Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I could go on forever with details, but I will attempt to keep it short. My new gecko arrived last Tuesday and hasn't ate yet. He was the best eater from the group that I bought him from. He still has a very thick tail and active. He used the restroom once Tuesday and it looked normal, but hasn't since. He had only ate crickets before and won't eat anything now. He came from a smaller plastic shoebox with heat tape underneath. He is quarantined in a 20L with calcium sand substrate. Any idea what is causing him to not have an interest in food. Could it be the adjustment to heat lamp, substrate, stress in general, worms, or any other type of illness. Any advice in greatly appreciated!
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0.1 Pixie Frog (Killer)
1.1 SHTCT Baldies (Zeus & Pumpkin)
1.1 Blizzard Leopard Geckos (Roscoe & Snowflake)
0.2 Normal Leopard Geckos (Lucky & Princess)

a lot of new reptiles won't eat for awhile when the are adjusting to a new environment. It could be the substrate though...how old is it? It could be impacted which would stop it from "using the bathroom" and discourage it from eating. This is more likely if it's a young gecko...no baby's should be kept on sand substrate, and most people will argue that adults shouldn't be either.

It is new substrate... I keep all of my geckos on the same type of substrate that is beneficial if ingested. The gecko is between 30-35 grams, so he is fairly decent size. Thank you for your response, I could switch him substrates but I would like to avoid it to minimize the amount of stress on my gecko.
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0.1 Pixie Frog (Killer)
1.1 SHTCT Baldies (Zeus & Pumpkin)
1.1 Blizzard Leopard Geckos (Roscoe & Snowflake)
0.2 Normal Leopard Geckos (Lucky & Princess)

When calci sand was first introduced I had considered getting some until I read the article at:

http://www.pythons.com/calcium.html

According to the above article regular sand would be safer.

-Alice

Even the calcium sand can cause impaction in young and even sometimes adult leos! If you did a search on it in the forums there have been many discussions on the topic. Specifically one of them was about the digestability of the calcium sand...more specifically how indigestable it is. It really isn't as digestable as the companies claim.

I agree. Try using something besides sand as a substrate. Paper towels are a great substrate to use while quarentining. I personally keep all my leos on alfalfa pellets.

Sometimes leos placed on sand will begin consuming it. Once they have abelly full of sand they won't have room for food. If the situation is addressed promptly (get rid of the sand), the gecko can usually successfully pass the sand it has already ingested. If you find sand in the poop, you'll know this was the case.

Otherwise unless you've noted signs of illness in the rest of the group, don't worry. Leos will often go off their feed for a day or two especially is there's a drop in temperature, they ate an exceptionally large meal, etc.

-Alice

I agree with the other guy (STIDUICCU or something like that) New geckos take time to acclimate to their new surroundings. Give it time to eat. I have one gecko that anytime she changes cages or has things moved around she doesn't eat for a couple of weeks.
I also agree with the other guy on the substrate, that is not the safest for geckos. If if were my gecko, then I would take out the sand and put paper towels down. Not as pleasing to the eye, but neither is an impacted gecko slowly starving to death.
Also, make sure you check to be sure your temps are right and if you don't have the leopard gecko manual, go get it. It is an excellent source of information.

>>I could go on forever with details, but I will attempt to keep it short. My new gecko arrived last Tuesday and hasn't ate yet. He was the best eater from the group that I bought him from. He still has a very thick tail and active. He used the restroom once Tuesday and it looked normal, but hasn't since. He had only ate crickets before and won't eat anything now. He came from a smaller plastic shoebox with heat tape underneath. He is quarantined in a 20L with calcium sand substrate. Any idea what is causing him to not have an interest in food. Could it be the adjustment to heat lamp, substrate, stress in general, worms, or any other type of illness. Any advice in greatly appreciated!
>>-----
>>0.1 Pixie Frog (Killer)
>>1.1 SHTCT Baldies (Zeus & Pumpkin)
>>1.1 Blizzard Leopard Geckos (Roscoe & Snowflake)
>>0.2 Normal Leopard Geckos (Lucky & Princess)

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You can never have just one gecko. Actually it is almost impossible to have two
www.crgeckos.com
marty@crgeckos.com

Actually martin, I'm a gal...lol no offense taken though

I knew that would happen! I had a 50-50 change. I just could not remember your id when I was typing the message.

>>Actually martin, I'm a gal...lol no offense taken though
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You can never have just one gecko. Actually it is almost impossible to have two
www.crgeckos.com
marty@crgeckos.com

oh and I meant marty btw...lol my sn comes from my nickname and my school. My name is Christina but my friends call me Stina, and I go to the University of Illinois @ Urbana-Champaign.

oh heck and here we are almost neighbors. I live in Iowa. Sorry!

>>oh and I meant marty btw...lol my sn comes from my nickname and my school. My name is Christina but my friends call me Stina, and I go to the University of Illinois @ Urbana-Champaign.
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You can never have just one gecko. Actually it is almost impossible to have two
www.crgeckos.com
marty@crgeckos.com

n/p