Reptile & Amphibian Forums

A long time ago, I posted here about my new Rainbow X Jungle (who is fairly plaing looking compared to a lot of leopard geckos, but I love her, and she's wonderful to me). Aurora has been a pleasure to have, and a good companion for me in the dorms, and now in my own house.

Recently (as in last night), I aquired a new leopard gecko, who I don't even know what his coloring is (heck, I don't even know his sex, but I'll call him a he until I know), but he's goregous, too. I think it's family genetics. *grins* Anyway, on to more serious matters. He's severely sick. His spine is bowed, he walks in sort of a commando crawl on his elbows, his arms and legs are misshapen, and he has to be forcefed. His jaw is easily manipulated (at first, at least, until he gets fiesty). His skin is also sagging, and not at all tight around him. However his is mobile, is shedding, his feces are normal, and he acts very much like Aurora does, when she's just at rest, or wandering around. I've already started him on a regimine of calcuim rich mealworms and a few wax worms for fattening. He's got a calcium bath (something I discovered with Aurora, which is a dish of calcium cut with sand that she lays in when she feels like), and is drinking water on his own.

Does anyone have any suggestions? I got him from a friend who works at a small pet shop that was given him from someone who shopped there, and they were going to just let him die in the back. He took him home, and with my basic help over the phone, nursed him to at least walking, and then gave him to me last night, when he got a chance to come over. The little guy has come a pretty far way from what I understand (he's got about a centimeter of fat on his tail now, it's not just bone, which it was before). However, I do understand that this is still a very big risk, and haven't named him, nor become *too* attached to him. (I can't help at least feeling some feelings for him! I'm human!) I was just looking for help and encouragement, if possible. Thank you very much for reading this, and hopefully giving me some suggestions.

WAx worms are great for fattening, but they have an extremely high phosporous level! If he is being force fed, i would get some hills diet from the vet. Then i would cut that with some 1:0 ca and some pedialite (for electrolytes). This fed through a syringe should get your geck back on track vitamin wise. It will help him put on some weighttoo. In my experience, i would not try to force feed him crickets and worms too much, as it seems that they often become very wary and associate the bugs with bad experiences after they are up and feeding on their own.

A UVB light wouldnt hurt at this point either. Althought leos are nocturnal, alittle natural (ish) sunlight wouldnt hurt to help that ca absorbtion. MAke sure tho, to have a few dark hides for him to choose from, so as not to stress him out.

I would also keep the temps up in his tank too. I am a big advocate of this, because a simulated 'fever' will help his cells heal more quickly.

And lastly, i would have a vet check him for parasites. If he has not had a fecal exam, and you dont know wether or not he has worms it would be a good idea to have that checked. It may be contributing to his weight loss. REmember, also, that when an animals immune system is compromised, it is extrememly easy for parasites to bloom and for bacteria to grow out of control.

I hope this helps out. Good luck with your new little rescue!

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"raised by a cup of coffee"

1.0 ball python- Azazel
1.0 columbian boa- Brooklyn
1.0 red blood python-Hiss
1.0 peach phase thayeri-Sancho
0.1 creamsicle corn- Pandora
0.1 partial stripe ghost corn- Raven
1.0 Sunglow motley corn-Ernie
1.1 hognose- Pricilla and Odd
0.1 russian tortoise- Manja
0.1 collared lizard-O-ren
0.1.1 leos- Boji and Kodama
0.1 beardie- Indie
1.0 BTS- Griffon
0.1 Iggy- Sunny
0.0.2 Red american toadlets with 0.0.7 legs total (er, i have one w/3....)
0.0.1 gray tree frog toadlet
0.0.6 land snails
0.0.2 millipedes of unknown species from TN
0.0.1 spotted slug
5.3 bettas
0.1 pacific parrolet- Mishka
1.1 cats- Cairo and Oberon
2.3 ratties Rizzo, Bounce, Bree, Blitzkreig, and Zelda

I second the opinion of the person who posted above me. and i think if he has come that far in a little while, he has a chance (no garuntees mind you) also I had heard that sagging skin was an indicator of de-hydration, so just make sure that he really is drinking, and if not, give him some water by droping it on the tip of his jaw and letting him lick it off.

heres my theroy as to why they like to sit in the calcium bowl. (mine do it too!) epsecially if you have papertowel or carpet as a substraight! in nature leos would seek "belly heat" on rocks that had been heated up by the sun (yes, thats right, No UTHs in the desert! its all from above!!!) and not on the sand or soft surfaces. so its only natural for them to lie on something warm and hard! I tryed putting a large dark rock under my heat lamp (I do use UTH's too....not saying there a bad thing!) and let it get niiiice and warm (monitor it at first to make sure it isnt too hot) and now everynight as soon as i turn out the light the leo so sit on the rock for a while!
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0.2.0. Leo
1.1.0. WTF
0.1.0. Irish Setter
2.2.0. Holland Lop Bunnies
1.1.0. House Cats
Too Many Fish!

