Fancy's not eating, very strange

Hi everybody! Im having some strange behavior in my Leo. He will be a year old in May and he weighs 57 g. He has been eating on a regular basis about 8-9 mealworms every other day. I have his warm side at 93 degrees and cool is at 76 degrees. And he has not eaten for 4 days. He is not shedding and not even getting ready for a shed. In fact he has this weird behavior he does now when I put the worms in for him to eat, and I hand place each worm and watch him eat to make sure he gets it, and he will close his eyes. Then he will walk away. There are no signs of anything wrong or anything. Do Leos just go on occasional hunger strikes. Im going to pick up waxworms right now to stimulate appetite. He refuses crickets and dubias. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks everybody!!


Linsey

I would try switching feeders some times they get picky. But again they have been know to just stop eating for a bit.

Leopard geckos tend to go on random hunger strikes, especially during the cooler parts of the year. His behavior really doesn't seem out of the ordinary...in fact, my male has been doing the same thing.

Four days of refusing food is nothing to worry about. As long as his tail is fat, is hydrated, has been pooping regularly, and has good husbandry (which is sounds like he does based on the temps), he should be fine.

If you're really insistent, though, you can try wiggling the mealworms around with some tongs or dropping them in front of him from a height that'll make them wriggle around more to seem more enticing. Like strech said, too, they can change their mind about what they like and don't like. I wouldn't get wax worms...they're like candy and really addicting. They're really meant to be a treat once in a blue moon.

What substrate are you using? As you probably know, sand or other loose substrates can cause impaction, thus leading to a "hunger strike". If you don't have loose substrate, I'm sure this isn't an issue. (Leos can also get impacted by chitin ...the little shell casings the mealworms have...kind of like hotdogs!)

Just be patient and persistent with your feeding routine. He'll eventually give in...

Thanks!
Maybe I just get worried. I bought some waxworms and I know he loves those and he ate 2. I will just wait it out and let him get ravenous again!!

I use paper towel, so no worries of impaction!!

If he's just turning a year and it's warming up in your area hes getting into breeding mode most likely. He's getting his big boy pants on. I know THAT LOOK... the squinty eye blink and walk away from food... Eros does that too. Also since he is getting mature you might want to bump him up to super worms... more filling, less shell to meat ratio and more appealing as they tend to be more active plus you'll only need to feed him like 2-3 every other day. You really do want to feed more appropriately sized feeders in my opinion. Overall I think it's more healthy for them.

Thanks!

I will go get some superworms tomorrow!!

And yes there has been a bit of swagger in his step lately!

It could be the hard shell from the mealworms. Can you buy him silkies, they really like them and there soft. Maybe my males are super greedy or something but the never stop eating. You giving calcium and vitamins? d3 once or twice a week?

I give him calcium in a dish, Repashy Leopard Gecko Calcium plus. Should I be doing anything else?

Linsey wrote:I give him calcium in a dish, Repashy Leopard Gecko Calcium plus. Should I be doing anything else?

so your leaving the repashy in the tank take it out quick. They can overdose on d3. read this made by Kermit the moderator.

http://www.leopardgeckoforum.com/t2888-how-to-basics-on-supplimenting-your-leo

I dust with repashy and leave pure reptocalcium in there. Is this ok?

I just read the thread and that is what i am doing. Whew!!

Depending on how often you're dusting with the repashy there really is no need to leave pure calcium in the viv for your leo unless she is a laying female or a juvie under 6 months old. If you're dusting every feeding or every other feeding with the repashy then there's no need for extra calcium as a lack of D3 could lead to psudo gout from the abundance of calcium in her system.