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Would this amount of weight loss worry you? (Leopard Gecko)

2K views 36 replies 9 participants last post by  Mal 
#1 ·
I've got 15 Geckos and 14/15 are gaining or maintaining weight weekly.
Solaar, pretty little Solaar was a class A feeder from the day I got her home.
Now, I did have Aura not feed for 3 months, but her weight loss was less than 1g per week and now she's back to her original weight and it was breeding season.

These are Solaar's weights.

21/09/12 - 32g (the day I got her home)
27/09/12 - 38g
03/10/12 - 42g
10/10/12 - 43g
17/10/12 - 47g
24/10/12 - 45g
31/10/12 - 44g
07/11/12 - 45g
14/11/12 - 42g
21/11/12 - 40g


It's the 5g drop in 3 weeks that's panicked me. I mean, she's pooping, so she must be eating.
This is also the gecko I got from a shop, and someone might remember the thread I started about her poop smelling funny; it did stop smelling funny, now it STINKS again.
I've called the Reptile vet today, but she's not in until Monday, so Solaar is booked in for a faecal screen on Monday as that gives me time to get at least 3 samples.
I mean, at 40g, she's not in danger of death, but am I being over worried again?
I haven't changed her Vitamins or anything. I haven't changed live food supplier. Her heat mat is at 33C, she has a cold end of 25-27C.
She's active, she sheds okay. I took her off sand and put her on lino on 24th October because of the initial weight drop, but it's made no difference.

If the other 14 weren't gaining or maintaining, I'd put it down to it being winter and them slowing down; but I don't think so some how!
 
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#2 ·
No-one feel like saying anything?
 
#3 ·
im curious do you have all 15 geckos in the same vivarium? i would monitor the geckos feeding so you know its taking in food, if its pooing that is a good sign and the faecal exam is always a good idea because you can never be sure. you could try feeding your gecko more fatty insects. treat them to a big dish of meal worms with crickets and locusts on the side an insect buffet xD
 
#4 ·
:lol2:
NO NO NO. I have all 15 Geckos in 15 separate vivariums! OMG. I'm not that mental! Can you imagine the warfare!?


She has mealies in a bowl 24/7 and she never touches them, even when she is gaining weight, but I leave them in there in case she ever decided to have a nom. She's not interested in Waxies or anything that resembles a maggot, which suits me as I don't like thing that look like maggots either :whistling2:

She has fed every day, from day one. On Crickets or Locusts, she took a small Morio ONCE, but I think she was in feeding mode and didn't realise until it was eaten, she never touched one since.
She ignores Roaches.
I'm getting some silkworms soon, so I'll try her on them when they get here.

I cut her feeding down to every 2 days as I though maybe she was just lowering her intake like they do as the grow, but even crickets I put in every 2 days aren't really getting touched, maybe 1 or 2 will be eaten.

Like I said anyway, vets on Monday, but I was just curious as to whether anyone else would panic at a 5g loss in 3 weeks.

She's having Locusts tonight, see if that will tempt her.
 
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#7 ·
Awh thanks.
Luckily I keep a record of weights otherwise I might not have noticed.
If it's parasites, it should be an easy fix :)
 
#6 ·
Assuming she is housed alone, and nothing else has changed, I think you are doing right getting her checked out. The gradual loss over the longer period is still only small but considering she was gaining well seems a little suspicious.
 
#8 ·
Yup she is alone :) all my geckos are kept alone.
And all new ones go through Quaruntine.
Solaar was just about to be done with her's (well 1 more month) and now this!
The exact reason I do quaruntine newbies!
 
#9 ·
i wouldnt worry personally my gecko has days it digests really quickly and other it sits there a fat lump. but a vet is always a good idea.
i would get a sum tongs for feeding my albino has really bad eye sight and i have to hand feed her each meal. but when its infront of her face kicking their legs all over the place my gecko gets very exited. same with worms. when my gecko muffins stopped eating for a week after a vivarium change the way i got her to eat again was just dangle the food on the tongs out side her hide when she popped her head out to see what it was it was gone. i think she found it a more fun way to eat. just try different things and be patient dont settle for left over food and good luck.