Check out my site ~ www.freewebs.com/stephsgeckos

Hello, it does sound like a calcium deficiency. Are the front legs curved in permanently?, Do any/all of the legs have a distinct "Popeye the Sailor Man" look to them (bulging forearms and much thinner upper arms)?

In addition to the calcium powder you might need to supplement with liquid calcium - available at most pet stores that cater to reptiles. If the little one doesn't respond pretty quickly, you should really take her/him to a vet. They can give calcium injections that have a more immediate effect, and can help leos that would otherwise not be able to recover by diet alone.

Good luck, sure hope all goes well for you!

Oh, yes, please do keep it away from your other leo for at least 60 days to be sure any parasites etc aren't transferred.

Best of luck to you all!

Andrea A.

>>A long time ago, I posted here about my new Rainbow X Jungle (who is fairly plaing looking compared to a lot of leopard geckos, but I love her, and she's wonderful to me). Aurora has been a pleasure to have, and a good companion for me in the dorms, and now in my own house.
>>
>>Recently (as in last night), I aquired a new leopard gecko, who I don't even know what his coloring is (heck, I don't even know his sex, but I'll call him a he until I know), but he's goregous, too. I think it's family genetics. *grins* Anyway, on to more serious matters. He's severely sick. His spine is bowed, he walks in sort of a commando crawl on his elbows, his arms and legs are misshapen, and he has to be forcefed. His jaw is easily manipulated (at first, at least, until he gets fiesty). His skin is also sagging, and not at all tight around him. However his is mobile, is shedding, his feces are normal, and he acts very much like Aurora does, when she's just at rest, or wandering around. I've already started him on a regimine of calcuim rich mealworms and a few wax worms for fattening. He's got a calcium bath (something I discovered with Aurora, which is a dish of calcium cut with sand that she lays in when she feels like), and is drinking water on his own.
>>
>>Does anyone have any suggestions? I got him from a friend who works at a small pet shop that was given him from someone who shopped there, and they were going to just let him die in the back. He took him home, and with my basic help over the phone, nursed him to at least walking, and then gave him to me last night, when he got a chance to come over. The little guy has come a pretty far way from what I understand (he's got about a centimeter of fat on his tail now, it's not just bone, which it was before). However, I do understand that this is still a very big risk, and haven't named him, nor become *too* attached to him. (I can't help at least feeling some feelings for him! I'm human!) I was just looking for help and encouragement, if possible. Thank you very much for reading this, and hopefully giving me some suggestions.

He's definitely got the "Popeye" look to him, but one of the front legs and one of the back legs are actually starting to look better (less bulging, and more walking on feet). The other side is pretty bad, though.

I've got him doing a calcium regimine which he actually is taking very well to, as well as warm water baths (he's so cute, like a little Floridian beach bum). He's also doing some Pedialyte therapy to get more fat in him, so that I'm not forcing him to eat the worms, and make him adverse to eating them in general.

I had to take him out of his sand enclosure and put him on paper towels because he was eating the sand, and is now compacted. So on top of that, he's doing grease-downs to help him get rid of the stupid Vita-Sand. (I'd used the other, non vitamin enriched sand with Aurora, and she never ate it, but the pet store didn't have enough of it for him. I'll never make that mistake again. Stick to what I know.)

I've been getting a lot of support on a lot of different sites, and he's really coming along well. He's a lot more alert, he knows my voice, and is just respoding well. I'm hoping that he'll make it through, but I'm still not naming him, in fear that he won't (I guess a good dose of healthy skepticism).

Below is a pic of Aurora, who was much smaller at the time. I'll be taking pics of the both of them shortly with one of the disposable cameras that comes with a cd of pics. That way I can show how sick he is, and how big my baby girl has gotten.

Rachel