Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Okay, this relates to the previous post I made. I am not sure if this is normal, but I have attached 2 pictures of my gecko. After I noticed the regurgitated cricket, I took the gecko out for an examination. I noticed a very dark spot on the tummy that looks like something caught in the stomach. I am not sure if this is a normal organ, or if you can see food in the tummy. The regurg. cricket didn't seem to have a head, so I wondered if maybe that is stuck in there? I hope not. Also, around the spot it looks dark - perhaps reddish. Are these organs I can see through the skin, or something more serious like internal bleeding?

My second question is I have heard 2 diff. things concerning "dusting" the food. Online I have read many times that small geckos should have their food dusted with calcium 5x a week, and a vitamin supplement 1x a week. I am using a calcium supplement with vitamins (Ingredients: calcium carbonate, ascorbic acid, vitamin A acetate, etc.). The pet shop told me because the crickets are gut loaded with food specific for reptiles, that I should only dust with calcium once a week. So... Whom should I believe?

Okay, my html code didn't work, the picture is below.

Not sure if it helps..

He is thinner then he looked in that original pic. The black dot is an organ. I belive it is the gall bladder which can get enlarged when they are off food for a period of time.
If he doesn't start eating well or hs poops look abnormal you should get a fecal to a vet, probably sooner then later. Pet stores tend to carry reptiles with parasites, and he may need treatment.
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Sarah H

imageevent.com/sarah_h

What pet store did you get him at? I would complain or at least see if they will pay vet bills if needed. I think petco will within a week.
He is not a hatchling, definetly should not be so thin.
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Sarah H

imageevent.com/sarah_h

Thank you for the advice. Poor little thing. It seemed okay till after that first cricket, but what do I know? Is there anything I can do to make things better till I can get it into the vet?

As far as the pet shop goes, they don't guaruntee their reptiles, unfortunately. I am not sure what supplier they get theirs from as I picked him/her up the day they came into the shop. Her previous cage mates look healthy for the most part - except one very small one. They have grown a lot in the past 3 days, and mine hasn't. This is very depressing. I called the vet today and she suggested mealworms, but it is not touching them. It is currently loungingon some paper towels, looking very lethargic. I feel so awful because I can't do much. If anybody has any suggestions, please let me know.

Thank you.

Fortunately I live close to the Washington State University Veterinary Hospital. I took the little thing in and the doctor isn't too worried about parasites, but believes that (s)he's dehydrated, which pretty much stops all digestive function. She thinks the shipping process stressed it out too much and since it was so small and fragile, things went downhill from there. So I left it there and they are going to put it on fluids and force feed it if they have to. I'm not going to give up on the thing - I am really attached to it now. So hopefully it will pull through. I will keep posting updates on it because if it lives it will be my little miracle baby.

The empty cage makes me sad though.

I almost forgot - the weight was a bit over 2 grams. I don't know what the normal weight should have been for a few-week old gecko, but the vet seemed pretty surprised. Poor thing.

Yeah, off hand I don't know the proper weight, but the pics did show a very thin leo the second time around. You're doing everything right and everything you can for this little guy, which is more than what we've seen others do. We'll all be waiting to hear what's new with your new geckos, so let us know as soon as you hear something. Good luck!

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The vet just called me to give me an update on the little gecko. After some rehydration, it is moving around a lot more. The animal is still pretty sick and will have to stay hospitalized for a few more days. Its GI tract still seems to be stalled but hopefully it will be functioning again soon and they can offer food to it.

I will give another update the next time the vet calls me. Thanks for all the support you guys have given!

Thanks for the update! So far, this sounds promising. I really wish you luck and I can't wait to hear another update.

-Brittany

I'm glad to hear it! I hope it makes it! Good luck!