(also yeah i agree 15 geckos roaming around together would be chaos but then again it would look so amazing a huge vivarium with 15 different morphs of geckos roaming around)
 
#10 ·
i wouldnt worry personally my gecko has days it digests really quickly and other it sits there a fat lump. but a vet is always a good idea.
i would get a sum tongs for feeding my albino has really bad eye sight and i have to hand feed her each meal. but when its infront of her face kicking their legs all over the place my gecko gets very exited. same with worms. when my gecko muffins stopped eating for a week after a vivarium change the way i got her to eat again was just dangle the food on the tongs out side her hide when she popped her head out to see what it was it was gone. i think she found it a more fun way to eat. just try different things and be patient dont settle for let over food and good luck.

(also yeah i agree 15 geckos roaming around together would be chaos but then again it would look so amazing a huge vivarium with 15 different morphs of geckos roaming around)

I have tongs but she's really shy and hates any noise or people.
She's in the quietest corner of my room (where she's always been), I'll try dangling food off tongs, worth a shot but if she gets scared I'd rather not stress her out. Taking her to the vets is going to be a nightmare!

I think I'd need like a 20ft vivariums to have 15 all together!
 
#11 ·
yer my gecko can be very panicky just with me opening the glass doors but if you open it and get her out in the open but just wait in silence for abit my geckos normally warm up to me and even come up to the door and lick my fingers but of course every gecko is different. if your overly gentle and patient hopefully you wont cause stress. but yer its worth a try. the easiest way to identify parasites is undigested food in their poo or it can be very runny so keep and eye out for symptoms.
 
#12 ·
yer my gecko can be very panicky just with me opening the glass doors but if you open it and get her out in the open but just wait in silence for abit my geckos normal warm up to me and even come up to the door and lick my fingers but of course every gecko is different. if your overly gentle and patient hopefully you wont cause stress. but yer its worth a try. the easiest way to identify parasites is undigested food in their poo or i can be very runny so keep and eye out for symptoms.
See the poos she leaves me, even now, are fine.
Firm, dark, with the urate.
They are smaller than normal, but that's it.
 
#13 ·
If you don't want to stress her unecessarily have you considered getting a faecal test done through PALS lab? If anything comes back positive you could then take her to the vet.
 
#15 ·
you can just take a faecal sample into the vet without causing your gecko stress by bringing them in.

But tbh if your exam is on Monday i would try to encourage her feeding with as little stress as you can. because i had to give my gecko parasite medicine and there isnt a easy way to do it without causing stress. so if you can find a way to get her putting on weight again. atleast then she's some what chilled with a full stomach if there is a problem with parasites.
 
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#14 ·
the poo being smaller can just be a sign of the little food she's lately been eating. so if your saying the poo is normal it might not be a parasite problem always worth getting checked out specially when like you said she is in quarantine. i would just advice trying to get her to eat more with a little push i believe there is something you can give you gecko to increase their appetite i've never used it myself but worth a try (if everything else doesn't work)
 
#18 ·
well you mentioned that she is still pooing which is a good sign so hopefully the test goes well and wow thats a cheap vet, i had to pay £50 for the visit £20 for each of my geckos poo test and £10 for the medicine.
 
#20 ·
I know! She expensive for furry creatures, but reptiles is cheaper.
I guess she's the only Reptile vet near me so she gets lots of business anyway :p

I just use them as it's often quicker and more convenient for me to post them the poo than getting to the vet, and I get the results quicker! And my vet is more expensive if its more than just a slide exam.


Anywho just for future reference, these are the ones that are relevent, I normally go with Full parasitology. I am not sure if these prices include VAT.


Reptile Faeces 1
(Faeces) £ 30.00
Aerobic Culture, Salmonella, Campylobacter, Sensitivity, Yeasts.

