Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi,

I purchased two baby Leopard Geckos a week ago today from the same pet store, but one still hasn't eaten anything since he's been in my care. I am quite worried about her because she seems to be very thin throughout the body and the tail. When I first got her, she was much thicker. The other gecko is eating normally.

I took the gecko I'm worried about to a local family-owned pet store, and the owner said it sounded like a parasite. He proceeded to give my gecko a shot of Panacur, which is used for parasite treatment/deworming. He said if the gecko ended up not having a parasite, it would not harm her.

I'm hoping this will help her. I've tried crickets and mealworms, both left in the cage and hand-feeding. Do I need to force feed at some point? When is this point recommended?

The temperatures and husbandry is all spot on. I've been checking it very frequently. Both geckos are housed together.

Any help would be appreciated! Thank you for your time!

Hi.

Sounds like a step in the right direction -- Maybe give time for panicure to work. Then The gecko may need to be stimulated before eating. So 3 things I would consider:

1. In a separate plastic shoe container with holes, so crickets don't get out -- put gecko and cricket alone. Maybe at the longest 30 minutes, I don't want the crickets to nibble on the toes. Crickets seem to stimulate well. But at a reptile show, I've heard that not all geckos eat crickets. You could also use the plastic shoe container as a carry for animal to vet.

2. you may have a picky eater. have you ever tried wax worms or giant mealworms ( if leo is big enough to eat giant mealworms)? I just ordered for the first time phoenix worms and butter worms online. Those might do the trick.

3. Lastly, just wait, since the gecko might be going through a shed cycle. It's been a while since mine were younger -- I think it's 1 1/2 to 2 to 2 1/2 weeks between a shed. Feeding may cause energy to be spent on digestion when the body just wants to shed -- that could be the reason. After these tries, i would seek attention from a vet.

Thank you so much for your input. I will definitely try putting her in with crickets alone. I'm actually going to make a new home just for her.

I'll keep an eye out for a shed..I don't know when her last one was since I just got her. Hopefully this is all just stress from a new environment and she will get better soon.

By the way, do you know how much a vet visit would approximately be ?

Thanks again.

And no, I've never tried wax or giantworms. I read that Leos really like wax worms though, so I will get her some tomorrow and give it a try. I know they're high in fat so should I only feed her one?

We lost our first gecko when he didn't return to eating after receiving two doses of parasite treatment. We hand fed him a formula from the vet, but he just couldn't pull through and we had to do the right thing at the end after a month of fighting. Vet bills vary widely, around here we paid $100 for the vet who didn't know anything and $60 for the place that tried so hard to save our little guy. (Miss you Harv.)

What I wish I had known then that I know now is trying Ensure Vanilla flavor only. It is a milk based vitamin supplement targeted at older adult humans. Usually found in either the vitamin or diet drink aisle in shelf stable cans. You can find it at almost any drug/discount/grocery store. Drop a little on his nose to get him to lick it off and it will stimulate his appetite and also provide a lot of protein and calcium.

Once again, I offer "Nacho", the board gecko who had a ton of success with Ensure and it eating normally, putting on weight, and makes me feel like my posts make a difference since s/he wasn't doing well and Ensure jump started his body. We've had a few update posts and that tail is growing!

Good luck, we'll be pulling for you and the geckos. Also realize the other gecko may also have the parasites, but be stronger and not show symptoms. This is what happened in our case, Harv didn't show symptoms for 9 months.
-----
0.1 Albino Leo Gecko
0.1 Crested Gecko
1.0 Dear Boyfriend
Departed: Harvey and Spock

I appreciate your help! I bought Ensure but now Ando (the sick one) is shedding..Can I still give it to him?? Also, I've heard that shedding makes them lose their appetites. Do you know truth in that? I noticed this morning he was kind of dull-colored and ashy and when I fed him tonight, his leg was shedding.

Someone also suggested I try turkey baby food and crushed mealworms and try hand feeding. He liked to lick the baby food off my finger At least it's something. I didn't want to bother him with Ensure while he's shedding, so I was going to try tomorrow morning. Any ideas how to make the shedding process go smoother for him, living in a humid state (Florida)?

I'm sorry for your lost If anything, I'm glad you are able to share your experience and advice..Thank you for your help.

Well, as long as he has a humid hide and a water bowl, the shedding process should run its course, especially since you should already have relatively high humidity in FL. (hey, I was just there 1/13-1/20, it was cold man, but warmer than MN.) In a completely healthy gecko, usually it only lasts minutes, but give the guy a few days before worrying about any stuck shed. (Do not, as one new poster here suggested, mist the gecko directly or anything silly like that. If he has stuck shed later this week, we'll help you through that too.)

