Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Ok well I have had him for 7 months now and he is like 8 months old. He is eating good I mean I feed him crickets all the time and he gets a pinkey once a week. His belly is fat but his tail is very very skinny. I don't know what to do any more I am trying to get it fat like his buds that are in the tank. I watch him eat so I know he eats. I have pics of him and his tail. Can some one help.....

if pic does not work e-mail me and I will e-mail the pic to you for you to see.

That leo looks very sick. The other leos you have in there may be eating all of the food. So really you might think it's eating, but it really isnt. I would take that gecko to the vet asap. Also, if it is sick, then all the other leos with it are also sick with the same thing by now. Really you should've noticed how sickly it was looking long before it came into that condition. Makes it look like you neglected it, because something like that doesnt happen over night...
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Josh
My Email

That gecko is basically on death row! You need to take him/her out and put him/her in it's own tank ASAP. Go get some waxworms too. I don't see how that gecko can take down a pink but OK! And if it ate one pink a week then it would be a fat hog! So I think you might be lying to save your A$$. Infact that gecko's tail would be bigger then most geckos for taking down a pink a week. I mean come on now. Tell the truth or don't speak!
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3.6
3 eggs in the incubator.....
AIM Jordan42087 or leopardgex15

I AM FEEDING IT ONE PINK A WEEK I AM I AM I AM I AM. -_-*

If ANY animal is eating normally and losing weight the first thing that should come to mind are parasites.

Take that gecko out of that cage immediately and put it somewhere else. All your geckos are already going to have parasites but they can handle them. If you keep that sick gecko in there (which is probably multiplying parasites like a machine) it's going to possibly create an intolerable amount of parasites in that tank and you're going to have three sick geckos instead of one.

It doesn't matter if you have to put that gecko in a shoebox... do something. And clean its environment constantly and take it to a vet. You HAVE to take it to a herp/exotic vet if you want it to survive... take that one along with a fecal and fecals from the others (if you're cheap just mix it into one) and tell the vet you have three geckos that need to be treated for whatever that one turns out having.

The gecko meds aren't expensive... the only thing that's expensive is the vet fee (probably $35-40) but you'll cure 3 animals with that.
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Got hips like Cinderella / Must be having a good shame / Talking sweet about nothing / Cookie I think you're Tame

Please, be more generous. Knock it off with slangs or swearwords.

Anyway, Ryoko, your gecko might have disease. It could be a hunger strike. Is your temperature in a right state? If your gecko is at least 16 years old, he could be reaching the end of his life.

Tim

Sorry, I forgot the part about him being only 8 months. But don't be too discouraged. Baby lizards are likely to die easily. Not many would survive successfully to adulthood. Very young ones like what you have are more likely to catch diseases, since they have great weakness.

Tim

You can't just say it died because it was a baby. 8 months is actually a subadult anyway. Leopard geckos do not just die because they are young and it really is rather rare. They are a very hardy lizard and saying it was going to die anyway is wrong. That condition was achieved improper care of either the current or previous owner (please don't take this the wrong way Ryoko from your posts it sound like you got him ill). Maybe the start of the problem was not anyones fault but the failure to recognize the problem sooner was.

Well, I guess I was wrong about hatchling leos dying easily. But anoles sure do die often with hatchlings! Anyway, yes, I'm sorry about suggesting a wrong information. I do agree that it's no one's fault about this sick leo. But it's likely that she has a disease. Or a parasite?

Tim

Tim, any hatchlings have a higher chance of dying... most people aren't even equipped to hatch out many reptiles. But, 8 months is no hatchling! Lizards usually have a higher chance of dying the day they hatch, true, but even a week later they are very hardy with the exception of being easy prey.
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Got hips like Cinderella / Must be having a good shame / Talking sweet about nothing / Cookie I think you're Tame

Thanks for the info. By the way, how fast do leos grow?

