Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi there...

I work at a pet store, and I think that we truly are one of the best I've ever seen. Still, we get problems. This one leopard gecko stayed very small for about a month, and finally I placed him in the back room.... tried to offer more waxworms, dusted crickets, and meal worms to it in hopes of fattening it up. At first, it ate them. Then it stopped.

I begged my boss to let me do some things to it, but she didn't want to....so we let it sit, on her call. It got worse.

Finally, today, they were about to freeze it so it wouldn't have to suffer any longer. I offered to take it home instead. She supplied me with a 5.5 gallon tank, lid, cave, dish, lighting, etc....( by the way, I own 3 leopards myself. )

Anyways, I think the change of enviornment in itself will help...it won't be moved around, vacuumed near, or housed next to snakes & tarantulas. I have it under my 150 gallon aquarium, so it's staying pretty warm and secluded...not much noise, and no movement to be seen by it. The back of the stand is open, so some light comes in during the day....that's ok, don't you think?

I have him on paper towels, with one cave, a water dish, a log, and a red bulb. I have some meat baby food to force feed it, but I've heard some Ensure will work better.

The poor thing is probably 2-3 months old, and looks like a hatchling. Maybe 2 or 3 inches long, very very skinny tail, ribs showing, and it's skin looks horrible. One good thing though: It is active. It strolls around it's cage, and responds well to nearby movement. Not sure if it will eat on it's own yet...

Anyone have advice on how to get this little thing back on track?

My first step would be to see if it will eat some babie crickets on its own now that its in a new surrounding and maybe feels more secure. He very may possiably eat a little on his own now because it seems like you are keeping him very calm.

"some light comes in during the day....that's ok, don't you think?"
That is fine, why would you be trying to keep all light away anyways, it is day time, isn't it? Im not saying to go and stick 3 100watt bright white light bulbs over the thing, but yeah some light is only natural

If he is as active as you say he is, he wont die without any food for probably at least another 1/2 week. I just see if he eats some babie crickets on his own within the next day or two, if not than try to force feed it.

-Jesse

i recently rehab'ed a sick leo that hadnt eaten in weeks----

i gave it some Boost (store was out of ensure/pediasure) through a dropper for the first few days, then i cut the head off of crickets and smeared the guts on its lips..... eventually it started snapping at the cricket bodies that i held to its mouth..... 2 weeks later, she is eating on her own

hope my experience helps

Good luck to you! Most people would have let it die....
Gecko Freak

Well, I wasn't worried about the light coming in...I was more worried about the lack of natural light.

Just got home from work and it's sitting by it's water dish...
no small crickets on me right now, but I'm going to offer some mealworms. I don't even think it can get a waxworm down now....

What do you guys think of the "meat" babyfood? I'll get some ensuire tommorrow, of course....

update: I mixed some vitamin/calcium dust in the baby food and tried to force feed it...not much luck there. If I smear it on the nose it will lick a little off though.....

I also put in another cave on the cool size and a shallow dish of calcium for it to lick up if it wishes.

Like I said...it looks like death warmed over, but MAN it's active when I make it mad!

Hi zeb,

Don't try to force feed...just dab the food on its snout (avoid the nostrils, of course). As you've noticed, they will usually lick the food off this way, and it's much less stressful on you and on the leo. I think the stress of force-feeding cancels out the value of any food that you do manage to get down the gecko's throat!

Good luck with your little rescue baby!

Regards,

Amy

Well, OK....I'm more than willing to not force feed the little guy...but just what I can get on his nose isn't enough is it?

I would like to hope that after switching him into his new home, and a little bit of food, he'll start eating again.

I also read online to use applesauce mixed in calcium/vitamin...saying it rehydrates and add sugars to their diet. Is this a bad idea?

( Plus, I wanted to try ensure...that has to basically be squirted in the mouth...right? )