very anorexic adult leopard gecko

Question
QUESTION: Hi Tracie
My daughter has a young adult leopard gecko who has in the last month or so become more and more anorexic.  As background history - cage substrate used to be the fake grass rug made for juvenile reptiles. Recently switched to gecko-safe sand (anorexia began before the switch). Heat lamp on one side used during the day. Temp on one side of cage is ~ 80 / other side is ~ 90.  Red night light used at night.  Temps at night does not end up being much lower than day temps(w/in 5 deg. of each other) UV light not used this summer but started up again w/in last 2-3 mo's.  Cage has 3 areas that the gecko can hide in.  Water avail at all times.  Theres a dish with calcium powder + one with a vit. supplement avail as well.  

Unique to this gecko - she(I think she's a female) has never really liked crickets.  Only ate them as a juv. for a few months. Seemed afraid of them. After that, only ate sm. mealworms/super worms (not the kind that have to have the heads removed) and waxworms.  She sometimes seemed to have trouble aiming her strike at the food either b/c she can't see well, or she's a lazy hunter.

Now we can't get her interested in any type of live food.  Maybe eats one SMALL mealworm once a wk in recent times (over the last few weeks or so) Took her to a vet. Not egg-bound.  Phys. exam didn't reveal anything out of the ordinary.  Gecko is still moving at night, drinking.  Body is not as heavy as before, but I wouldn't say she's exceptionally skinny yet.  Occas. has feces (1 pc once a wk, I believe). Normal in color and texture.  I DON'T put the food in the cage and walk away, tho.  I usually lift up her hiding rock so she's exposed and put the worms in front of her.  She has always eaten that way in the past w/out prob.  Never tried fruit or baby food.  Is that a good way to stimulate her?  Should I put sm. mealworms in cage at night and leave them there ALL NIGHT? I was afraid to do that for fear the worms would bite her.  Is there ANYTHING ELSE that you could recommend or do you have any ideas WHY this is happening?  Is this a seasonal issue or temp prob? My daughter and I are both animal lovers and have gotten quite attached to "Geiko" (orig name,huh? lol)  We are getting very worried and we hope to be able to solve this issue before we go on a 1 wk vacation over Thanksgiving.  We have a neighbor taking care of her during that time.
Thank you for any advice you could give us!
Marlene

ANSWER: Hello Marlene,
Hm, that is interesting.  It is possible she could have parasites or worms if she has lost her appetite.  I would not think it was a winter shutdown but if it was I would not let her brumate much if she is not doing well.
No I would not keep the worms in overnight with her, just in case they did get out.  
Do you have an undertank heater for her along with a low wattage basking light?  They do need belly heat to fully digest.  What type of thermometer do you use to measure the temps in the tank?  
If she is losing the fatness of her tail we will need to begin syringe feeding on her to keep her from getting too thin.  You can look for some bee pollen at the healthfood store to use as an appetite stimulant.  You could get a fecal done on her as well, if you have a nearby vet that would do one.
Let me know how she is doing.  

Tracie

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thank you very much, Tracie, for your quick reply.  I will try using an undertank heater and the bee pollen right away.  I have a 60 watt heat lamp on one side of the tank that I use during the day.  The thermometer in her cage is a plastic one that I bought at a pet store. I actually have 2 - one on each end of her tank.  Is there a better type out there?  A humidity gage reads a steady 60% which I suppose is pretty high for her, but I don't know how to make it any drier in there for her.  Do you think that could have anything to do with her lack of appetite?

ANSWER: Hello Marlene,

You are welcome.  The thermometers you have probably are not very accurate.  Are they the round stick on type of ones?  The best ones are the digital probes or the temp guns.
Hm, well, 60% humidity is kind of high.  Where is your humid hide?  How many humid hides do you have?  Do you have a water dish in there too?
I think once you get an undertank heater in, that might help reduce the humidity somewhat.  She could be borderline getting a respiratory infection, possibly from too high of humidity.  

Keep me posted.  I hope she is feeling better soon!

Tracie

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi Tracie,
Yes, the thermometers are the stick-on types.  Would I have to order the digital ones on-line?  I've never noticed any in the pet stores.  I have only 1 humidity gage which is on the right side of the tank - but I do have to say that there is a ceramic "pool" of water fairly close to it.
As an update:  she did eat 3 small mealworms last night at 3am (long story as to why I was up then! lol :p  ) I just hope she doesn't expect me to do that every night!!
Thanks again and I will keep you posted!
Marlene

Answer
Hello Marlene,
Yes, go ahead & order the digital probe or a temp gun.  You can order a digital probe from   www.reptilesupply.com

Or a temp gun from   www.reptileuv.com

Great that she did eat 3 mealies but at 3am??  LOL  Wow that was late.  I hope that she is feeling better soon.  :-))
The undertank heater would help I believe, decrease just a tad of humidity.  If you could get it down to 30% or 40% just in his humid hide & the rest of the tank, lower, that would be great.  

Keep me posted.

Tracie