Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Welcome to kingsnake.com's message board system. Here you may share and discuss information with others about your favorite reptile and amphibian related topics such as care and feeding, caging requirements, permits and licenses, and more. Launched in 1997, the kingsnake.com message board system is one of the oldest and largest systems on the internet.

Click here for Dragon Serpents
Click for ZooMed
Click for 65% off Shipping with Reptiles 2 You

DESPERATE FOR HELP!!!

Heather Nov 01, 2003 03:40 PM

went to the White Plains Reptile Show today for supplies. I stopped to say high to the vender I got My two baby Girl Beardies from. We started talking. He was telling me that someone had dumped a little baby Leo Gecko on Him. They hadn't been feeding it. He was lookling for someone to take it in. He pulls out this gecko and I almost cried. The poor thing is thinner then a pencil in the body, and a tooth pick of a tail. I didn't think it could hold itself up! And smaller in length then my pinki finger!! It can't be more then just a week or two old! It's two freaking tiny!! He asked If I wanted to try. I took it. Yes, I know, I'm insane but the poor thing needs a chance. It survived the trip home and, to our surprize, is able to stand up and walk around! Also we thought that both of it's eyes were swollen shut but it turns out only one of them is, and it's not swellon. Just.... Sealed? It can't open that eye. I gave it a room temp/ luke warm bath right when we got home. I brought it to my herp room. Set it up in a small little house. It has a humid hide, "water" bowl with pedialite, and a bottle cap of vitamins. I called a friend who knows a lot about geckos and They said not to give it a warm spot/cool spot. Just to leave the entire house warm. We got some teeny, tiny, crickets at the show. I offered it some of those. I also got it to take a little Apricot and mixed fruits baby food, parazap tea, and some gatorade. It took it by licking it off it's nose. Yes, It can open it's mouth. He does move around (is more active then I would think possible for a critter in His condition) with no problem. But that eye is bothering me and so is the thinness of him. I'm gonna leave him be for the night. IF! He survives the night (which I'm seriously doubting), what else can I do? HELP!!! HE NEEDS HELP!!!! Please give me some ideas on how to save this poor thing!!!
-----
2.0 Iguanas, 2.4 Beardies, 1.2 Saharan/Nigerian Uromastyx, 0.0.2 Leos, 0.0.1 African Fat Tail, 1.0 Columbian Rainbow Boa, 0.0.1 Fla Garter Snake, 0.1 eastern garter, 0.0.1 Banded California King Snake (M.I.A.), 0.0.1 Corn Snake, 0.0.3 Fire Belly Toads, 1.0 Eastern Painted Turtle, 0.0.1 African Sideneck, 2 Horses (soon to be three {Baby next May!!!}), 4 cats, 1 dog, and I'm still not done.....

Replies (9)

aliceinwl Nov 01, 2003 04:45 PM

Even in this condition it should be able to recover if starvation is the only issue (its odds of survival are much less if it has parasites or a bacterial infection). I'd recommend giving it the hot and the cold spot (a gecko needs to have a hot spot that is 90 degrees for proper digestion, but cannot tolerate temperatures that high continously). As far as food goes, try offering it a prekilled cricket with the guts exposed. It may just be content to lick the guts. If it takes the cricket, let it go at that. If you feed too much too soon it may not be able to keep it down. You can gradually work up to larger meals. As far as the eye is concerned it is probably sealed shut by mucus or an old shed. If it eats as is I'd let the eye go for now. But, I've often noticed an improved feeding response if they can open both eyes. If you moisten the eye you can usually gently tease the eyelids apart and this usually fixes the problem. Handling a gecko in such a weakened state, however, may be too much for it so I'd wait if possible until it's stronger.
Hope this helps, and good luck!
-Alice

TLB Nov 01, 2003 04:54 PM

Hi

Like people will tell you, you should get it to a vet..

Keep getting liquids into the little thing and build up the hydration in it's system, do this several times a day. Since you said that you put the liquid on it's nose and let it lick it off, then that means you won't need to pick it up a lot, you can reach in and put liquid on it's nose.

Food is definetly a must, but hydration is a first priority in my opinion to keep veins and other arteries from shutting down. You are already getting it to take some things in, which is great on your part. If not already,try putting some calcium in the liquid also.

I think that precious little gecko is very lucky that it found it's way into your caring hands. I can hear it in your words that you are very scared and worried for this precious little life as we all would be, but just remember that you are not alone in this, we are all here to help and try to support you emotionally and with caring advice.