Reptile Faeces 2
(Faeces) £ 38.00
Aerobic Culture, Salmonella, Campylobacter, Sensitivity, Yeasts, Full Parasitology.


Faecal Screen
(Faeces) £ 13.00
Slide Examination – Direct and Concentrate.


Full Parasitology
(Faeces) £ 25.00
Direct and concentrate examination for Helminth Ova, Protozoa, Protozoal Cysts including Giardia,

Cryptosporidia and Amoeba.


But yep if your leo has small but normal poo it sounds promising. She may just be having a fussy phase : victory:
Thank you!
I just wagged a mealie in front of her and she looked straight through it.
I put 3 locusts in at about 6 and there's now 2, but the mealworms bowl and the crickets are untouched.
Thought I get her out to look at her belly, defo not impacted which is a blessing.
So either it's parasites = easy fix
Or it's her being fussy = pain in the bum not so easy fix.
She's now pondering about her viv.

If I can get her weight back up I might try her in a smaller vivarium.
She's git lots of cover and her corner is dark and quiet, but maybe 3ft is too much for her if she's shy.
I have a spare 2ft viv.
I don't want to move her yet though, that's just adding fuel to the fire.
 
#19 ·
I just use them as it's often quicker and more convenient for me to post them the poo than getting to the vet, and I get the results quicker! And my vet is more expensive if its more than just a slide exam.


Anywho just for future reference, these are the ones that are relevent, I normally go with Full parasitology. I am not sure if these prices include VAT.


Reptile Faeces 1
(Faeces) £ 30.00
Aerobic Culture, Salmonella, Campylobacter, Sensitivity, Yeasts.

Reptile Faeces 2
(Faeces) £ 38.00
Aerobic Culture, Salmonella, Campylobacter, Sensitivity, Yeasts, Full Parasitology.


Faecal Screen
(Faeces) £ 13.00
Slide Examination – Direct and Concentrate.


Full Parasitology
(Faeces) £ 25.00
Direct and concentrate examination for Helminth Ova, Protozoa, Protozoal Cysts including Giardia,

Cryptosporidia and Amoeba.


But yep if your leo has small but normal poo it sounds promising. She may just be having a fussy phase : victory:
 
#23 ·


Here she is.
She's not at deaths door, but she's not got the tail fat I'd like to see on a 40g gecko.
 
#24 ·
To be honest, I've had females drop that much in 3 to 4 weeks after going off of their food. I have even had one do it straight after a tail drop! ( just don't ask!! ) and she's making a full recovery now even though, she's still not eating as she was in the summer. Whilst you are right to be aware of it and be monitoring it. If it were me, I wouldn't be worrying just yet. One question. Is she drinking ok? are there still a good proportion of urates in her faeces?

Daz
 
#25 ·
Yup, poop to pee ratio is as normal, if a bit smaller due to lack of eating, and urates are still nice a white. Poop is still firm and dark, though just having checked it is a bit dryer than normal and a bit crumbly, but no undigested creepy crawly bits were in there.
 
#26 ·
First thing....dont panic. Its not a massive weight loss and the gecko looks in pretty good shape.

Try to avoid messing around with tweezer feeding or anything like that. Its not required at the moment and would probably do more harm than good. At worst it will stress the gecko or it may end up with a gecko that realises life is easier if he/ she waits to have food delivered to mouth.

Leos stop eating, or have reduced appetite for a reason. First consideration is the change in the weather. Its effecting lots of reptiles, just look at the number of sleeping beardies. Leos are also effected by the onset of winter. It could simply be part of the natural cycle.

Environmental factors can also put them off their food. Double check temps and possibly increase the heat mat temp by a degree C. Its possible that she has felt a drop in the ambient temps. Have you moved the vivarium or anything like that. They can be fussy buggers with the least disturbance.

Parasite load is always worth a bit of consideration. It is possible that she is carrying pinworms or similar but its easy to fix. She does look in very good condition so I dont think crypto is a likely cause of her weight loss but you cant guarantee that just by looking at her. Youve got my number, give me a call tomorrow and I will tell you about somewhere else you can send a sample and have it looked at for a basic parasite screen for a very small cost.
 