Tim

NP
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Got hips like Cinderella / Must be having a good shame / Talking sweet about nothing / Cookie I think you're Tame

Leopard geckos do not just stop eating for more than a few days, and certainly not to the point where there tail thins anywhere near that much. I don't think an elderly gecko explains the severe emaciation of that gecko. In one of the posts it was said that the tail was a little thicker when he was acquired, this sounds like the gecko was sick to begin with because the tail should have been much, much, much thicker. Also, I will not say Ryoko is lying but there is no way that that gecko has been eating a pinky a week (which would normally be considered way to much) along with regular feeding and it is still that thin. I think that you may possibly be putting food in the tank and because it is gone you assume he ate it. Lizard Litter is probably the worst substrate for leos and they should be removed but I have generally heard that impaction causes bloatedness. Ryoko, you should remove the gecko immediately and take him to a vet. People often say that there aren't any herp vets near them when actually there are many more then they would suspect they just aren't looking in the right place, Where do you live? I will try my best to find a vet in your area. I suspect he has some type of parasite or illness because If the source of the problem is neglect you probably wouldn't have posted here. Finally, what sexes are your geckos? if you have two males and they are fighting one could be stressed to the point of not eating. Don't assume that you know the sex because it was sold to you "sexed" it could very well have been temp sexed.

np

The one that is sick is male you can tell it's male because it has the two blugs and the pores. The other 2 are females well I was told males but I looked at them and they are females they do not have blugs or do not have pores I mean they are tinny ones but can't see them really. He has been eatting the pinnkies I saw him. I got him from a pet place I had him at my dad's house for like when I got him. I left like a month or so after I got him and I just got back 6 weeks ago.

no he's only 8 months old and I have a 7 years old and a 5 year old.

Dude, you need to take it out from the other leos ! Now you are going to have to bring them all to the vet and not just one. Has he been pooping ? I think he may be impacted and cant pass anything ! Bring him to the vet ammediately !

Nick
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Leopard Geckos

1.0 Super Hypo Baldy Carrot-tail & 0.1 Super Hypo Carrot-tail from Kirks Herps are going to be here September 23,2003 !

I have a room in my house with no animals in it, and if you want I will take the gek and nurse it back to health ! I feel so bad for him/her ! Email me at Breaker4show@hotmail.com

Nick
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Leopard Geckos

1.0 Super Hypo Baldy Carrot-tail & 0.1 Super Hypo Carrot-tail from Kirks Herps are going to be here September 23,2003 !

Dude I will take all you geckos off your hands ASAP. They need help and need to go to someone that knows what there doing. Look at my geckos for instance.

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3.6
3 eggs in the incubator.....
AIM Jordan42087 or leopardgex15

Thanks for wonting to take him off my hands but I will try to get him back to how he needs to be.

Sorry if I made it sound like I was flaming you ! I just got pumped up when I saw it ! Where do you live, I may be able to find a vet close to you ! Like I said sorry if I flamed you, I just dont want him to die ! Just email me if you need any help !

Nick
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Leopard Geckos

1.0 Super Hypo Baldy Carrot-tail & 0.1 Super Hypo Carrot-tail from Kirks Herps are going to be here September 23,2003 !

It's fine I'm ok. Well I e-mailed you ok.

Yes he is pooping alot I make sure of it. They all live in a 20 gallon long and I have a cam watching them as in I make sure they all poop. I just put the cam up like a few weeks ago. It records at night when they do there things and I watch it when I get up to make sure every thing went ok.

Well it has been like this for a few weeks and Well He is eatting I see him eatting because I keep the leos apart when eatting. The other leos are fine. When I got him he was not to bad but his tail was just a little fatter than now. I don't have a vet near by that takes leos. Will Jump start help? I use it on my anoles and it works just fine on them. I did not know this was happening becasue I have my leos at my dad's house and I had to go some where half the time I had him. I was gone for like 5 months so I just got back 6 weeks ago. I think my dad and mom took bad care of him but my other 2 are just fine and eatting good. Here is a pic of the other two.

