Reptile & Amphibian Forums

2 days ago i was in petco and one of the employees ask if i would like to adopt 2 abandoned Leopard geckos anyway i took the offer up as soon as they brung them out to me i noticed there was 2 in a 5 gallon tank i also noticed one was very thin all you could see was bones no fat tail it was like a twig you could see its hip bones, ribs and out lines of its skull this poor little thing was soooooooo weak the other one which is about 9 months old was perfectly healthy fat tail alert a good hunter as soon as i got home i separated them both i put the female in a 10 gallon tank and the little one age unknown but i think its still a baby about 3 months kept in the 5 gallon with paper towels i have been giving it jump start as i have used this with my fat tails which helped in getting there appetites back and i have been giving it baby food (chicken) its licking a little each time 3 times a day and ive been soaking it in warm water once a day, i also have been making sure its getting enough heat, i call it a it because sex unknown, can anyone give me some more advice on what i should do i think im doing the right thing as its taking a little at a time.

Thankyou

4 African Fat tail geckos
2 Leopard geckos
2 Dwarf Fischer Chameleons
2 Bearded dragons
3 Tiger Salamanders

I love Pet Smart! Another herp horror story with Pet Smart in the bachground. I bought a leo from a breeder that is doing a similar thing. I did not catch it early enough because I had her in a tank with 3 other females and I always noticed that the food was gone so I paid no mind. I noticed the day that she got MBD which caused curvature in her jaw bones and her leg bones. I then took her out and she's been seperated since.

It has always been a battle to get her to feed. I've tried to feed her crickets, and mealworms. I was told to avoid waxworms because they are a bad thing to get leos hooked on because of cost and they are very rich in fat (hmmm maybe I should feed her a few?). Trying baby food is a good idea which I hadn't even thought of. She likes to lap up nutrient type things.

I force fed her for a little bit too and she was fat then, but she still would not eat on her own. Lately she is still very small, but she is more active than she used to be and some of her food disappears and she is deficating. Her MBD has subsided as well. She is just a strange eater.

I have learned from other Leo breeders that sometimes an infection caused by some sort of parasite could cause the leo to quit eating. I never got a stool check ran on my leo due to the fact that herp vets are rare and far between in west KY. I have also learned that they shut down eating at certain times of the year or if conditions are unsatisfactory for them to live. I have noticed she eats much better since she's been on her own and she's kept in my closet with a light that comes on warming the closet to about 85 degree during the day (approximately 12 hours...I gotta get a timer!) and gets down to about 75 at night.

I told you all I know. I'd love more imput on the matter myself. Any hints are helpful.

.

petsmart is in Canada but im not sure about the states anyways i dont think there is any petco here in Canada so i guess our petsmart is your petco
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soad rocks

Actually both exist in the states, I have one of each within 1 mile of one another in my hometown of Nashua, NH.

If she's as skinny as you're making her sound, she's pretty far gone already. Having the two in together may have passed whatever sickness she had to the other. Get a fecal exam done on her fast.

There's a few different things this could be and of them all, one is incurable and the others usually are with a lotta luck and patience.

Until you can get her in keep doing the babyfood thing. Also try a dropper with water and dab it on her nose if you haven't seen her drinking much after soaking. You need to figure out why this gecko is as skinny as it is and keep the other from getting like that.

Try thinning the baby food with Pedialyte, and dropping a bit on her nose
U can put a TINY bit of Reptivite or Reptical (whatever BRand U use) in the mixure
it is a tiny bit sweet, and will provide good energy til she learns to eat again

This is what I did for my MHD after she layed her eggs and was WHIPED out
She will even open her mouth if I bring out the Syringe for more pedialyte (I only give it if she is off food for a few days)
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Elizabeth (ecb)

Make this world a better and more beautiful place that You have been in it
*Edward W Bok*