Stella is STILL not eating!

So a while ago I posted about her not eating, probably because she was gravid/ovulating. I filled her humid hide with coco fiber, but she still hasn't layed eggs and she doesn't appear to be gravid either. But she is still on her little hunger strike. She only ate three mealworms this week, and refused everything else I've offered her (Dubia, crickets, and waxies). I think she ate two or three dubia last week, but that's all. Even though she isn't eating, her weight has been at exactly 53 grams since this whole thing started, and she is about 9 months old now.

Is this normal? I know I've been told that their breeding season can last a few months, but I can't help but worry a little since she is so young. The fact that her weight is steady reassures me a little that she is fine, but she is my first leo and my first female lizard so I can't help but be a little OCD about the whole egg thing. Now I remember why I stick to males!

Would it be worth trying some silkworms with her, or should I just leave her alone?
And she used to have protein bubbles under her armpits, but those have completely disappeared now. Should I start offering her a little calcium in a dish again?
And will this stunt her growth at all?

Personally I think you should have pure calcium without D3 in her tank at all time. Calcium dish isn't what causes her bubbles to go away, it's her lack of eating and lack of getting protein. If she's not eating, you know she's not getting calcium. If you don't allow her to have calcium in a dish, when/if she develops eggs, it's going to take calcium from her body, her bones, etc..

As for her not eating it's a normal cycle for female leopard geckos to go through during the breeding season. It's going to happen every year, so you'll get used to it eventually. It's going to happen until she stops ovulating. Since she's not losing weight, you're fine.

At 9 month she probably won't get much bigger, as they slow down their growth during the last few months of their first year. So no I don't think it'll stunt her growth. Some people breed their virgin female early and producing eggs take a lot out of their body. They stunt their growth doing it that way. At 9 month and she's not being bred, she should be fine.

OK, thanks. I will give her back the calcium dish. I think someone told me that the bubbles were from over supplementing, so that's why I took it away.

She still seems so small compared to my other gecko! Oh well, I guess she is just petite. Once I know what to expect for her breeding season schedule I'll feel much better LOL, but it's a little nerve-wracking for her not to eat for so long.

poor Stella i'm sorry she isn't eating yet. charm was doing the same things for a long time, but she finally started eating after like 2 or 3 months. i hope she starts eating for you soon, just watch her weight and make sure she doesn't loose a lot, that is when you start getting worried and take her in to the vet.

My little girl went on about a 2 week hunger strike and she's my first one so I know how you are feeling. But from what I've been told as long as she's not losing a lot of weight, continues to drink water and get calcium from the calcium dish, she should be good. Geckos can actually go for a little while without eating because of the fats they store in their bodies from what I remembering learning so that's no biggie there.

Just keep an eye out on her movements and such. If she stops drinking and isn't at least peeing (since her stomach might be empty by now and she might not poo) then there might be a problem. Never hurts to keep an eye on her though to see if her mannerisms change or something though too! And I'd definitely put the calcium dish back in her tank so she has access to it at all times. Geckos will usually only lick up the calcium when they need it-- or at least that's how it's been with mine anyway!

May be the tank is too cold. I keep saying this but nobody beleives me and I keep reading post on here about geckos not eating.

Stella did eat her waxies last night, and it looks like she shed too. So hopefully she is feeling a little refreshed today!

@Echo: Yeah, she is still drinking and acting perfectly normal. She is a really active little girl, and comes out to explore every night. I think both my geckos would rather track calcium around their cages at night than eat it though.
When my bearded dragon brumates, he won't eat for 2 - 3 months, so I know reptiles are capable of going a long time without food! I'm just paranoid LOL.

@Peach: I have a thermostat that keeps her hot side at 92 - 94 *F, and her cool side is usually around 75*F so I know my temps are fine. Stanley has the exact same set up, and he would completely obliterate my roach colony if I let him.

Jess wrote:Stella did eat her waxies last night, and it looks like she shed too. So hopefully she is feeling a little refreshed today!

@Echo: Yeah, she is still drinking and acting perfectly normal. She is a really active little girl, and comes out to explore every night. I think both my geckos would rather track calcium around their cages at night than eat it though.
When my bearded dragon brumates, he won't eat for 2 - 3 months, so I know reptiles are capable of going a long time without food! I'm just paranoid LOL.

@Peach: I have a thermostat that keeps her hot side at 92 - 94 *F, and her cool side is usually around 75*F so I know my temps are fine. Stanley has the exact same set up, and he would completely obliterate my roach colony if I let him.

How about yourr air temps?

They are 75-80*F. I'm pretty sure the temps aren't what is keeping her from eating...

Never mind she's a female and is probably ovulating. I thought it was a male, I should have payed attention