I'am sure others with ring in with other suggestions and idea's soon, when they get on line and read your post. I will be here now for you if you need to talk or say anything else. I know that this gecko can sense that it is in caring hands now and it will give it renewed hope and the will power to keep fighting.

About his eye, there is no excess shed left on it is there, otherwise I think you would have mentioned it. Maybe a possible eye infection in my opinion. Is there any chance it could have been born without one or is there a bulge there that indicates an eye is there.

Take Care, TLB

Heather Nov 01, 2003 05:17 PM

Thanks for both of your replies. I offered a wax worm before lights out and I also checked on Him. He was actually wondering around his house!!! He is perky and has energy. This gave me some hope.

As far as the eye goes. I hadn't gone over him "with a fine toothed Comb" in the original post. There is a TINY piece of skin on His face near the eye... Not on it that I can see but right near it. But Like I said, I may just not be able to see it. So It might be the shedding issue that was brought up.

As far as a vet, I still live at home and there is no way on god's green earth my parents will let me take this poor guy to a vet. So anything that gets done, I'll be doing. This is why I need you help.

I'll try to prekilled/gut exposed cricket tomorrow.... if He's still with me...

Thank you so much and PLEASE keep the ideas flowing....
-----
2.0 Iguanas, 2.4 Beardies, 1.2.1 Saharan/Nigerian Uromastyx, 0.0.2 Leos, 0.0.1 African Fat Tail, 1.0 Columbian Rainbow Boa, 0.0.1 Fla Garter Snake, 0.1 eastern garter, 0.0.1 Banded California King Snake (M.I.A.), 0.0.1 Corn Snake, 0.0.3 Fire Belly Toads, 1.0 Eastern Painted Turtle, 0.0.1 African Sideneck, 2 Horses (soon to be three {Baby next May!!!}), 4 cats, 1 dog, and I'm still not done.....

TLB Nov 01, 2003 05:26 PM

Hi Heather

Thanks for the quick update. It sure sounds to me like he has gotten a second wind in his sails to keep on working to live, now that he is in your hands and he knows that someone finely gives a darn for him.

I don't think that he will give up on you, because I know that, that little guy knows that you aren't going to give up on him, He can feel that from you.

Take Care, TLB

p.s. don't worry, I garantee that there will be more responses of help once more people get on line.

Heather Nov 01, 2003 05:27 PM

You've given me a little more hope to find this little one alive tomorrow morning!! Thanks so much!
-----
2.0 Iguanas, 2.4 Beardies, 1.2.1 Saharan/Nigerian Uromastyx, 0.0.2 Leos, 0.0.1 African Fat Tail, 1.0 Columbian Rainbow Boa, 0.0.1 Fla Garter Snake, 0.1 eastern garter, 0.0.1 Banded California King Snake (M.I.A.), 0.0.1 Corn Snake, 0.0.3 Fire Belly Toads, 1.0 Eastern Painted Turtle, 0.0.1 African Sideneck, 2 Horses (soon to be three {Baby next May!!!}), 4 cats, 1 dog, and I'm still not done.....

TLB Nov 01, 2003 05:35 PM

Hi Heather

You are welcome!.

If you just plane old need to talk about the little guy some more to share your feelings or concerns so that you aren't shouldering this all alone, we will all be here to help boost your moral.

Take Care, TLB

xelda Nov 02, 2003 01:53 AM

And I'm very optimistic for your little one. You're taking good care of him, and his behavior looks great. Just the fact that he's up walking about is a very good sign that he will make a strong comeback.
-----
chickabowwow

3.2.2 leopard geckos (Rosie, Locke, Lisa, Caesar, Tommy)
and 1 more egg a' cookin'

tokay_dude1 Nov 02, 2003 04:10 AM

hey i was there also i think i might have stopped at that table hope the little gecko survives

buffysmom Nov 02, 2003 06:11 PM

Is he still alive?
-----
1.3.0 leos, Yoda, Geo, Tang, Ginger
1.0 Blue Tongue Skink Indigo (Indy)
0.1.1 frogs Buffy the Cricket Slayer, Butrose Butrose Froggy
0.0.5 firebelly newts Wayne Newton, Isaac Newton, Fig Newton, Juice Newton & Olivia Newton John
1.1.0 cats Gus & Mena

Site Tools