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#27 ·
Her viv hasn't been moved.
The only change was sand to Lino a month ago.
I'll up her heat mat to 34C.

I shall give you a ring tomorrow, any particular time?
Her behaviour hasn't changed, apart from her food intake.

Thanks Mal :)
 
#29 ·
If you're getting a faecal screen done by PALS, make sure if there does happen to be anything untoward, that your local vet is happy to prescribe what their lab advises! I asked my vet about this when I suspected a parasite load in my crestie (turned out there was nothing wrong but it's good to check these things as you say!) and they said that they would not give me medication unless I paid for a test to be completed at their own lab.
Saves you forking out for extra tests!
 
#30 ·
Thats a darn rip off. Just shows how some are in it for money. We have a superb exotic / herp specialist vet that we go to. She is happy to accept PALS results. On my last visit with a poorly gecko she did a cloacal wash out and gave me the sample to send to PALS myself as it would be cheaper. She then told me that around 70% of their labwork gets sent to.....PALS. I guess some practices like to get as much out of their clients as they can.
 
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#31 ·
So, I've got the poop samples all sorted now to post tomorrow.

Aaaaand, I got some Silkworms in the post today thanks to 'zzxxy', I want to breed them, but I put a couple in front of Solaar and she looked like an excited child; it seemed to kick start something because she then finished the crickets and a couple of locusts that were living a life of Riley in her viv.

Hopefully that's the end of her worrying me and her poop will come back clear.

: victory:
 
#33 ·
I've not tried silkworms yet I've got a job in a pet store so im gunna have to check them out but its great to hear your geckos eating again =D
 
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#35 ·
I don't know if anyone is still keeping tabs on this thread of if you want updating.
Can't believe I posted this in NOVEMBER! Mental.

It's taken this long, but everyday for the last month (give or take a few days) Solaar has eaten. Sometimes she eats 16 Crickets in a sitting. Obviously her sitting is about 1/2 hour compared to 15 minutes but still.
She got SO SO skinny we thought we'd lose her, but I have a couple of photos, and believe it or not the tail is FATTER than what it has been! That gives you an idea of how low her weight dropped, I think 27g was as low as we fell.
Now were back up to the 40s :) and gaining slowly, but that's how we want it! We've had no more drops. No more sloppy poop and no more wondering if he would make it through the night!




Big fat belly.



That mark on her tail...a cricket was on her tail and she went for it....it ended badly for her tail....

And the pinworms are all gone so YAY!

Big shout out to Mal for being my sounding board through all this, and all the help and advice he gave me :D

I'll update again in a month or so :)
 
#37 ·
I don't know if anyone is still keeping tabs on this thread of if you want updating.
Can't believe I posted this in NOVEMBER! Mental.

It's taken this long, but everyday for the last month (give or take a few days) Solaar has eaten. Sometimes she eats 16 Crickets in a sitting. Obviously her sitting is about 1/2 hour compared to 15 minutes but still.
She got SO SO skinny we thought we'd lose her, but I have a couple of photos, and believe it or not the tail is FATTER than what it has been! That gives you an idea of how low her weight dropped, I think 27g was as low as we fell.
Now were back up to the 40s :) and gaining slowly, but that's how we want it! We've had no more drops. No more sloppy poop and no more wondering if he would make it through the night!



image
Big fat belly.

image

That mark on her tail...a cricket was on her tail and she went for it....it ended badly for her tail....

And the pinworms are all gone so YAY!

Big shout out to Mal for being my sounding board through all this, and all the help and advice he gave me :D

I'll update again in a month or so :)
Its good to hear things are going in the right direction with her.Your a very dedicated keeper who works hard to give her animals the best of everything and it was a pleasure helping you out.
 
#36 ·
Its good to hear all things are going well all the best to U n the geckos
 
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