The others might just not be showing signs yet. There is one possible way that the others could be completely healthy and the one just being sick. Since you have them on sand, the one might be impacted. Try soaking it in luke warm water, this might help. Also try searching the forum for "impaction" and you will come up with numerous ways to help your leo. This will only work if your leo is impacted though. Also, most vets, not just reptile specialists, know how to do a fecal. Call your local vet and ask them about it. Good Luck...
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Josh
My Email

Actually, depending on A. if that gecko has anything.. or B.. what exactly that is... That single gecko could have it... if it was stressed... or its immune system lowered for any reason and the other two could be possibly be fine. That being said.. I'd take them all to the vet anyway just to be sure..
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Lucien

1.0 Columbian Redtail Boa (BCI)
3.1 Leopard geckos (2 Blizzard and 2 het Blizzard)
0.1 Savannah Monitor
13 rats
12 Gerbils
2 Dogs
3 cats
1 Albino Corey (fish)

That gecko's legs are bigger than it tail! There is something seriously wrong. It's on what sand too? HEY WOULDN'T Ya Know that's the stupidest thing I have ever saw! You see how the gecko is sooooooooooo skinny and you keep him with the others on SAND. It's gotta be impacted and your not doing anything to save this geckos life.
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3.6
3 eggs in the incubator.....
AIM Jordan42087 or leopardgex15

Hey, You really need to do something about this matter. I have room in my house for them if you want to get rid of them. Check my site they can be there in my photo gallery plumped up.

They would be better off with either me or breakershow.
Link

Having it a tank others is not good right now, I second the thought of it needign vet check and the others too. If kept alone it will not be stressed by other and have no competion for food, I think its probably very stressed from seeing other geckos
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1.3.0 Leopard Geckos
2 Blizzard females, pair of albino trempors male is tangerine
Turtles
1.0.0 Common snapping turtle
0.1.0 Belize slider
0.1.0 Egyptian tortoise
2 hatchlings on the way a blacknobbed sawback and a commonmusk

This person is asking for help and did it nicely. Some people helped and some people flamed... I know we all love our animals and hate to see them in this condition but I don't think that the flaming is necessary. It might discourage other people who have sick geckos, (which can happen to anyone- even the best caretakers) from simply asking for help and taking the steps necessary to nurse it back to health.
I'll get off soap box now...

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JJay

This is Alma, my Bell Albino

4.5.3 leopard geckos (9 eggs incubating)
0.1 Map turtle

This person has been polite and is asking for help...they deserve our help, not just criticisms

Suggestions:

1. Seperate the animal and put it on paper toels. You can get a sweater box at target and melt air holes in it with a a screwdrive you heat up on the stovetop. For heat you can use a human heat pad underneath. You can use cottage cheese containers etc... with holes in them for hides. This is your quarantine area, and you will need to clean and sterilize it frequently during treatment.

2. You can find a qualified herp vet near you using this site, there is a directory

www.arav.org/Directory.htm

3. When you see a fresh stool, wrap it in plastic and take to a vet to perform a FECAL FLOTATION and a FECAL SMEAR. These looks for worms (float) and coccidia (smear).

4. Your veterinarian will advise you what to do next. If it is worms, treatment is simple and effective, Panacur. If it is coccidia he will give you Flagyl. If parasites are found, you will need to treat the healthy-looking animals too, so they don't get sick.

Please keep us posted and good luck
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Sarah Stettler
StarGecko
Starling@stargecko.com

Sorry, but I didnt see any flaming. Just concerned gecko owners who passionately care about these animals. I think it shows how much dedication some of the people in this forum have towards the care of thier own leos and helping other people care for their leos. This is just how I see it...
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Josh
My Email

Actually, I take some of that back. I just went through and read the other posts again, and their might have been some flaming, but for the most part I stick by what I said above...
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Josh
My Email

You should definitely separate it and have it checked out by a vet. You might need to have your others checked also since they could be ill and not showing any Sx yet. Its tail is skinny as a hatchlings I hope it gets better. Good luck!

...if hes not gaining wheight, than he's obviously not eating. Id make a 'bug smoothie', or feed it baby food, and put it on paper towels in its own enclosure. While your at it, try to bring it to a vet, and get a fecal done.

