Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Okay here is the deal I work at a large chain petstore in the pet salon as a dog groomer. I have a leopard gecko I recieved from a woman who's son didnt want it anymore (7 year female). I have absolutely loved keeping this lovely girl who takes food from my hands and visits the side of the tank to look at me when I go by her tank.

My problem:

A group of 7 leopard geckos came in from the "supplyer" not completely healthy and have gone down hill from there. 1 of them was taken to the vet. They are currently being force fed as far as I know. I asked about them today and was told that the department manager had decided they were too far gone and is taking them to the vet on Saturday to be euthanized - So I mentioned to the manager in the store at the time (the department manager was off today)that I would be willing to take them and see if I cant get them (or at least a few of them) to live.
The Manager on tonight said she would talk to the department manager and let me know. What I want to know basically is other than whatever the vet has given the store for these babies, what additional things should I be doing to help these babies along? What is the best kind of feeding formula is best? Finally should I keep them all in different tanks or should I keep them together?

No worries about me getting my girl sick, I practice strict quarenteen rules whenever any new animal comes into my house and these babies will be kept as far away from my girl as possible, with wash and disinfect after leaving the sick ones and going into any part of the house with other animals.

Wow, what a nice thing you are offering to do! I sure hope they make it, and that it doesn't cost you a bundle along the way.
Many of your questions would really be based on whatever the vet discovers. If they have already been together, and they all have the same problem (parasites, MDB, etc.) then you probably only need to seperate them into groups a bit to reduce stress. I am not knowledgeable enough to be of any great help here, but I have heard that Jumpstart ($7.89 on the Petsmart website)is a valuable tool to help. Hopefully others will chime in and lend a hand. I really wish you luck! You'll need it to take care of that many sick geckos!

Thanks for the advice, I was looking at jumpstart and Herp aid I'm sure there must be more on the market. Also going to pick up an electorlite supplement from the drugstore.

The last time I took care of a sick herp was my chameleon... he didnt take the stress from the move well and went off his food. He became extremely ill and the vet pretty much said there was no chance. I kept him alive 6 months force feeding him and he went through periods of improvement and then went down hill again. I knew I was fighting a loosing battle and the percent of chameleons who came around after being ill was very small, but I wouldnt give up. I figure if I can even get one of the 7 to survive it will be worth it and if any of them do survive and after they have a clean bill of health I may consider getting the 30 gal long tank I have redone and my girl can have some company, if not I'll get a second 20 gal long and keep the survivors (the females anyway) in it.

well babies are hard...but you do definatly, if possible want to keep them seperated. you can force feed them chicken baby food, mix calci and vitamin powder into it. use a suringe. you can also get some pedialyte, sorry not the best speller...
you can also get this appettite stimulator called jump start. it is for reptiles, if your store dosnt have it try a reptile store or go online and get it @ www.reptilesupply.com. i dont fallow the directions though because it is made for larger reptiles. i mix it about 3 parts jumpstart and 1 part water. if the babies are more babieish give them maybe a teaspoon full of it, you have to use a suringe also. if they are more towards adults give them a tablespoon full. do this every other day and hopefully it will help. it is basically a callorie suppliment that will give them vitamins, and a supply of fat for energy. i hope someone else gives you advice too, and i hope this helps! the jump start has worked for me on a lot of geckos but not all. i hope they let you give them a chance!! oh ya and you have to just put drops on their nose to wait for them to lick it off, sometimes it takes forever.

I will be picking up the elecrolite supplement (pedialite) from the drustore as soon as I get the go ahead....
I sure am glad I have so many 3 and 5 gal tanks in the house I'll need them. I kinda thought it would be good to keep them all seperated to monitor their health better, but I wasnt sure if they would feel more secure kept in the group. They are at an age where they are just starting to change from stripes to spots - some more spotted than others. Getting them to lick it off will probably be a lot less stressful than trying to force it in their mouths (wich is what I had to do with my chameleon)I had thought I'd have to go through that process with each of them and was dreading it - I dont mind waiting for an hour, as long as I dont have to force it on them.