Leopard Gecko not eating almost 2 months!

Question
QUESTION: I have a Leopard gecko female for about 4-5 years now and has been perfectly healthy and her appetite is fine up until now. She has not eaten in at least 6 weeks if not more. She willnot touch the mealworms, crickets, waxworms, babyfood, NOTHING. I give her dusted worms with calcium, gutloaded of course, NOTHING. She just one day stopped eating! She had a 3 egg litter about 3 years ago, none since then, and even then I don't remember her apetite being so poor. I have her in a 50 gallon tank with proper lighting, and carpet flooring, 2 hideaway boxes, one on each end. I don't understand what is wrong with her, she looks fine, fresh stool yesterday, her tail is nice and fat. (she's a fat tailed leopard)- PLEASE help!! Thank you

ANSWER: Hi Kristen, it sounds thought she may be egg bound. If she has laid eggs before she should be laying eggs every season. The egg laying season is now in process being spring and such they will start to develop eggs again. Check to see if you can see or feel them. If so provide her with a lay area and take her to the vet she may be so far along that a vet will be needed. Try hand feeding. Hand feeding the baby food just putting it on her lips she should try to lick it off and therefore eat it.

Good luck
Yexalen

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QUESTION: Wow that's weird b/c I havent seen any eggs since that 1st year I had her.. Im worried she may be in trouble then? I will try to hand feed her, I cannot feel any eggs but I'm not sure WHAT im supposed to be feeling? Do I just call any vet? Thanks for your help=  she has a hide rock that she goes under all day long and im thinking that's ok for her to lay? thankss o much for your help again- im a wreck over this

ANSWER: Hello, usually they will lay eggs every season even without mating. However sometimes if they are infertile the female kind of retains them and reabsorbs it. It is difficult to explain but all in all this is what sounds like the problem

It may also be other things as well. I am not trained with medical problems so can not be sure.

A qualified reptile vet is needed to find one near you visit this list:

http://www.herpvetconnection.com

If her hide rock has deep damp substrate in it so she can dig and burry eggs then that will work fine.

I am not sure what exactly to feel for as my female geckos are too young to even think about laying eggs. But obviously an oval or round shape lumps in her lower stomach type of area. If they are there you should be able to see and or feel them.

Good luck
yexalen

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QUESTION: Thank you Yexalen. I wanted to update you: I brought her to a vet today b/c I was so nervous. He thinks she looks absolutly wonderful, nice and plump and her tail is FAT- no eggs in her, no obstructions. What he thinks is happening is that she got herself ready for "hibernation season" and to fix this I should give her 13 hrs of nightlighting and 11 hrs of day lighting for the next few months to trick her into thinking its fall again. He seems to think she'll com earound if I do that. I got some "REPTAID" powder food to mix up and put on her nose to spark her appetite. Thanks so much for your help if it wasnt for you I might have not taken her in and she might have been suffering. Thanks.

Answer
I am glad to hear some good news. You must not be in the US then? Sorry if I assumed so. Most my questions come from the United States and the weather here is nowhere near time for "Hibernation" But if it is becoming cold in your area then that is most likely the answer. Reptile Hibernation is called Brumation and is actually not like hibernation at all. Where in hibernation the animals sleep all the cold months, reptiles will limit their eating and become very tired only to wake for warmth and occasionally eat.

Good to hear she is healthy

-Yexalen

:)