Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I just bought a new leo a few weeks ago. Right off the bat, she ate fine. Then, after her first shed, she just stopped eating. I made some changes at the recommendation of some others: under tank heat pad with thermostat, made sure temps were ok, offered her different types of food, etc. and she still hasn't touched any food. Its going on 2 weeks now where she hasn't eaten. I don't know what to do. I am truly afraid my new friend is going to die.

I fed her some chicken today (baby food) to see if I could force her to eat, and she ate a little, but not much ( a few licks). She is constantly in her moist hide box, and barely comes out at all (even at night). The temps are around 80-85 on the warm side, and 70-75 on the cool (substrate: repti-carpet warm, but not air). I think Ive done everything right, but she STILL won't eat.

I checked her stomach, it doesn't feel hard (impacted) but it has a blackish color like her insides are visible. Is that normal? Her eyes are dull and she can barely keep them open more than a minute or so.

Ok...thats the history! Now...HELP! Please! Im desperate!

First thing is she does not look healthy. Her tail is very thin. Couple of things i would suggest. 1. Try feeding her with a tongs. IE put the cricket or mealworm on the tongs and place it in front of her. Sometimes they will take it right of the tongs but try and make sure the bait ''wiggles'' to get her attention. If she wont eat from a tongs (And some wont) let it wiggele in front of her and then drop it. ( the bait not the tongs ) 2. Keep feeding her with the baby food. Syringe a piece onto her moyth area as they will normally lick it from there face. Even though it might seem like a small amount she is eating. 3. Leave her alone for a couple of days. It seems you got he and changed her enviroment a couple fo weeks later. Soem Leo's dont like change and some also dont like to be handled. Both of these bring on stress and if they are stressed they wont eat. You set up seems ok so i would put it down to stress. Remember if all else fails take her to the vet. I would suggest you do this if she hasnt eaten anything in the next 3 days.

WTH? Your not one to help. Boost up the temps about 5 degrees on the warm side. Dont give it anything oraly till you know you will have to and if its not working "STOP" doing it, its just gunna make things worse.

Go get some metabolizers like moon drops and try that but dont "FORCE" it maybe even try tpo get some that can go in its water as well. If you honestly must, go to the vet with a fecal sample and get it tested for parasites.

One other thing I used once with my golden geckos I have decided to use on a sick leo and that was a dab of honey on the lip. It will stay on and they will have to lick it off to get rid of it, they like the way it tastes and sometimes it gets them eating again.

What ever the outcome Im sure it will be good, Leos are rezilliant.

You need to up your temp on the warm side to 88-90 degrees with your UTH. I think that's your main problem, see if a couple of days of warmer temps stimulate it's appetite. Hope this helps, and good luck! Fran

Have you gave her any warm soaks? Decide if she is impacted or not by the substrate she was on when you purchased her.

If it is something that may cause impaction for a "young" Leo soak her in warm water, I used to do this when I got a Leo from some where that I didnt like all the time regardless.

i had the same problem with two from petsmart ended up they had tapeworms and they died and they infected 2 others that almost died