Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I've got a 2 year old normal (Jack) who for the past month has had a lot of difficulty eating. He tries and tries to grab at the food (superwormms) but he just cant seem to hold on and gulp it down. This is definately not a loss of apetite issue as he'll just keep trying and trying till he gets it or his brother (Tyler) does.
I've finally resorted to trying wax worms as he's getting smaller and smaller, but there's still the same problem. He cant even pick up a wax worm?! It looks like he's just pushing them around most of the time. Then every 5th try or so, he'll pick one up and drop it. It takes him dozens of tries to get one down.
Please help. He looks so pitiful and sad when he's eating. Otherwise he seems fairly normal. Perhaps a little less energetic, but it might be my imagination. Thanks,
Rob

Hmmm, sounds like he is just being picky. Thats what my female dose when she dosent want to eat something (Spoiled little leo that she is ) have you tryed feeding him crickets? they move differently than worms, so it could intice him to eat. also, you can buy certain types of appetite stimulants, i've never tryed them, but it cant hurt to give it a shot! good luck with him!
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0.1.0. Leo
1.1.0. WTF
0.1.0. Irish Setter
2.2.0. Holland Lop Bunnies
1.1.0. House Cats
Too Many Fish!

Super can be hard for a leo to eat. try mealies or crickets but if it dont improve soon, maybe you should check with a vet...do you have a calcium dish ?
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Mizar 21
1.0 Collared lizard (Ganymede)
1.0 Leopard Gecko (Gethsemani)
1.0 Nerodia Fasciata (Serpentard)
1.2 Cats

Rob,
From what you are describing it sounds like your Leopard Gecko has a Calcium deficiency. You need to check it’s lower jaw and see if it is soft. If you can push it down with your finger while holding him then that is the problem. He has trouble eating his food because he can’t grasp it in his mouth and then get it down.

You need to get more Calcium in him. If you are not dusting his food with any of the readily available Calcium powders that is the first thing you must do. Second you are going to have to put a bit of the Calcium on your finger and rub it on his mouth so that he licks it off. It wouldn’t hurt to keep a dish of it in his cage so he can lick it whenever he wants. Once he starts getting enough Calcium his jaw will harden and then he will be able to eat normally again.

If this is not the problem, it is probably time to get him to the Vet for a check up.

I hope this helps,
Albey
Albey's "Too Cool" Reptiles

Got anymore of those snows for sale yet?
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Brian Skibinski
Milwaukee Reptiles
Brian@MilwaukeeReptiles.com