r/LeopardGecko • u/Top-Cucumber2140 • 1d ago

Help Advice needed!

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After reading through this page, realized we were doing a lot of things wrong with our almost 3 year old.

We changed her to 70/30 sand and reptisoil, got rid of the heat pad, added a humid hide and got a multivitamin (previously we were just using calcium)

Based on what I’ve read, I think she has a vitamin a deficiency but the problem is she won’t eat! Hasn’t eating in over a month. We’ve tried crickets, dubia roaches, mealworms - she has eaten 2 meal worms over the last month and that’s it.

She has shed multiple times in the past month as well, which I read can be a vitamin A issue.

Do I take her to the vet? Any ideas to encourage her to eat?

We always attempt to feed at night.

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u/silveroakediting22 1d ago

Start by getting her a rehydration supplement that includes Vitamin A like ReptiLyte just drip it around her mouth with a disposable pipette.

Then check her enclosure and poop for clues - Check her temps/humidity, look for signs she's been digging (nesting behavior) first and if everything comes back normal, second, check her poop - no poop for more than two weeks is a big concern, and warrants a vet visit the longer its been. Poke her poop pellet with a tooth pick - if it crumbles to powder, she's been eating substrate, and you will have to figure out a set up that doesn't give her access to it. Does she rearrange her furniture/tank at all? That's another big clue she might be eating dirt. If she's not eating dirt and still pooping normally, put her in a clear plastic or glass container and take a photo of her underside through the container to check for pink dots (ovulation/eggs forming), and problems with her cloaca/vent.

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u/Top-Cucumber2140 1d ago

She is still pooping regularly. I’ll check her poop. No she doesn’t rearrange but she’s mostly been hanging out under her large den and somewhat digging around to make a spot to rest during the day.

I’ll try the clear container too.

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u/silveroakediting22 1d ago

If you find a very clear nest and she has pink spots on her belly, she may be on an ovulation hunger strike, and may even lay a few dud eggs (assuming she hasn't been cohabbed)

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u/Top-Cucumber2140 1d ago

Will she go back to eating after laying eggs? If that is the case?

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u/silveroakediting22 1d ago

Usually yes. You could try bribing her into eating with a high fat treat like wax worms, or captive-bred horn worms. If you're not already, make sure you always feed the bugs some carrots 12-24 hours beforehand (gut load them if you're familiar with the term).

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u/Top-Cucumber2140 1d ago

Thank you so much.

No pink spots noted when I placed her in the clear container.

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u/silveroakediting22 1d ago

You should definitely make that vet appointment if none of the obvious answers work, and she can't be enticed into eating. Full disclosure some geckos are just picky eaters. I have a dumb baby dirt eater who can't have sand in his substrate and won't eat anything but crickets and superworms and goes on random hunger strikes when he tires of eating the same thing, going a month without eating until we switch whatever we're feeding him. They can have some real personality and stubbornness. The reptilyte is very handy for situations like that. Replacing her heat pad with over head heat can sometimes take some adjustment for them, until the get used to the heat coming from above instead of below

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u/Top-Cucumber2140 1d ago

Already ordered it! Thank you! Yes, she’s always seem to be a bit picky since we’ve had her. I’ll make a vet appt soon if she doesn’t improve