My 'male' leopard gecko just laid an egg :o

[addmott]

Our leopard spotted gecko who we have always thought was a male has recently laid an egg (she has never mated). She is around ten years old and recently we have noticed her tail has shrunk in size and she hasn't been eating. This evening she laid the egg much to our suprise!

Should I be worried or is the change in size of her tail and lack of appetite related to the egg laying?

 

[acpart]

If she starts to eat again and gains weight it will be a good sign. I've had some breeding females, laying multiple clutches, that looked thin and not in very good shape at the end of the breeding season. I ended up retiring them from breeding and in many cases they eventually looked better. So if the change in appearance was due to the stress of laying eggs (she may not be done; she may lay in another 2 weeks), hopefully she will start eating again and bounce back. If not, you may need to take her to a reptile vet.

Aliza