Reptile & Amphibian Forums

So, I went on a trip for a month and my brother was looking after my Collards. When I got back I noticed my girl lost a lot a weight. Her tail is just really thin. I just fed her some crickets and she ate them like she always did, so maybe I am just over reacting. I may try to feed her a pinkie so she can get some fat in her. I was also dusting all my crickets and he did not but I don't think that would do it. I have a male and female together in a 5ft.X3Ft. vivarium with 8.0 UVB (the temp has been fine). I hope my male is not stressing her out, but if she continues to go down hill I am going to seperate them to make sure. Any advice would be great. I am going to get some wax worms today also to get her some more callories. Thanks, I'll keep you all updated on the helth as I am sure she will get better.

well if it is not stress it could always be parasites. i hope she feels better soon!
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vonnie
***There is no pleasure in having nothing to do; the fun is in having lots to do and not doing it. Mary Wilson Little ***

There could be a way to increase her weight naturally.
I have a big female that is eating lots of well feeded crickets.

I mean, the more you feed your crix, the fatter you lizard will get.

I personnaly feed my crickets the following greens and good regulary regular dusting wth calcium.

- Green lettuce (Crix prefer Roman to Iceberg)
- Frozen Strawberry tips (5 pounds of strawberry gave me 3 ziplock bags of green tips and strawberry remains)
- Bee pollen
- Carrots peelings
- Potatoes peelings
- Apple peelings
- Oat

Less often
- Hemp seeds (Omega 3 & 6)
- Avocado peelings

So, this way, all goods that lizards don't eat are ingested and transformed by insect metabolism.
I prefer this way of stuffing to powder supplements ... my lizard seems to prefer it too!

BIG Sara before brumation, Christmas 2004

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Sara - Female Eastern Collared (Orange phase!)
30 X 16 X 12 enclosure
Full carpet
UVB 8.0

Thanks for that info. she ate a pinky with no problems and chased down about four crickets left from yesterday so I think she will be ok. If she continues to eat and does not gain weight I am going to suspect parasites but I don't know where she would get them and why the male didn't get them as he is fatter than he was when I left. I don't think it's parasites because they are captive bred and I have had them now for about 9 months with no problems. I have never fed them anything from the wild to keep the parasites out. I know that the better my crickets are fed the more my lizards get. I have been feeding them the Flucker's cricket food but I may try some greens that you sugest. I just think she was not getting the attention she deeds while I was gone. She has always been a little more of a finicky eater. Thanks again for the help.

Crickets /roaches, most feeders can have parasites, and MICE.

Thats why its good to use parazap or something as a PREVENTITIVE.
Once you have had a fecal done and they are treated for worms, its good to use parazap every few months there after.
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PHEve / Eve

Thanks for the info. Where can I pick up the parazap? I have never fed them pinkies untill yesterday just to get some fat in her but if they can get them from crickets then it's possible she has them.

(This is IF you can not get to a vet, "I have to say that," heheh)

I would treat her with panacur, first. Pretty harmless to your lizard, and pretty effective on worms. I use this first with wc's then as a preventitive I use the parazap a few times a year.

If you want either addy, click my name and email me
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PHEve / Eve

Thanks for all the help. I am going to treet them both with Panacur. I just put an order for it so I should get it next week (I hope) the vet wanted about $100-150 for the checkup and meds so I just ordered it online for $18.00 with shipping. Thanks for all the help! Here she is before the weight loss.

n/m

Net sources say that hemps seeds are source of :
Omega-3 et Omega-6, vitamins A, B1, B2, B3, B6, C, D & E

In fact, some could consider to give only that to their crix !

And, no link between Sara loosing scale and that... I just neglected to give those seeds since shes out of brumation.

HEMP SEED: THE MOST NUTRITIONALLY
COMPLETE FOOD SOURCE IN THE WORLD
http://www.ratical.org/renewables/hempseed1.html
No lol allowed on hemp seeds >:

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Sara - Female Eastern Collared (Orange phase!)
30 X 16 X 12 enclosure
Full carpet
UVB 8.0

Never thought of feeding it to my crickets. Thanks for the article...that is very interesting. I remember seeing a tub of it at a local pet store and thinking, "Damn...someone smokes a lot of crappy weed."

Laughing laud at job is not a good idea but its a funny tought you had !
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Sara - Female Eastern Collared (Orange phase!)
30 X 16 X 12 enclosure
Full carpet
UVB 8.0

really well fed, hahhahaha, what a rolly pollie cutie she is,
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PHEve / Eve