Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I am looking for some advice and want to explain the whole situation. I posted a few weeks back. I obtained a male and female pair a few weeks ago from a friend. Initially I was concerned that the female was may be acting aggressively or may be "hot" but now I am not sure. I have been watching them closely and he seems shy but she does not seem agressive in any way. They even bask together or share hides (voluntarily as I have 5 hides through out the cage). I know that many people suggest separating them, but I would like to keep them together (I plan on adding one more female to the mix in the next few months). I actually believe that she may be carrying eggs now because I checked her this morning after being away for the holiday weekend (a friend check-in on them and feed them) and she has gained significant weight and seems to have extra weight localized around her belly just above her back legs. I think I see what is the eggs through her skin. I have a friend that can incubate the eggs if necessary, so thats not the problem. The problem is that the male is not gaining any weight. They are offered more giant mealworms and waxworms than they eat in a night and are fed everyday. They were both a little skinny when I got them. She has balloned and may have eggs but he is still on the skinny side (his tail is as wide as the base of the tail). Both have shed. I don't know if I need to check him for parasites by having a fecal done or if there is another food item to try to spark his interest. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks
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Jessica

0.1.0 Sharpei-Husky mix...all attitude
0.0.1 Ball Python
1.2.0 Corn Snakes
1.1.0 Leopard Gecko
1.0.0 Blotched Tiger Salamander
...and a saltwater tank!

Are you watching them eat? I have to seperate Cricket from Stryke for feeding when Stryke is gravid or she hogs all the food. If you are sure hes eating as much as she I would definately have him checked out for parasites.
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Mommy of Many

1.0 Tremper Albino Leopard Gecko
0.1 Normal Leopard Gecko
0.4 Incubating Leo Eggs
0.1 Rosey Tarantula
1.0 Boxer Pit Bull
0.1 Springer Spaniel
0.1 Lhasa Poo
1.1 Domestic Cats
3.1 Humans

Email Me!

I have not physically seen him eat because he is so shy. I have tried to separate him in a small container with just food for him to eat and he just freaks out and doesn't eat. I have also tried crickets and they disappear but I am not sure if it is him or her. I have had him for a month and I haven't noticed him loose any weight but I haven't seen him eat either. Any other suggestions.

>>Are you watching them eat? I have to seperate Cricket from Stryke for feeding when Stryke is gravid or she hogs all the food. If you are sure hes eating as much as she I would definately have him checked out for parasites.
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>>Mommy of Many
>>
>>1.0 Tremper Albino Leopard Gecko
>>0.1 Normal Leopard Gecko
>>0.4 Incubating Leo Eggs
>>0.1 Rosey Tarantula
>>1.0 Boxer Pit Bull
>>0.1 Springer Spaniel
>>0.1 Lhasa Poo
>>1.1 Domestic Cats
>>3.1 Humans
>>
>>Email Me!
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Jessica

0.1.0 Sharpei-Husky mix...all attitude
0.0.1 Ball Python
1.2.0 Corn Snakes
1.1.0 Leopard Gecko
1.0.0 Blotched Tiger Salamander
...and a saltwater tank!

It actually would worry me less knowing that you have not physically seen him pig out and hes still not gaining. We have a meal worm dish that I will leave in over night with mealies in it, thats what we had to do when Cricket was younger, as he was shy too.

I am thinking shes just being a pig and eating most of the food

You could split the tank for feeding just by putting in a piece of cardboard (coax her to the other side with food) giving them each food items and coming back to check on them in an hour or two-- removing the cardboard. That way you don't have to handle him and spook him.

Are they normals? My male is albino and he refuses to come out and eat when its daylight, he comes out in the evening and only by the light of the night glow bulb I have in there with dim rooms lights-- no natural light at all will he tolerate.

How old are they? They will also generally become less skittish as they age, when we got Stryke we didnt see her for months, now we can watch her lay her eggs and she will climb right up on your hand (no forced handling at ALL.. just putting our hand in).

