Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have a juvenile CG that is very, very weak. Can't even hold it's head up. My enclosures are clean and just the right size for it. I alternate between baby food and crickets with all my CGs. The rest of my CGs who are all around the same age are thriving just fine, but this one just isn't wanting to move or eat. I'm 100% positive that if I don't get this guy to get some food and water down asap that it will die...does anyone have any suggestions on force feeding it? I've been hand feeding it baby food (since it can't move to go after crickets) and it just doesn't seem to have the strenght to eat, so I am sure I'm going to have to resort to force feeding it, just don't know the amounts or what the best supplements for it will be. I have heard about people force feeding other geckos with Pedialyte and Ensure, but I've never had to do this before and am not sure where to start...any info would be very much appreciated!!! Thanks.
-Melanie

Wow, that sounds pretty bad- it can't even lick the food up itself? I've fed from needleless syringes before, but I don't know how to do it if the animal won't even swallow on its own. I'd use the Crested Gecko Diet by T-Rex, though. You can make it relatively liquid-y and from all the evidence I've heard it's probably a more complete diet than you could make yourself. You might want to supplement it with pedialyte for hydration though.
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Eryx - All the fun of a boa in a convenient pocket size!

Well he use to lick the baby food (which is mixed w/ CG diet) by himself, but 3 days ago he wouldn't, so I backed off and tried again yesterday and got the same result. Now I pried his mouth open and did manage to get a very very small amount of food in there and some water. The mixture just remained in his mouth, but I checked on him this morning and he got it down and is still alive. I'm going to force feed him today w/ a syringe. Should I use both Pedialyte and CG diet or what and does anyone know of a safe amount to give him? Thanks.
-Melanie

LEEWAY CORUCIA RESEARCH CENTER (SFCRC)

Hello,

We were in your spot with 2 Uroplatus fimbriatus juvenile imports. Both lost both tails after arrival. They weren't as weak as yours but they were given a mixture of chicken baby food/ pediolite / and calcium powder. Same deal as you: They kept it in the front of their mouth and were slow to swallow. I used an eyedropper as gave them about 2 ml at a time. Being you have Rhactodactylus, you should use what Meretsinger recommended or otherwise add some fruit baby food such as peaches with the above formula.

Good Luck I hope she/he makes it.
Sincerely,
Brian
LCRC

P.S.

I should point out the dosage is based on size and I don't need to repeat what Polosue says below this on concentration,application and aspiration. Read her post after this

Brian
LCRC

just be careful--force feeding liquid-y anything to an animal which is very weak runs the risk of the animal aspirating the stuff and dying of pneumonia....so don't make it too wet, and take it very slow, drops at a time so it has a chance to swallow if strong enough to do so. good luck, hope you can save him
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Sue Barnett
1.0 Florida King (Vega)
0.1 Western hognose (Sola)
0.1 Egyptian spiny mouse (Mia)
4.2 mini rex rabbits (Basil, Pippin, Reggie, Hayden, Jackie and Peek-a-boo)
0.1 Plott hound (Molly)
1.0 half Arab (Zarr)
1.0 Betta (to be named once he lives out the 7-day warrantee)

Well thanks to all for your advice...I appreciate it!!! If you think of anything else please let me know.
-Melanie

sorry im not an expert here, but have u tried to
put small amounts of babyfood or cgd around his mouth,
doenst he lick it?

perhaps try to dust some water in his direction afterwards,
so he tries to clean his eyes.

i got no experience with force feeding though =(

i hope he survives. wish you good luck

My gecko will not willing take to baby food like it use to and is too weak to get crickets, so I am only left with force feeding him. Last night I made a mixture of Pedialyte, baby food, and CG diet (made the texture for the situation just perfect). All I did was load his mouth up w/ very small amounts of it. He was reluctant to swallowing it right away like a healthier CG would, but did manage to get it some of it down and is still alive today. So we'll see how it goes.
-Melanie