Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Well, 9 weeks now and she still won't eat. My vet told
me to only feed once/week now until she begins eating on
her own. All blood work was normal. She is thermoregulating
again normally. She finally pooped the other day as a result
of my force feeding. She is beginning to sneeze salt again
and is beginning to shed.

She is really trying my patience here. A few days ago
she did take 2 small bites of banana from my hand but that's
it! I could not only feed her once/week but I am every
other day. I am so afraid she will starve to death.

Any thoughts or suggestions?

Linda

Well, I know you probably don't feel this way, but it sounds like Beanie is making some great moves forward! She ate from your hand, and pooped, and sneezed out some snalt, thats good news Sounds like her digestive tract is getting going again. Maybe bribe her with banana-smeared veggies n salad? It really does sound like she's feeling better, hopefully it won't be too long before she's eating like a pig.

You can also try to bribe with small peices of whole wheat bread (check ingredients for animal protien) or cooked pasta. The carbs will help keep her weight up. Also I agree on the every other day feeding. In fact if I were you I would consider daily. Keep offering food in enclosure but make it smelly stuffs like strawberries and nanas.
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Cindy
PHFaust
Email Cindy
Land of the Outcasts!

Hey, I was in the Snake Oil section of Petsmart (the reptile food additives), and I saw something sort of interesting. It was appetite stimulant- but it was in truth, only banana scent that you spray on food. Mmmmm... it did smell really good. Maybe it would work for you? Any one have any experience with it?

Thanks everyone

I have tried everything except for the kitchen sink (hell
I might as well try that too.) I am just frustrated and
worried.

Has anyone else ever had an Ig that fasted this long?
I am just dumbfounded!

Linda

My two igs absolutely *love* strawberries and grapes. They're not too fond of bananas, tho. Probably cheaper and more effective to use the real thing, rather than a bottle of appetite stimulant that probably contains artificial stuff.

I keep mine mostly on the usual leafy greens - collards, mustard, turnip - and try to keep the fruity goodies down to a small percentage of their total (say, 10-20 percent). But if that's what gets their appetite going, chop up some grapes or strawberries (or bananas) and see if they go for it! Whatever they like, next time try mixing some of that in with some chopped up greens, and I think you'll be off.

Tell you what - I switched over to the big mercury vapor (160-watt flood) bulbs a while back, the ones that put out all the heat, light, and UVB they need (or so they say). But the difference in their appetite was like night and day!! They've been veritable pigs ever since. I even had to start my own green garden in the back yard, because I got tired of running to the grocery store every few days to get bundles of greens. So maybe a simple change in UV/lighting will work.
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MichaelB