Now I'm babbling, but I hope I helped!
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Mommy of Many

1.0 Tremper Albino Leopard Gecko
0.1 Normal Leopard Gecko
0.4 Incubating Leo Eggs
0.1 Rosey Tarantula
1.0 Boxer Pit Bull
0.1 Springer Spaniel
0.1 Lhasa Poo
1.1 Domestic Cats
3.1 Humans

Email Me!

Thanks for all your good advice. If I don't see some eating here in a day or two I will try separating the tank. My best guess is she is a young adult and he is either a sub adult or young adult. They are both good length-about 7 or 8 inches or so head to tail. She will tolerate handling and me looking at her belly with just a little fuss and is curious and has taken food from my hand. He just hides and will try and fight any holding. I am not too familiar with the different morphs of leos yet but he is not normal and she is normal. His back is mostly yellow and has 2 stripes from side to side of more normal color. Maybe that explains it. Because at night when the room lights are definately off he comes out to bask in the nightlight. I know she isn't eating all the food as every morning I check and remove food and there are excess worms (mealies and waxworms). When I figure out that he is eating and how much then I will cut back on feeding.

>>It actually would worry me less knowing that you have not physically seen him pig out and hes still not gaining. We have a meal worm dish that I will leave in over night with mealies in it, thats what we had to do when Cricket was younger, as he was shy too.
>>
>>I am thinking shes just being a pig and eating most of the food
>>
>>You could split the tank for feeding just by putting in a piece of cardboard (coax her to the other side with food) giving them each food items and coming back to check on them in an hour or two-- removing the cardboard. That way you don't have to handle him and spook him.
>>
>>Are they normals? My male is albino and he refuses to come out and eat when its daylight, he comes out in the evening and only by the light of the night glow bulb I have in there with dim rooms lights-- no natural light at all will he tolerate.
>>
>>How old are they? They will also generally become less skittish as they age, when we got Stryke we didnt see her for months, now we can watch her lay her eggs and she will climb right up on your hand (no forced handling at ALL.. just putting our hand in).
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Jessica

0.1.0 Sharpei-Husky mix...all attitude
0.0.1 Ball Python
1.2.0 Corn Snakes
1.1.0 Leopard Gecko
1.0.0 Blotched Tiger Salamander
...and a saltwater tank!

n/p
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Mommy of Many

1.0 Tremper Albino Leopard Gecko
0.1 Normal Leopard Gecko
0.4 Incubating Leo Eggs
0.1 Rosey Tarantula
1.0 Boxer Pit Bull
0.1 Springer Spaniel
0.1 Lhasa Poo
1.1 Domestic Cats
3.1 Humans

Email Me!

Did you rule out parasites? Bugs can make them lose their apetite and turn their tails skinny.

I'd put him aside until he goes. Then have a fecal done, just for the peace of mind.
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Email me

I think it's a good idea to separate them at least until you can confirm that she isn't merely hogging all the food. If he is eating but not gaining weight, it suggests that he may be carrying worms.

You mentioned wanting to add another female to the cage, but please be sure to quarantine the new one. I know some people insist 30 days is enough, but I have had animals die for contagious reasons after making it past the 30 day mark, so I recommend a minimum of 90 days before letting any new animals come in contact with your current pets.

Good luck!
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chickabowwow

Thanks for the info. I think I am going to try and get a fecal and see how that turns out. I have a great reptile vet here. I will also try and separate them until I am sure that he is eating. Then if things go well I can reintroduce them later.

As for quarantine, I would definately keep a new female apart for 60-90 days. I keep other reptiles and know how important it is. I currently have a corn snake in quarantine. But thanks for pointing that out and your suggestions.
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Jessica

0.1.0 Sharpei-Husky mix...all attitude
0.0.1 Ball Python
1.2.0 Corn Snakes
1.1.0 Leopard Gecko
1.0.0 Blotched Tiger Salamander
...and a saltwater tank!