Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Well, I made the mistake of trying out my female Fat Tail on Bed A Beast, after the first feeding I noticed she was ingesting some. The next day I switched her back to paper towels, but have noticed no feces in 5 days and 2 feedings since the substrate ingestion occurred. Is there anything I can do to help her out besides wait and see what happens? I have considered a vet trip but would like to keep that as a last resort, when I know it is needed, not when the animal is on deaths door of course.

More details are the fact she just came out of her egg laying cycle, could all the food she eats be going straight back into her body with so little waste that she just hasnt "had to go" yet? I know that is pretty far fetched, but she didn't even get a mouthfull of the stuff into her system, I would hate to think such a stupid small mistake on my part could be the end of a great pet/breeder.

My 3 adult AFTs are on Eco Earth, a product like Bed a beast, they quite often ingest it along with their crickets, and they never have a problem passing it. The product was recommended to me by a breeder who also has not had a problem with it, when used with adults. I also have two younger ones that will periodically go several days without "pooping" and then just decide to go one day--these two are on paper towels so could not be impacted, just "irregular" I guess. So, while one cannot say for sure if your AFT will be in trouble via forum, I would say try not to worry that you've destroyed your poor gecko. The events (ingesting a bit of substrate and not going for a few days) could just be coincidental. Continue to watch her and see that she is eating and active. Some people believe that a brief, supervised soak in shallow, lukewarm water helps their geckos with constipation. I have not used this method for my own lizards, nor asked my vet about it, so could not say for sure. But it seems pretty harmless, as long as the animal is not exhibiting other signs of illness, and if nothing else, the excitement of it all might make her poop (and help you feel less worried) The above is just my opinion, and you should only do what you feel is best for your gecko.

Thanks Denise, I will definitely continue to keep an eye on her for the next week to ten days, if nothing I will try the warm bath thing for a few days in a row, if still nothing I will be hitting the Vet I guess.

Well, turns out I was worried over nothing, she finally did the business last night, no help from me! Thanks again for the advice!