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Juvie not eating again...not an eye is shut??

budlightsnoopy Nov 23, 2003 06:23 PM

Well we went a couple of weeks just hand feeding and now nothing, he wont eevn go under a hide that he used to. Now I was gonna do the hand feed again but now one of his eyes is shut. Not crusty or anything just wont open. So one week of not eating again now this??? Can anybody help?

Replies (3)

budlightsnoopy Nov 23, 2003 06:30 PM

Sorry was supposed to read, now an eye is shut

Andrea_A Nov 23, 2003 07:43 PM

From talking to you before, it sounds like you have the temperatures right (88-90 hot end, 80 cool end). You have a humid hide and hides on warm & cool ends of the tank.

The only eye problems I've run into have either been from something getting in the eye or from an incomplete shed on animals that were already in poor condition.

Have you tried soaking the leo in half an inch of warm water? Locking them in a smallish rubbermaid type container with half an inch of warm water may help. It can also be good as it encourages both drinking water and pooping. Of course, if you see any waste in the water clean it right away.

I don't remember if you use mealworms or crickets. Half grown crickets may be taken if their back legs are removed so they can't jump away. I'd also try feeding at dusk to take advantage of their natural activity periods.

Gosh, I'm really out of ideas. If you can get a fresh stool sample I'd take it into the vet as there are protozoa etc. that will cause a great decrease in appetite. You do have to know what they have before it can be treated though.

From your earlier posts and from emails we've exchanged, it sounds like you are doing everything "right" so I'm thinking some type of parasite could explain the problem. Unfortunately, parasites are transfered from one animal to another (even from former inhabitants) very easily in a pet store setting.

Please let me know if you see a vet, and what the fecal results are. I'm pulling for you -- and wishing you the best!

>>Well we went a couple of weeks just hand feeding and now nothing, he wont eevn go under a hide that he used to. Now I was gonna do the hand feed again but now one of his eyes is shut. Not crusty or anything just wont open. So one week of not eating again now this??? Can anybody help?
-----
Andrea A.

coalchilli Nov 23, 2003 08:39 PM

I had a similar problem with one of my leopard geckos this past August. I suggest you take the gecko to the vet asap!! This could be a respiatory infection like with mine, which requires antibiotics. With my gecko it was too late she had progressed to far in the illness. The vet said the reason why her eye was closed was because the infection was being pushed into eye socket. She was not eating because she was so weak. If they don't eat they don't get the nutrition to help the recover. They recomended that I try giving her electolyte powder mixed according to the directions through a syringe (avaliable at any pet store) to try to get some strength back. The vet also had me try to feed her max cal cat food which is only avaliable at the vet clinic. He had given her a calcium injection to help regain strength. Make sure that the gecko is warm very important, the cage got too cool after redecorating my cage which is why she got sick. Good luck and best wishes. Please keep us posted.

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