Reptile & Amphibian Forums

We got a (albino?) leopard gecko a couple years ago and have her in a 29 gal tank. We feed her mealworms and crickets and she's grown very well. about a year ago, we got a 2nd leopard gecko and after a while, we put them together and seemed to have gotten along fine. in the last couple weeks, we've noticed the older one sleeping out from under the logs we have in the tank with her neck / head up against the glass. I didn't realize till yesterday - she's dramatically thinner than she was and smaller than the younger gecko, who has really beefed up...

we took the younger one out - not sure if it was bullying / starving the older one (they had been about the same size) or the older one was sick / didn't want to get the younger one sick also....

so the older one is in her cage by herself. hasn't eaten any mealworms at least since yesteray. still has her neck up (star gazing?).... at times she's not at the glass - she's holding her head up. eyes are clear, when we handle her she's not listless... pulse and respiration seems same as younger gecko..

any advice?

Hi, many times when a sick lizard holds it's head up towards the ceiling it can be a resp infection , and they do this because they are having breathing dificulties/in distress.

I would have her looked at. If it is a bacterial or resp infection she will need antibiotics anyway. I would not let too much time pass, they go down hill quickly.

I hope she will be okay , let us know how you make out.
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PHEve / Eve

Contact PHEve

I'm guessing here, but I would think it's being intimidated by the other even though you haven't seen it. Look close for ANY kind of cuts/scratches/bites on the star gazer. I had this happen once and didn't notice the little marks on it until almost too late. After being bullied it quit eating and drinking and I had to force her to drink and baby her for a while. Dehydration set in quick.

Best of luck.
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**Kenn**
The Uros at home:
http://www.arabianwildlife.com/current/dubh.html
http://www.tortoisetrust.org/articles/uromastyx.html
http://www.fortunecity.com/greenfield/runningbrook/729/id19.htm

Hi,
You don't mention if you have males or females. I would believe the first gecko is being bullied by the second gecko. Do you have pictures of the older leopard? Does it still have a fat tail? A thinning tail is a sure sign of stress. When I have a leopard that hesitates to eat, I give them a treat of wax worms. It seems to work every time... unless the gecko is ill of course. Try that first. Also, make sure you mist the enclosure slightly to allow the animal to drink.
Good luck and post a pic if you can.
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http://wkern.msspro.com/supremegecko.html