I will try the 'bug smoothie thing and the sand is Reptile desert blend litter and T-rex blend. I mean it I will try to fine a vet fast as I can but the only vet I can fine lives like 5 hours away from me and I don't know if there is one closer. I am only 17 and don't have a car. I love my pets and I love my loes this is the first time this has happen to me with this leo.

try paper towel as a substrate.

Ok I will try.

Desert Blend litter is crushed walnut shells. They have sharp edges and expand when wet. When your gecko ingests it, it swells and causes impactions, and the sharp edges often make cuts in the intestinal wall, causing internal bleeding. That stuff should be illegal for leos. I have seen DOZENS of people comes on here whose leos have died from that stuff. That could very well be your problem. You should remove all leos from that stuff it is not safe for any leo. Use paper towels for now, when geckos are healthy you can use fine washed playsand or calcisand if you really want a granular substrate, but there is some risk of impaction with those too. Slate, paper towels, or terra cortta tiles are safest.
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Sarah Stettler
StarGecko
Starling@stargecko.com

OH MY GOD is this true?????? does Desert Blend littler do that?

I took in a gecko and nursed it back up to health when it was left on crushed walnuts for only two days.
Poor little guy had a really hard time because he was not only impacted with it, but it would cut around the vent when he pooped.

Thankfully, the little guy wasn't on it long enough to seriously injure him internally, but it took me a month to get him back up to health.

I've seen posts from people that had their leos bleed internally from the stuff too tho.

I took my sick leo to the vet and asked about keeping them on sand. He says he keeps his own geckos on Calci-sand, although he's seen some impactions with it (most were from undernourished geckos). He says he doensn't see many gecko impactions from fine sands, and the ONLY thing he commonly sees impactions from is the ground walnut shell substrate. He says it's the very worst stuff, and my vet has been a herp vet for at least 8 years that I know of and has kept many leopard geckos and still keeps them now. And he knows his crap because I had the longest conversations with him about these things.
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Got hips like Cinderella / Must be having a good shame / Talking sweet about nothing / Cookie I think you're Tame

I might be way off base here.. but..

that looks like an AFT, not a leo. First off the coloring is off for a leo, light and dark browns...

Second theres a white strip down the back, don't know about you guys but I've never seen a leo with a white strip down the back.

If it is an AFT, it needs to be seperated from the others (this needs to be done regardless) and needs to be set up with the proper conditions.

It's not a AFT at all It's a leopard Gecko. I seen AFT's and I wont one but it's not a AFT.

That is a leopard gecko, the white line is probably just the spine showing through the skin I recommend seperating them all into seperate containers with paper towel and taking them all to the vets (even if the vet is a couple hours away).
Hope this helps!
Adam
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My pic gallery

Looks like it is about to shed, and I think the white stripe you are seeing is the spine. Definetely a leo....
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Josh
My Email

np
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soad rocks

Your leo looks very very sick...

First of all seperate him from the others and put all your leos on paper towels or slate. If he/she is stil eating but is that skiny there is a very good chance he has an impaction, or is loaded with parasites. Leos dont get to that severe condition unless there is something severly wrong or they have been neglected (not saying you are).

you need to get him to a vet ASAP or at the very least get a fecal done as it is highly likely he has parasites. Also what are you feeding him and how often???

He needs to be feed once a day in little amounts now.. in order for him to build up reserves. Try feeding him a insect slurry, and feed him through a eye dropper, place the eye dropper up near his nose, and let him lick the slurry out of it. If he refuses drop a little on his nose (be careful of his nostrils) and he should start licking it.

good luck,
Leo

OK he's in another tank a 5 gallon is all I had left with nothing in it well I have 4, 5 gallons not in use. OK I am going to try to get him to a vet sooooon.

Don't worry about the tank size... it's not like it's healthy enough to explore a larger tank and it needs to be alone more than it needs a large tank. Monitor it, clean the tank VERY well, and get out the yellow pages and search for a vet that handles reptiles or exotics.
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Got hips like Cinderella / Must be having a good shame / Talking sweet about nothing / Cookie I think you're Tame

I have actually never heard of this happening with a leo though I'm sure it happens so I'll throw this idea out there. Have you checked the gecko for a prolapse?