Gecko not eating

StopStaringAtMe · #1 (**permalink**) 05-01-2003, 06:28 AM

Okay, big problem. One of my gecks is getting fat and happy and growing. The other, is not... she seems to be getting thinner actually, and is not getting bigger... I thought maybe she was just growing slower than the other, but I noticed she looked thinner and decided to try and feed her one by one tonite... she wouldn't eat at all.... I don't know how long she has been not eating because I feed them together right before I go to bed.... I'm about to leave for the night, hopefully she'll eat... What could be wrong?
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LdyDrgn · #2 (**permalink**) 05-01-2003, 06:43 AM

Do you keep them in one enclosure or seperate ones? Have you tired offering different items? Some geckos prefer crix over meal worms or the other way around.
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StopStaringAtMe · #3 (**permalink**) 05-01-2003, 06:40 PM

they're in the same enclosure... I was going to go to the pet store today, I'll pick up some crickets and see if she'll eat them.. thanks
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Bry · #4 (**permalink**) 05-01-2003, 07:02 PM

Sounds to me like the larger one is intimidating the smaller one if they are being kept together. When you feed them, watch their behavior towards each other, particularly the larger one. I suggest you separate the two, so you can keep a better record of how well they eat. I had one leo that preferred only worms, the other only liked crickets, and the third practically "bullied" the others around and ate everyone's crickets and worms for a short time. Like Michelle said, some just develop a preference for certain food types when they get older. I'd separate them and perhaps make it possible for the smaller one to not see the larger gecko, and I bet you the smaller one will eat better.

Bry

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LdyDrgn · #5 (**permalink**) 05-01-2003, 10:19 PM

I kind of had a feeling that was what was going on. Yes, you need to get them seperated to help get the other one to eat. [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif[/img]
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Boaguy · #6 (**permalink**) 05-01-2003, 10:26 PM

Another thing to consider is parasites.. Get a fecal done at the vets. I currently have a male blizzard who is stuggling parasites.. ugh those things are stressing me worse then him [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_eek.gif[/img] [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_frown.gif[/img]

John
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LdyDrgn · #7 (**permalink**) 05-01-2003, 11:08 PM

I noticed this was in Help Me... I moved it to the Geckos forum [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif[/img]
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GizmO · #8 (**permalink**) 05-01-2003, 11:24 PM

Another thing.... what kind of substrate are you using? If you are feeding in the cage and they are on sand, then it is possible it could be impacted. See you can tell if it is pooping at all and if so look at it for sand in it.
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SteveP · #9 (**permalink**) 05-02-2003, 12:45 AM

The intimidation by the bigger gec can be pretty subtle or very direct, but I'd bet that may be the reason. It may take her a few days to settle into a new environment without her cage-mate, so don't panic if she doesn't eat right off even after being seperated. Once you get the smaller one isolated for a little bit get some wax worms and try those to get her to eat. My gecs used to LOVE wax worms, and though you shouldn't keep her on a constant diet of them, they may encourage her to eat and fatten up a little. After you get her isolated too then you can get a fecal sample that your sure of is hers. Doesn't hurt to have that checked at any rate. Good luck!

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StopStaringAtMe · #10 (**permalink**) 05-02-2003, 12:59 AM

Well I don't have the money for another tank right now, how should I seperate them? Also, I got her to eat a cricket earlier, thought I bought little tiny ones by mistake... then I stuck a mealworm in front of her and she ate that too.... when I tried sticking the mealies in front of her yesterday she wouldn't eat them.... *sigh*.....
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SteveP · #11 (**permalink**) 05-02-2003, 01:06 AM

If you don't have a seperate enclosure for her at the moment then I'd basically "hand" feed her like you did with the circket and meal worm to make sure she's getting something to eat. Are they both adults and of the opposite sex? If the bigger one is a male he could be harrasing her because he's amorous...could be any number of things going on there. Just monitor her eating very closely for awhile, and eventually you may need to get her a seperate enclosure.

Sometimes I think our animals just like to go off feeding now and then because they know it'll freak us out!!!
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LdyDrgn · #12 (**permalink**) 05-02-2003, 01:11 AM

They do very well in a shoebox or double wide shoe box (depending on the gecko's size) with paper towel substrate and a hide made of a margarine tub with a hole cut in the side. You could even add a little damp moss to the hide to help with shedding. Setup doesn't have to be expensive [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_wink.gif[/img] Hit your local WalMart for the tub. I doubt you will spend more than $10 on the entire thing.
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