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Leopard Gecko on hunger strike and getting worried

tim5580 Nov 10, 2004 07:58 PM

My leo shed last Thursday night (I saw it with his skin on his head like a little hat). He didn't eat the day before so I thought it was because it was going to shed. When I got up the next morning, he threw up or pooped out the shed. It wasn't digested. He hasn't touched food since last Wednesday. So I went and got some mealworms instead of the silkworms I was feeding it and put 5 of them in his dish on Monday night. They are still 3 in there. I don't know if he ate them or they got out and are hiding under the tile. I would get him crickets but it wasn't too crazy about them before. I wouldn't worry, but his tail is shrinking. It has hardly any bulge in it at all and I am starting to get worried. I cleaned the tank out Friday so no poop left to do a fecal on.
He's about 6" long head to tail. I keep him on tile with calcium available all the time. Dust food every feeding. Temps are 91-92F on hot side, where it hides in the humid hide all the time. Kept all by himself in a 20 gallon long. If I find a reptile vet around here and take him, can they test for parasites without poop or is it a waste of money and time? I am going to mash up mealworms, vitamins, and turkey baby food and put it on his lips so he has to lick it off, if he doesn't eat the silk or mealworms tonight. I tried ripping the butt off a mealworm and putting it on his face, he licked it but walked away then. Is there a way to stimulate a leo appetite? I don't want to put an eyedropper down it's throat and force feed it but I would if it means it living or dying.
The only thing I could think of is I had him out Monday night and he ran off my hand when my cell phone rang, and he fell about 6" onto the bed onto some blankets, but he landed on his feet, and was running around after, and still moves normally, and no disfigured limbs so I don't think he is injured. But that doesn't explain it not eating all weekend. Any suggestions or anything guys? You think it might have just lost the will to live?
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Tim W. My Pictures
0.0.1 Leopard Geckos
0.1.0 Dumeril Boa

Silkworms are great!
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Replies (5)

SpikeNsquirt Nov 10, 2004 08:52 PM

I wouldn't get to worried, although I would try to use a dropper and just put dabs of chicken or turkey baby food on it's lips. You can also try Repti-aid (can be bought at your local petstores). We have had a leo go 2 weeks without eating, and we did both of these things, but all in all she started eating when she wanted to. I will say that she did lick the stuff off of her lips like she was enjoying it...lol Hope this helps you some. If you are worried try the above.

tim5580 Nov 10, 2004 09:13 PM

I wouldn't worry, but it's tail is getting so thin, I don't want it to get sick.

>>I wouldn't get to worried, although I would try to use a dropper and just put dabs of chicken or turkey baby food on it's lips. You can also try Repti-aid (can be bought at your local petstores). We have had a leo go 2 weeks without eating, and we did both of these things, but all in all she started eating when she wanted to. I will say that she did lick the stuff off of her lips like she was enjoying it...lol Hope this helps you some. If you are worried try the above.
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**********************************
Tim W. My Pictures
0.0.1 Leopard Geckos
0.1.0 Dumeril Boa

Silkworms are great!
Why doesn't kingsnake have auto login?

geckogrl6 Nov 10, 2004 09:35 PM

if it's losing weight (and by your sig it looks pretty young) you need to look at medical reasons. A fecal is the best (and as far as I know only) way to test for most parasites. My vet was successful in "extracting" and sample from my leo when I didn't have one to bring. You will have to make sure it eats something though so there is something to massage out when you bring it in. See also my earlier post re: kidney disease in juvenilles. That's one I learned about the hard way (sob)
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1.0 Pastel/Jungle Leopard gecko from JL (BJ)
1.0 Hypo from Crested (Apricot)
1.0 Tremper Albino Hypo? (Cloud)
0.4 Normal/Hi-Yellow Leopard gecko (Beatrice, Goldie, Freckles, Pepper)
0.1 SHCT Leopard Gecko (Brite)
0.1 Tangy Mutt Leopard Gecko (Rainbow)
0.0.2 Corn Snakes (MIA)

sirfugu Nov 11, 2004 11:53 AM

I wouldn't worry too much as these guys are pretty hardy for the most part. Take it to a vet to rule out any serious problems and maybe get some de-wormer or panacure. My leo went around 2 months without eating and after persistent force feeding with baby food and worms she finally came around one day. Now it's two months later and I'm cutting back on her food some cause she's so fat. Also you might consider the lighting on your cage. I had a normal house bulb on mine and it wasn't but 3 days later that my gecko starting eating after I put in a good bulb from exo-terra with uva in it. This is supposed to stimulate appetite and in my case it worked magnificently. Good luck with your little lizard, hope this helped.

tim5580 Nov 11, 2004 01:43 PM

I just got home and it didn't eat so I am gonna call a vet and see if they can see it and be paid later on. I couldn't cash my paycheck today because my bank is closed and all I have is like $13. LOL, I'm so poor. I will see what the vet says.

>>I wouldn't worry too much as these guys are pretty hardy for the most part. Take it to a vet to rule out any serious problems and maybe get some de-wormer or panacure. My leo went around 2 months without eating and after persistent force feeding with baby food and worms she finally came around one day. Now it's two months later and I'm cutting back on her food some cause she's so fat. Also you might consider the lighting on your cage. I had a normal house bulb on mine and it wasn't but 3 days later that my gecko starting eating after I put in a good bulb from exo-terra with uva in it. This is supposed to stimulate appetite and in my case it worked magnificently. Good luck with your little lizard, hope this helped.
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**********************************
Tim W. My Pictures
0.0.1 Leopard Geckos
0.1.0 Dumeril Boa

Silkworms are great!
Why doesn't kingsnake have auto login?

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