Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Ok.. I pick up this guy for free from a breeder at the hamburg reptile show in PA, last weekend...the guy had taken him in as a trade... and had written on the container "needs a few meals" I guess the kid that had him said that he just couldn't get to the pet store to get crickets often enough...

I felt bad for him, and didn't want him to go to a kid that wouldn't know that he needed help. And the breeder, i dont think he would have wasted his time with trying to save it.

I've had him for 3 days now, he's had crickets in his tank, but refuses to eat. he seems interested but too weak/tired to chase them... he wont eat them if i hold them for him, or pull off legs to make it easier to catch.... just wont eat. I know he can open his mouth, I've seen him stick his tongue out.

his right eye is dull, crusty and dry... he doesnt blink with that eye...seems like he cant see out of it.... and it always looks like he's squinting.

He also has white crust near his vent... its not keeping his vent shut or anything, its more on his tail... but I'm currently soaking him in some water to try to rehydrate him.

as you can see in the pics, his tail is dangerously thin.

How can i get him to eat? Puree crickets and a small syringe? Any ideas... please.... and quick!!

When my Leo's do not want to eat I use Herpcare: Electrolyte and Appetite Stimulant. It works a lot. Also get like a butter dish with a whole in the side and put some damp mose in there and put it in the hot side of your cage. Then your guy will have a hiding place that is humid. Hope that helps.

Vanilla Ensure!

Haha, sorry, I should just get some stock or something every time I say this. It has saved many a gecko and I wish I knew about it years ago. It is an adult vitamin drink with tons of protein and calcium. Get the vanilla flavor only, you can do the drop on the nose method or whatever you prefer. No jumpstart or anything else seems to work as well. After a few days you can tong offer some prey and see if he's interested. Might be too late already as we all know, but Ensure will be the best boost right now that is better balanced than blending up your own mixture, IMHO.

Oh, and if you are unfamiliar with the product, it is in shelf stable cans either in the vitamin or diet aisle of every discount and grocery store I've ever seen. Marketed towards older humans as a supplement drink. Good Luck.
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0.1 Albino Leo Gecko
0.1 Crested Gecko
1.0 Dear Boyfriend
Departed: Harvey and Spock

Vanilla ensure works! It saved my Nacho!!!

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This is courage.. to bear unflinching what heaven sends. -unknown

2.1 chocolate labs and bassett (Harley, Barker and Capone)
1.0 leopard gecko (Nacho)

Thank you. I went out and got some, and am feeding him as we speak. And hes eating it! YAY! Thanks for all the help everyone!!!

Hate to say this, but that gecko needs a fecal to figure out what's wrong with it and meds to cure it, if it can be saved.
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MY SITE

I actually got Ensure Plus for my gecko to fatten him up, but I was curious about the amount I should feed (nose drop) to him each day? Also if you knew how long one bottle of Ensure would last in the fridge after opening and closing it each day?

Oh, and Ensure was around the pharmacy isle in the store I stopped at. (Walmart ;D) Took me forever to find it, just giving a heads up for anyone else.