Hand feeding ?

[Icefire]

I got a couple of fat tail, maybe 7-8months
at first, the female wouldn't eat and the male was rushing on crickets
since a months or 2, the female eats like crazy all kind of food
and the male refuse all food, I try to make him open his mouths
no sucess, he did thin up so I'm asking

how do you make them, open their mouths? I tryed to force
wax, mealies and pinky on the side, he just wont open it!

[geckomom]

This is something I could use some help with, too, in trying to hand-feed my sick gecko. While holding her, I grasped a small cricket with tweezers, then used the tip of the tweezers to kind of "pry" her mouth open, as gently as I could.

Don't know if this is correct, tho - and I'm so afraid of hurting her or damaging her mouth, so count me in as someone who needs advice on opening a gecko's mouth when they want to keep it shut!

[drewlowe]

I use a few different methods on my leos... (some are easier to open then others)

One of my girls will let me rub on the side of her mouth then she'll open it. She so easy!!! don't you wish all of them were like that.

Here's the one i use the most... Hold the leo firmly but GENTLY in one hand. with the other hand

(food object is in) ( i prefer force feeding mealies cause they are so much easier to get in but if your leo is sick they may not be able to digest the chitlen in the mealie)

(continuing on) gently try to pry the prey into the side of the mouth. It's hard to explain how to do this... Easier to show in person. also if you think it's fustrating for you think how the leo feels.

Ice fire have you taken your leos to a vet??? There may be a parasite problem your dealing with. Also what are the temps in your cage like night/day temps and warm and cool side. How many hides, cage size??? Lots of questions but they may play a part on why thier not eating.

[Siretsap]

You can pull on the skin under the chin, don't pull too hard, but just enough, usually it will open.

[drewlowe]

siretsap thats a more delicate way to do it you have to be extremly carefull when doing that one!!!! I only use that one as a last resort(that's why i didn't metion it).

[Icefire]

Temperature are okay 32C Day (hot spot) 28-24
night drop at 24

Space is okay, 2hides, one humide

I'll try to take a stool if I got one soon

and about hand feeding... lol was giving wax worms to one, and
he missed (got the worms AND my tumbs) that hurts like hell lol
hope he wasn't hurt on the falling, it surprised me, and he cut me
1/4 inch deep (cutting is like a "/") surprising that a little pet like this can make you bleed that much ...

I'll try to hand feed the fat tail, and have stool checked asap

[drewlowe]

Hehe that's why i don't actually get in there and hand feed unless it's an absolute necessity. That's were tongs come into play when i want to feed them. Tongs save all your fingers i couldn't part with mine. Mine are getting used the tongs so as soon as they see them they know thier getting feed the lazy way.

[Neo]

i saw my the vet use like a small q-tip or something like that.. using the bar of it horizontally and she put the bar on the mouth and it just opened. i was fairly amused. she may have used some pressure.. i dunno