Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Really need some help. Leopard gecko has not been eating at least 2 days before it shed still hasn't eaten 2 days after, did not eat what it shed either. He's very small does not have a fat tail like some of the pictures I've seen on here. The meal worms we put in for him squirm a few minutes as they warm up and then turn black. How do I gut load them with what? Maybe he knows they are no good so he wont eat them. How long do they stay good in the fridge? He doesn't seem that interested in crickets hasn't eaten any in a long while. We've only had him since about the end of January. Thanks for any and all advice.

Just keep the meal worms at room temperature.

How big is the gecko roughly? How big are the prey items? What kind of substrate do you have? (the stuff on the bottom of the cage)

What was the last thing you remember the gecko eating?
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The universe is vast and we are so small.
There is only one thing we can truly control.
Whether we are good or evil.
__________________________________________
0.2.0 Normal Leopard Gecko's
1.0.0 Patternless Leopard Gecko
0.1.0 Veiled Chameleon
1.0.0 Bearded Dragon

>>Just keep the meal worms at room temperature.
>>Do I buy new ones or get the ones out of the fridge?
>>How big is the gecko roughly? How big are the prey items?
He's about 4 1/2" long tip to tail. Prey items are 1/2"-3/4"
What kind of substrate do you have? (the stuff on the bottom of the cage)
>>We were using ground up walnut shell stuff they sold to us when we bought him, but changed it to some reptile stuff (looks like wood chips) after reading on here about impaction problems with sand like substrates.
>>What was the last thing you remember the gecko eating?
>>-----a worm was the last thing he ate. Does it mean they are no good since they are turning black as soon as they warm up or is it the calcium that kills them?(I say he but we don't know for sure.)Thanks

>>The universe is vast and we are so small.
>>There is only one thing we can truly control.
>>Whether we are good or evil.
>>__________________________________________
>>0.2.0 Normal Leopard Gecko's
>>1.0.0 Patternless Leopard Gecko
>>0.1.0 Veiled Chameleon
>>1.0.0 Bearded Dragon

1)Ok, size and prey item ratio looks good.
2)I'd change the substrate to paper towl or shelf liner for now just to make sure he doesn't swallow any of the repti-bark.
3)He may be impacted if he swallowed some of the bark you may want to take him to a vet to be sure.
4)If the mealworms are going black there bad yes. Mealworms won't physically change color because of calcium.

I'd suggest taking him into a vet if he doesn't eat by the end of the week.

Ohh yah when was the last time he pooped and what does it look like when he does?
-----
The universe is vast and we are so small.
There is only one thing we can truly control.
Whether we are good or evil.
__________________________________________
0.2.0 Normal Leopard Gecko's
1.0.0 Patternless Leopard Gecko
0.1.0 Veiled Chameleon
1.0.0 Bearded Dragon

Ok we changed substrate to papertowels. Husband said he saw him eat some of the bark when we first changed it. He just ate 1 mealworm we are waiting to see if he eats another. Couldn't say for sure last time he pooped can't see them in the bark. He belongs to my daughter and she says they usually look like bird droppings with pieces of cricket or worm through it. I'm Sorry that sounds really nasty but I don't know of another way to explain it. Thanks for all your help.

Good stuff, if he's eating again just keep a close eye on him.

That's probobly the best description of leo poop anyone could come up with. Unless it's unhelthy poop it may be runny and have undigested food in it.

Keep him on paper towels for the next few days (it's easier to see poop to) make sure he eats a few worms or maybe some small crickets. Unless he stops eating or starts loosing weight just keep an eye on him for the next week or so.

Your welcome.
-----
The universe is vast and we are so small.
There is only one thing we can truly control.
Whether we are good or evil.
__________________________________________
0.2.0 Normal Leopard Gecko's
1.0.0 Patternless Leopard Gecko
0.1.0 Veiled Chameleon
1.0.0 Bearded Dragon

If you haven't tried already, take a swing at hand feeding him. Just hold the worm by the tail and pinch it so the worm wiggles.
-----
The universe is vast and we are so small.
There is only one thing we can truly control.
Whether we are good or evil.
__________________________________________
0.2.0 Normal Leopard Gecko's
1.0.0 Patternless Leopard Gecko
0.1.0 Veiled Chameleon
1.0.0 Bearded Dragon

ewwwww! I'll let daughter try it first. LOL! I might try it with medical gloves on first. I'm such a sissy. Can you give me a guess how old you think he might be at his size, and how old are they before you can tell the sex?? Thanks again

4.5 inches probobly ohhh 4-6 months, but that's only a guess, you should able to sex it now. Just look for 2 bulges on the tail right behind the vent (the bum just incase you don't know the technical term). If there are 2 prominent bulges it's male if not you've got a girl. If your not sure about the bulges you can also look for femoral pores. They'll be a V shape of pores just infront of the vent. Females usually don't have any and males will be highly visable.

Ohh and if you don't want to hold the worms make the hubby do it.
-----
The universe is vast and we are so small.
There is only one thing we can truly control.
Whether we are good or evil.
__________________________________________
0.2.0 Normal Leopard Gecko's
1.0.0 Patternless Leopard Gecko
0.1.0 Veiled Chameleon
1.0.0 Bearded Dragon

We have tryed to see what it is but we don't see anything. So I'm guessing it must be a girl then. My daughter just loves it. I hope its going to be ok. Daughter went through brain cancer and it was given to her as a gift to celebrate a clean MRI. So I can't let anything happen to it. Thank you so much for all your help. Bless you.

I'm sorry to hear about your family's misfortune. But I'm also happy to hear she pulled through, I wish you and yours the best of luck and good health in the future. Your very welcome, if you ever need any other help just post again almost everyone in here is willing to help.

Just keep a close eye on your gecko and make sure he or she keeps eating and pooping on a regular basis. If at any point it looks like it's loosing weight nor not eating take it to a vet ASAP and get a fecal done for parasites and have the vet give it a once over.

Best of luck, Craig.
-----
The universe is vast and we are so small.
There is only one thing we can truly control.
Whether we are good or evil.
__________________________________________
0.2.0 Normal Leopard Gecko's
1.0.0 Patternless Leopard Gecko
0.1.0 Veiled Chameleon
1.0.0 Bearded Dragon