Reptile & Amphibian Forums

The first day I put here in the tank she was moving around and had her head up when she was basking. Now she seems very lethargic. She rarely moves her fat body around at all, and she sleeps through most of the day. Tomorrow I'm going to try to get a vet appointment (going to push for one on saturday), but I wanted to know what you guys thought might be up. She also is refusing food. I know this is probably because of the stress of being in a new place with new people, but I'm worried she'll lose what little bit of strength she has left. Like I said, I'm hoping the vet will have a bunch of ideas, but I wanted to know if any of you did too.

I've added a hide spot on the cool side of her tank (just basically a shoe box cut to about 2.5" tall with a hole in it), but she doesn't seems to go near it. I would like to add something for her to hide in on the hot side, but with the small (29 gallon) tank, I'd have to find a way to incorporate it into her basking spot. That's something I'll have to work out when I find the right supplies (got any suggestions?).

I hope she gets through all of this. If she does, I'm going to get her a nice big tank to scurry around in (not sure how big, because the 29 gallon takes up enough space anyways...but I'll figure something out). I already have $50 raised for vet bills, and $55 in gift certificates for supplies (a good start on getting a new tank for her).

I'm just really worried about her. It hurts to watch her struggle to crawl around.

Oh...almost forgot. I wanted to make sure she was hydrated, so I tried what I normally do for my bearded, which is dripping water on their nose so the can drink from that. When I do it for my bearded, he usually laps it up with his tongue, but she didn't stick her tongue out at all. First it looked like she was drinking a little, just because I saw her throat moving a little bit, but then he head popped up and she looked confused and started trying to burrow into the ground. It seems like that method is too stressful right now. What should I try? I have been giving her bathes too, but I have to pretty much hold her head above water for her so she doesn't go under.

Like I said....very worried.

-ryan

i really dont know what to add to this but you can leave a small amount of water in the tank for her and see if she drinks it on her own.

depending where you got the gift cards from i know petsmart has a killer 50G breeder tank for 99.99.

thats plenty of room for her and there not hard to heat as i have the 40G breeders(used for my leopard gecko's) and use only a standard 65watt bulbs and it get the tank to 85-90F.

so a 100watt bulb should top at 115F or more,also petco(hate this store)has the 40 breeders for the same price.

get a measuring tape and see if you can place one of the tanks,
the 40G is 36x16x18 so you need 3 feet by 1 foot 4inches for it to fit somewhere.

i dont know what the 50g is but am going there tommorow and if interested i will post it.

good luck.........kali
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1.3 Leopard Gecko's
1.0 mali uromastyx
0.0.3 tokay's(adults unsexed)

I use a 30 gal for my one mali that is 3' x 18" high x 1 1/2 deep. It works fine for just a single one.

As far as the dehydration...first, let him put his head under! That is how they drink! I think you are defeating the purpose by holding his head up! He will lift it out when he's done.

As far as eating, they can go up to 3 weeks sometimes and not eat. Just keep offering veggies every day so that when the time comes he'll have it ready for him.

I think that by dropping water on the nose is definately something too stressful. Just do the very warm soaks, let him dip his head if he likes (they drink thru their noses) and I think he'll perk up.

If a couple weeks go by, you can always force feed with a syringe and baby food with some vitamins mixed in. That will give him nutrients and liquid. But I wouldn't force anything for at least a couple weeks unless there is an obvious sickness after you get his rehydrated.
Good luck!
Renee

I'd make sure to get a fecal done too to see if the uro is actually overweight, or suffering from worms. they can bloat up pretty big from worms as well as some get very thin. It can go both ways. This could cause him to be lethargic as well.

Renee