Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I am currently helping my little brother with his sick leopard gecko. He bought a baby albino a couple months ago, and everything was fine til about half a month ago. The leo just stopped eating, i have checked the temps, changed enclosures(cleaned and disinfected), quarantined, has hides (warm,cool,moist). Its on newspaper, and has been fine and healthy. It was also a beast before it stopped eating, very good food drive, has had a varied diet, crickets, mealies, wax worms, and pheonix worms. I am not new to herps, and have always been comfortable with most problems that arise. Do you think it could be hibernation/brumation, or a more serious health matter. Poor thing is loosing weight and I would like to see it eating again. Any ideas, tips, or advice would be greatly appreciated. P.S. I am also looking into getting a fecal test done, anyone know of a good place in the chicago area?

Thank you,

Well, sounds like you've done everything and more that we normally have to drag people to do, so at least a gold star for you there. Unfortunately, with the symptoms you describe, it is probably illness or parasites and a full trip would be best, but a fecal is a good start.

One question, has there been any sign of thrown up or food that looks under digested? That seems to be the almost assured diagnosis of parasites in my (own unfortunately as well) experience. Parasites back up the GI tract.

Just looked over your post, saw newspaper, we prefer papertowels, but, whatever, that rules out the other reason a gecko stops eating, impartation of the GI tract. Shoot. Back to parasites again.

If it is that young and visibly losing tail fat, it is probably parasites, either a bad store/breeder or bad food source. The best thing you can do is get it to a herp vet. Wish I could help you there, I know a great one in MN, but that's a long drive. I know there are Chicago people around, but a good place to start would be to call the local herp chapter or a good reptile store in the area and see who they recommend. Saves a ton of suffering as we learned also the hard way.

Oh, PS great idea with the varied diet, but go easy on the wax worms. Geckos can actually almost get addicted to them and they really aren't any good unless you are trying to quickly put weight on a gecko and even then I wouldn't recommend more than once a week. But let's get your gecko back healthy first.

Good luck, we are pulling for you guys!
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0.1 Albino Leo Gecko
0.1 Crested Gecko
1.0 Dear Boyfriend
Departed: Harvey and Spock