Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Quick background: 10yr old wanted a lizard for a pet. Researched till we were unable to read our eyes were so strained and decided on these precious creatures, leopard geckos. We are determined to find the perfect one and being in a small town that is not easy. We happen across an individual w/two for sale 2hrs from our home. They were perfect, pictures of health. We purchase and make the 2hr drive home w/our little buddies. One throws up, called the guy and no probs that happens sometimes to stressed out leos. Ok stop worrying over that. Get them home and due to both being males we had 2 aquariums set up. Placed them in their new little homes and they go ballistic. I mean pacing back and forth and just frantically watching each other. Seller had them together since they were 4months old w/out any problems. Another call to the seller and he tells me to try putting them back together. I put them in one aquarium and instant calm. They lay on top of each other and go to sleep. (& people say reptiles don't have feelings HA!)
So now both little guys are in the same 10gal (we plan to set up a 20 this weekend since they decided to be difficult) w/everything perfect. Last night I go to feed. One won't come out at all. He just lays there asleep. The other would only come out when I put my hand in. So right now he's hand feeding if that isn't the strangest. Just sits on my arm and when i drop a cricket or mealworm into my hand he takes it. Won't eat any other way. I was scared to leave crickets in for the other little guy for fear they would eat on them.
How long should I give the other one to settle in and eat? Should I begin to worry? Should I really separate them and let them get over it?
Sorry for the long post. I'm babbling because I'm scared. Not sure who's more attached me or my son. Leopard geckos should come w/a warning: Caution - Easily addictive!
Thanks for reading & any advice anyone can offer.

First off, whoever told you a gecko throwing up is normal was very wrong. I'm sorry to be the one to tell you this, but at least one, if not both of your geckos are probably very sick if he did that.

These are not animals that throw up from stress. In fact, the only time I have ever seen a gecko throw up was because it was too sick to digest its food and his system was backed up. After a month of hand feeding formula and we had to have it put to sleep. Stress can show an infection in an otherwise healthy looking animal. Think of it as a time bomb. One minute it looks fine, but since it's belly is full of parasites, one little stress (like moving) sets off a domino effect. If one has a full blown infection, the other is at high risk.

Take them back to where you got them or find a herp vet just to be completely sure. (I could be wrong, and I am hoping I am wrong.) You want both of them tested for parasites ASAP. Good luck, I'm hoping for the best.
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0.1 Albino Leo Gecko
0.1 Crested Gecko
1.0 Dear Boyfriend
Departed: Harvey and Spock

Good advice on taking the kids to the vet. It's better to be safe than sorry.
I do have to disagree on one thing though. I travel and vend reptile shows taking with me 50 plus geckos at any one time and there is always one or two who will get car sick. I don't know if it's stress,drop in temperature, motion sickness, or a combination of the three.
As a breeder, I regularly take fecil samples to the vet to keep an eye out for parasites and bacterial infections and take animals in for check-ups also, so I know the animals are healthy.
I've even talked with other breeders and they have had them get car sick too.
I also look at it this way. People and other animals get car sick, why can't reptiles.
I chimed in on this because I didn't want the original messager to worry too much, but still take them to the vet to be safe and to get an idea on there present state of health.

Sorry to post again, I forgot a few things I wanted to address. I find moving geckos from one home to another they tend to be little nervios for about a few days to a week. Once they get adjusted to there new surroundings, they should start eating and coming around. I would't panic too much about the one who hides all the time. My Leos spend a majority of there time in a hide out somewhere in the cage.
I would be cautious about housing two males together. Even though I have read that males raised together without the introduction of a female can get along and I have seen a couple of 1 yr old males living quite happly together. Personally, I seperate the males out asap. I'd recomend keeping an eye on that and separate them at the first sign of trouble.
If your gunshy about leaving crickets in the cage try this out. I know it sounds gruesome and a little teadious, but it works. Pull the hind legs off the crickets and place the bugs in a dish that the geckos can get in and out of, but the crickets stay in. I find a sauser type dish about 4 to 5 inches around and an inch or two deep works the best.
Good luck with these two. I wish you the best.

Do you have caluim dishes as well. Also if they are both males they should not be housed together for dominance reasons. Also i would keep them seperate just for stress reasons. Also i agree it's not normal for a leo to throw up, i don't think they get car sick i do believe that has to do with the temp. drop and if just ate they cannot digest there food properly. What is your substrate? How much do you feed the leos? Are they thin? What is all your husbandry? Temps?? Thanks A little info may help me a bit help you!

Sorry I haven't updated everyone before now. First thank you all for your info and help. Stripes & Spots, as they have been named by a 10year old, are doing well. They had their first vet visit and are happy, healthy little geckos. No parasites or infections thank goodness. Vet also agreed about they just needed time to settle in. They are now eating quite well. I still have to hand feed Stripes, he's just a big ol' baby though. You put your and in the tank and he immediately thinks he should be picked up and have his back rubbed. Spots is now eating but is still spastic to handling but getting better. I also switched to smaller crickets and that seemed to help too.
I have seperated them and they are doing well in that aspect. They are now in their own seperate 10gal tanks w/the exact sand they were on in their old home w/their warm end measuring 86.2 and the cool end measuring 71.4.
So all seems well now at our one week mark. I will try to post pics of our little guys when I get a chance too.
Once again thank you for all the input and information. I am still reading and researching w/my son. I am determined to make sure we are well informed!