A little worried about one of my cresties

[Kristy]

Hi everyone, My little crestie (post it) isn't eating the MRP. He won't eat the CGD either. He isn't as plump as I would like him to be. He eats crickets dusted with the Leopard Gecko Dust once a week. I continue to offer the MRP (peach, I know he loves peaches) but he won't have anything to do with it. My other crestie however chows down on it. I checked Post its calcium sacs tonight (got bit too) and there aren't any like my other crestie who is within a few weeks the same age. So knowing that Post it loves fresh fruit I mashed up some banana and put in some plain calcium. Should I be really worried about him? Or can I order the base of the MRP and use real fruit since its always in the house anyway and just freeze a weeks supply at a time? Or Will that not be any good for him? Thanks for your help.
Kristy

[baugh]

try putting a little bit in with his peaches. just a pinch and mix it real go. i dont know if that will work or not cause i have not come across that problem myself.

[XtremeGecko]

If "post it" is a male, I dont think he will have the calcium sacks in his mouth. I could be wrong, but threw everything I have read I believe that is a female thing in cresteds. Again don't take my word on this and hopfully someone will clear this up, for you and me both.

I would do like Baugh has mentioned above and try mixing a bit in with the fruit. However make sure they are not eating it. Sometimes it is really hard to tell. A crested wont starve themselves either (or if they do it is a rare occasion), so if you hold out he will eventually give in.

You might also try mixing the MRP 1 part MRP 1and1/2 parts Water and 1/2 part fruit juice and see if you get better results doing it this way.

If you are scared of lack of calcium, Nature Zone make a calcium dust that you mix with water, spread evenly across the bottom of a water dish let is set for 24-48 hours then fill with water. By doing this it gives your geckos a constant release of a low amount of calcium. Each serving of this last from 2-3 months before you have to do it agian (or not do it agian if your comfortable with the calcium needs of them at this time).

ummm, i dont know im trying to think of other ways to help you out with this but im drawing a blank right now, if i think of something else i will deffinatly repost to try and help you along with this problem and hope you get it resolved.

[Kristy]

Thanks, I heard that too about the calcium sacs being a female thing but then I heard that its also male. Not sure.

I will try what you guys suggested. I wil keep you updated also. He isn't showing any signs of MBD so I am not too worried. I may also call my vet and have fecal done too. Never hurts.

I have heard of that Nature Zone stuff and had a friend that treated mbd in leos with it. I will check it out.

Thanks again you guys.

[droogievesch]

If you stop offering the crickets and fruit sources (s)he will switch over just fine. Sometimes it can take a while, but they do make the switch. If your cresties are being housed together I would separate them as well so there isn't any bullying of the food.

[Chicubswally]

A couple of things to try....
1. droogievesh hit the nail on the head on seperating the two. At this point, you don't know whether one is a little more aggressive than the other at feeding time. Even if you don't see this, one could be bullying the other. Seperate and monitor. You can better tell if it is eating then by watching the poop left behind.
2. Dust your cricket with the diet. The crestie will begin acquiring the taste. Gradually wean them more and more off the crickets.
3. Dab some of the diet on their nose at feeding time. Post it will 'get it' after a few of these TLC feedings.
Good luck and keep us posted.

[Dr Alan]

Originally Posted by XtremeGecko

If "post it" is a male, I dont think he will have the calcium sacks in his mouth.

Originally Posted by Kristy

Thanks, I heard that too about the calcium sacs being a female thing but then I heard that its also male. Not sure.

Actually the endolymphatic sacs (calcium sacs) are present in both sexes. They are kind of a modified and specialized equivalent of our tonsils.

[Kristy]

Originally Posted by Dr Alan

Actually the endolymphatic sacs (calcium sacs) are present in both sexes. They are kind of a modified and specialized equivalent of our tonsils.

Thanks Dr. Alan for Clearing that up.

My cresties are both in seperate cages, I got them at different times, Post it from breeder. And rescued the other one, from petco. So I had to quarantine them anyway. So they both have their homes.

Also, last night was the first time I have offered any real fruit for a long time, niether one of them ate it. So I took it out this morning.
I will try dusting Post its crickets with the diet, and dabbing it on his nose. If I can catch him lol. Those babies are so quick. Thanks for all the suggestions. I will keep you all updated.
Kristy

[XtremeGecko]

thanks for correcting me alan. i wasnt sure but i thought i had read it some where that males didnt have them, is it possible that the females are just more pronounced maybe?

[Dr Alan]

Originally Posted by XtremeGecko

thanks for correcting me alan. i wasnt sure but i thought i had read it some where that males didnt have them, is it possible that the females are just more pronounced maybe?

Maybe, but I suspect that females' sacs just get checked on more often because they are the ones burning through calcium reserves during egg shell production.