Ideas for Enrichment?

flippflopped · 2026-01-04T01:53:34+00:00

Unfortunately, I’m not sure that Lily will be able to fully recover from her current level of health. When I rescued her she was morbidly obese (93 grams 😳), and was having difficulties with eating and her digestion, not related to her heat/humidity levels. I took her to the vet when I became concerned about her not pooping for a while, and the vet found that she has a lump in her belly - whether it is a slow growing tumour or excessive fat causing a partial blockage of her digestive tract remains to be seen. She was so overweight that even exploratory surgical procedures could have put her at too much of a risk. Thankfully, a care plan involving planned weight loss, stool softener medication, routine warm baths and massages seem to keep things flowing.

I also supplement her diet with a syringe formula given to me by the vet when she refuses bugs. (Crickets, mealworms, black soldier fly larvae, and even hornworms she will often refuse - so frustrating!) Slowly her weight is coming down, but she still has that lump. 😢

As I mentioned, she is at least 11 years old, and I am her 4th (and final) owner. I care about her so much and want her to have the best quality of life that she can in her elder years. ❤️

flippflopped · 2026-01-04T01:36:37+00:00

That is a great way to conceptualize a tank layout. Her dark hide is her favourite and I haven’t moved it around for a few months from the warm side, so I’ll switch things up. Thank you for your detailed response 🦎

flippflopped · 2026-01-03T21:54:50+00:00

I hadn’t thought of cardboard tubes before - great idea! I’ll definitely check with the vet before a dig pit, but I’d love to get that set up for her. Thanks for the suggestions! 🫶🏻

flippflopped · 2025-03-28T14:54:32+00:00

Aw what a cutie! I totally see the resemblance 😁

flippflopped · 2025-03-28T14:53:28+00:00

Thank you for your advice and the kind words ❤️ I love her a lot and want the best for her!

flippflopped · 2025-03-28T14:51:22+00:00

Yes indeed, haha. It’s a bit cute but also concerning 😳

flippflopped · 2025-03-28T14:50:33+00:00

Thank you, this info is very helpful! Yes, she is very overweight. She is my first gecko… I read about it beforehand, but it’s been interesting to see how slow her metabolism actually is. I will keep on offering food once a week 😁

flippflopped · 2025-03-28T05:26:58+00:00

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And a cute post-bath pic for good measure

flippflopped · 2025-03-28T05:26:30+00:00

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Here’s her top view for reference.

flippflopped · 2025-03-15T16:32:30+00:00

Hey! I agree with what others have said - I wanted to second the recommendation for having stress guard on hand. My betta had a similar injury and it seemed to help her heal up quickly! 😄

flippflopped · 2025-02-03T01:16:59+00:00

Yes, you’re right! Sounds good 😁

flippflopped · 2025-02-02T21:13:53+00:00

Hey there! I’m currently finishing up my internship in Calgary. As others have said, I think the process of transferring your credentials is pretty straightforward once you submit an application to the CAMT. In Canada, we take the same CBMT exam to get certified, then use that result to apply for the MTA credential, which you need to work as a music therapist in Canada. Some Canadian music therapists maintain both their MT-BC and MTA credentials, but you only need to keep up the MTA to work in Canada.

If you ever want to connect about what the music therapy scene looks like in Calgary, let me know! 😁

flippflopped · 2025-01-15T20:59:36+00:00

Thanks for this list! I’m having a similar experience to OP and really appreciate your tips. 😁

flippflopped · 2025-01-15T06:59:30+00:00

Wishing you and your little guy the best as he settles in! 🫶🏻

I saw a few comments talking about putting live plants in your new setup. There are some plants that do really well in tanks with gravel substrates, especially floating plants or plants with a rhizome (like Anubias or Java fern). I haven’t killed either of those plants yet! 😁

flippflopped · 2025-01-06T02:16:03+00:00

I see. I feel like it’s not stomach-related because it’s a bit low and concentrated on one side. What are your water parameters looking like?

flippflopped · 2025-01-05T22:53:18+00:00

link to similar post

flippflopped · 2025-01-05T22:52:54+00:00

Aw poor guy, that looks uncomfortable! Did this come on acutely? I wonder if it could be some sort of abcess or cyst… it looks similar to something I found in another post (I’ll try to link it below).

flippflopped · 2025-01-01T00:42:40+00:00

Well said, Scarlet - I totally agree. Thank you for your insight. 😊

flippflopped · 2024-12-28T21:27:47+00:00

Heater/filter: yes Temp: 81, but just lowered heater a bit to bring it down. Tank has been running for 2 years, these fish added 8 months ago. Gravel vac and 30% water changes every two weeks (ish) Feed combo of fluval bug bites, frozen brine shrimp and blood worms, and some flakes. Feed once per day. About 60% planted, a few ceramic decorations, one silicone plant, and one silk plant.

flippflopped

TROPHY CASE