bulb is elevated appropriately to prevent overheating. His tank is elevated with rubber feet to keep it safe with the UTH. I have a thermometer + hygrometer on his cool side and a temperature gun on his warm, so I always see what the temps are. One of his hides - the one in the middle - is a humid hide.
I have attempted getting him waxworms as a treat to lure him into eating, as well as super worms. I know these aren't normally suitable and I do not feed them regularly. He ate two waxworms but refused any from then on.
About two weeks ago I opted to replace his UTH heater with a new one, because his old one was a decade old (was used on the same tank before I had him). Sure enough, the floor temperature is in a better range now (as listed above). This seems to have roused his spirits, and I was hoping that after a week or two of having belly heat back he would return to eating normally. This has not seemed to happen. I'm really at a loss. I considered that he might have been brumating, but again, with higher heat he hasn't returned to eating as would be expected after that. The only other "recent" (last few months) change I can log is that I am handling him. He was not hand tame beyond occasional petting for years, and now is relatively calm when held in my hands outside his tank. I limit these sessions to 15 minutes long and no more frequent than once a week (with weeks inbetween of no handling - its highly irregular)
Essentially, I'm at a loss of what else to do, besides try and see if there's an exotic vet in my area. (from previous experiences, I'm not hopeful) If any other diagnostic info would be helpful, I can provide. I'll attach pics of him too. (he was out of his tank in said pics) Like I said, he seems to be doing great in every way besides the seeming lack of eating. It's possible but not likely that he's eaten a cricket here and there, as I left a few in his tank when he wouldn't take them from the tongs.
Thanks for looking and for any suggestions or explanation.
