Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello, a friend of mine and I just rescued 2 six inch long beautiful leopard gecko babies from a kid who wasnt feeding them. They are dreadfully skinny, and one isnt looking like it might make it. We are going to seek some medical care from the local vet, but in the meantime we would like to know if there is anything specific besides crickets, mealworms, superworms, wax worms, or organic baby food that we can give them to help these little guys start to flourish. We are really willing to try anything to help save these beautiful little babies. Please help! If you have any suggestions, or anything that we can do to help these guys it would be greatly appreciated. We have owned green anoles and house geckos in the past, but never have we owned leopard geckos. We couldnt stand to see these little creatures mistreated. Thank you so much for your time and thank you.

Jessica and Alex

Are they eating insects on their own? If they are - that GREAT news...all of my rescues in the past that have taken insects have survived...the ones that refuse food and need to be force fed are much more challenging.

If they are eating insects, offer a variety of gutloaded mealworms, crickets, roaches and silkworms (silkworms are a great healthy way to add bulk)

If they are not eating insects...you can make a slurry for them to eat...I have the exact recipe at home so tonight i will post it for you - but it contains pedialyte, ensure, baby food, calcium, insects and a couple other things...blended together. You can dribble this formula onto their lips - often they will lick it up.

Other things...make sure you separate them to decrease stress - set them up in a hospital tank with paper towels, three hides, a nice warm spot of 88-92 degrees...having the proper husbandry will help to decrease stress.

Warm water soaks can help reverse dehydration as well.
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1.1 Bearded Dragons
2.2 Leopard Geckos
1.0 Uromastyx (Mali)
1.1 Corn snakes
0.1 Mexican Black Kingsnake
1.0 Bairds Ratsnake
1.0 Rosy Boa
1.1 Green Anoles
1.1 House Geckos
0.0.2 Flying Geckos
0.0.1 Red Eye Tree Frog

Here is the slurry recipe:

"In a blender, combine:
1 small can Hill's A/D pet food (available at most vets)
1/4-1/3 cup Ensure (not chocolate)
1 jar baby food squash
1/4-1/3 cup Pedialite
2 tablets or contents of 2 capsules milk thistle (herbal supplement, liver purifier, found at most drug stores.)
1/2 tsp. each calcium powder and herp vitamin powder
1 large handful of mealworms, added slowly while mixture is blending

Puree all ingredients until completely smooth, and pour into ice cube tray(s) and freeze. Store cubes in zip-lock bag in the freezer until ready to use, then thaw out 1 cube at a time and store in fridge for 2-3 days. I use the empty baby food jar for this purpose, washing it thoroughly after each batch.

Using this mixture, draw a full dropper (eye dropper type) and place a drop on the gecko's nose. It will lick it off, and as it does, slowly squeeze out a little at a time. Most geckos love this food, and will lap it up."
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1.1 Bearded Dragons
2.2 Leopard Geckos
1.0 Uromastyx (Mali)
1.1 Corn snakes
0.1 Mexican Black Kingsnake
1.0 Bairds Ratsnake
1.0 Rosy Boa
1.1 Green Anoles
1.1 House Geckos
0.0.2 Flying Geckos
0.0.1 Red Eye Tree Frog

One of the two is "healthier" than the other so to speak. It has eaten mealworms, superworms, and wax worms for us at this point. The other has only eaten about 1 mealworm in the past 3 days. I am worried about this second one, and I went out and purchased some organic turkey baby food to place on its nose. Someone from my fathers work suggested a reptile emergency kit, I guess its a mixture you use that rehydrates and provides essential nutrients and vitamins to sick, or malnutrion lizards. I'm not so much worried about water for the one that isnt eating because it has been soaking in a warm bath consistently for the past couple of days. I am worried that something may have happened to its stomach or its ability to be able to eat much like a human. My vet wont be in until Monday, and I have to wait to try to find a vet either specializing in, or one who knows about herps. Thank you so much for the mixture that you put the recipe up for, and I will try that as well until Monday to see if it makes a difference. I am open to any suggestions. I really dislike how angry I am at this person for doing this to these animals. I havent ever seen such neglect as what they were made to go through. Luckily I have been able to channel that anger into something constructive in trying to make sure these special little guys get better.

Thank you again loads from the both of us.

Jessica and Alex

Sounds like you are doing well...good luck with the little guys and keep us posted. Remember, correct temps and good nutrition are extremely important right now

I hope they pull through....its so heartbreaking to watch these little guys suffer
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1.1 Bearded Dragons
2.2 Leopard Geckos
1.0 Uromastyx (Mali)
1.1 Corn snakes
0.1 Mexican Black Kingsnake
1.0 Bairds Ratsnake
1.0 Rosy Boa
1.1 Green Anoles
1.1 House Geckos
0.0.2 Flying Geckos
0.0.1 Red Eye Tree Frog

I havent read the other posts thoroughly and this may have already been suggested. i would go get some vanilla flavor ensure and an eye dropper or syringe to drop drops on this geckos nose thats refusing food. the vanilla ensure is perfect because since it is made for old people it already has calcium and protien and all the good stuff for a a situation like this. drop one drop at a time until it licks it off. sometimes when they are really far gone they wont lick it off on their own. i will actually put it on one of their nose holes, it kinda wakes them up a little cause they know they need to get it off so the result is them licking it off. anyways i would just do that morning and night with the least amount of stress possible between intervals and keep it warm. like around 87-91 degrees. this will get the digestive system stimulated. however if something is wrong inside besides very bad neglect that might be bad, but i would say its your best chance. this is what i have done every single time i have ever had a problem. it almost always works if the kidneys havent shut down yet and they are in a state of starving. good luck