Now, yes, most health geckos will eat less or not at all immediately after a shed simply because their stomach is full of shed. With your gecko, it won't harm to try the Ensure, if only to help him keep his strength up for the duration of the shed process. (For instance, if he stops for a while and picks up trying to shed tomorrow, this is seen is sick geckos from time to time.)

I'm not a huge fan of the babyfood, just because you are talking about a cooked protein vs raw alive prey items. Mealworms are harder to digest than crickets (different exoskeleton makeup), so I would be careful there, most recovery "meals" usually suggest blended dried crickets. (They can be found at pet stores, I would never feed the dried crickets, save for this instance... don't know why they sell them and who feeds them to what... anyway...) Milk seems to be acceptable to every animal, at least, it sure is the first thing vets offer any ailing reptile or mammal in my experience. You'll be able to tell if you are really bothering him, they can get grumpy and not cooperate. I see it as a good sign that he is licking food. Make sure you are only bothering him during his normal night awake cycle as well; I'm sure you are, but we've had some people drag their leos out of bed.

As someone else suggested, waxworms are basically bon-bons for geckos. You should only feed as very rare treats as they are VERY high in fat. On the other hand, up to three waxworms a week, say for two weeks, may help this little guy. Very rarely do leos turn down waxworms from tongs... he might be a little confused as to what that squirming thing is, but once they've tasted it they will be hooked. One warning, shed and waxworms will change the appearance of his "deposits" making them lighter in color. Any other changes should be watched.

I would really suggest that you get both geckos tested for parasites at a herp vet. I, personally, think this is the only way you can be sure about their health. Even if you get this little guy up to speed, he may still carry parasites that survived the initial treatment.

Anyway, we are here to help, no thanks needed. Take care of yourself and those geckos and good luck to all.
-----
0.1 Albino Leo Gecko
0.1 Crested Gecko
1.0 Dear Boyfriend
Departed: Harvey and Spock

Well, he finished shedding yesterday He got most of it off but there was a little left on his head so I gently (VERY gently) helped him get it off. He didn't seem to complain too much. I left the shed in his cage, and when I checked this morning, it was gone. So, I'm assuming that was his midnight snack

Last night, I also decided to try the Ensure, which I think he took to pretty well. I'd just kept putting it on his nose until he didn't want it anymore. Poor thing is going to have a mix in his deposits..Ensure, turkey baby food, shed, and hopefully waxworms and dried crickets soon..if he will eat them. I haven't been able to even get a sample of his deposits, since he was housed with the other gecko until recently (didn't know what belonged to who) and he hasn't went to the bathroom in his own home yet.

What do you suggest I do to get him to eat the dried crickets? Maybe hand feeding? I'm worried he won't take to it. And as for waking him up, I waited until around 10pm to do this He's not a morning gecko!

I have found two recommended herp vets here in Orlando, but what should I ask/tell them since I haven't gotten a fecal sample from him? I heard herp vets were VERY expensive, and as a college student, I was trying to solve the problem without the vet. However, $100 isn't bad, so I'll be taking him (I know having a pet means having to be able to take them to the vet, but I was just hoping it wasn't several hundred dollars like I've heard..ouch). Could you tell me what exactly I should ask for to check with them how much they charge?

Thanks again for your help; Ando (from NBC's Heroes) appreciates it also!

No, I wouldn't try the dried crickets, only meant if you were going to try that blender mix that I would use crickets instead of mealworms. You can probably try tong feeding just about anything at this point, sounds like he is really getting his strength back.

Don't worry about having a fecal to take with, just bring your gecko(s) and they will take what amounts to a micro small Q-Tip and swab just instead his butt and put it on a slide. This is the way I have had it done in the past.

As for a vet, it is funny, we found a "real" herp specialist that was cheaper than the one that claimed to be a specialist, but couldn't even hold the gecko properly. Just go in and explain what has happened and you are still worried about parasites, especially to check the other gecko. Mention the dose of medicine, especially if you know how much was given - write that down. Be prepared to explain your setup and temperatures and all of the food you've been try to feed him this last week. Also mention the day of his last shed. (It was a good sign he finished himself.)

I hope I answered everything. Good luck, sounds like he's bouncing back and that is a very good sign.
-----
0.1 Albino Leo Gecko
0.1 Crested Gecko
1.0 Dear Boyfriend
Departed: Harvey and Spock

Thank you so much for your help, Sleepygecko; I appreciate it.

To update you, I was able to feed Ando 3 waxworms and a mealworm (I know waxworms are fattening but I just wanted him to eat something). Hopefully, he will continue to get better.

Thanks again for your help and advice.