Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi, earlier in one of the posts someone mentioned tapping the mouth to get it open but...where exactly do you have to tap in the mouth?? I tried in all sides but he wont open it.
Any helps is highly appreciated.
Sheri

P.S : lots of trouble cos they are my first leos XD was into snakes before

Hi, you have probably posted about it before and i just missed it, but why exactly are you force feeding?

With most leo's if the substance you are feeding is tastey, it only takes to drip the food onto the nose or right on the mouth. The leo will usually lick the food off. If this does not work you can try gently inserting the tip of the syringe into the back corner of his "lips" and squirting a little in there, even if he doesn't open his mouth it will probably still dribble in and he can get a taste of it, hopefully he will like it and swallow it all willingly.

Its much easier with food than it is with meds because its tasty!!
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0.1 Bearded dragon
0.1 mexican kingsnake
1.0.2 Leopard Gecko's
0.0.1 Rose Hair Tarantula
1.0 BTS
0.0.1 Reverse Okeetee Corn
0.1 Bullmastiff
4.1 Cats

Having prior experience with a thin leo, I do not recommend force feeding quite yet. Until you get to a vet, give your gecko Vanilla flavored Ensure with Calcium (the one for humans). That will hydrate your leo and keep it well nourished until you can figure out the problem. I have found that this will also prevent your gecko from losing more weight. Use a small syringe and place your thumb and forefinger on either side of your leo's lower jaw. Gently pull down and this will prompt him to open up. Have someone else slip the syringe into his mouth and slowly administer the Ensure. Give him time to swallow and close his mouth every few drops. Do this until you know what is wrong with your leo since force-feeding can damage a posibly dehydrated liver.
Good Luck!
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0.1 Hogg Island Boa
0.0.2 Corn Snakes
0.3 Leopard Geckos (my very first reptiles-I've had them a LOOOOOOOOONG time!)
2.0 Wonderful Dogs

Something he forgot to mention, use a ball-tipped syringe if he won't eat on his own. But you really should take the leo to a vet because you said you were new to leos and that means you havn't had long enough time to reconize what the problem is and how to fix it. Also it is ideal that someone shows you how to feed your gecko this way (using the syringe). So go to a vet before you take any kind of action.

Ok maybe i should relate what has happened so far...
These geckos(2) came shipped from a breeder together. They have a 100x50x36 enclosure, papel towel substrate, 2 shelters (hot side cold side), infrared lamp 75 wts. One of them( Malk) started to hunt down the crickets and was in very few occasions succesful in catching one, the other(Anep) would simply not try and catch one. When their tail was shrinking, i suspected parasites and took them to the vet a week ago. The vet confirmed me my worries and they did have parasites. He administered a medic into both of them, and told me to come back next week for the same treatment, and meanwhile force feed them if they have trouble, specially the one not eating...
Malk would occasionally just lick the head-torned crik and eat it without making a fuss, but Anep would just deny any offer (criks, mealworm, etc) and its with Anep im having trouble, since im the only one in the house who has "guts" to hold a dead crik..."sigh"
So its not really to put any medics in him, just to feed him so he gets a bit more active...
Thanks again
Sheri

that's very helpful. I think I said before, it's not uncommon for them not to get the appetite back until at least 2 doses of Panacur. But if they are juvies, try dropping some squished mealworm juice, Ensure, Gatorade, meat baby food, or something just to get calories in. Her apetite will return after the meds are done. Hopefully.
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1.0 Blizzard Bill
1.0 Hypo stripe, Het Rainwater from JL (BJ)
1.0 HypoTang from Crested (Apricot)
1.0 Tremper Albino (Cloud)
0.2 Hi-Yellow Leopard gecko (Beatrice, Pepper, Goldie-now w/SD)
0.1 Normal (Freckles)
0.1 SHCT Leopard Gecko (Brite)
0.1 Tangy Mutt Leopard Gecko (Rainbow)
0.1 Tremper Albino (Leucy)
RIP Peaches, Ghost

You say you got these leos from a breeder? Which one? And what kind of parasites does it have, ex: nematoads. coccidia, flagellates???

Nematods are the parasites and the breeder was from Live Animal Center.
So i need like 2 people to force feed a leo?

I can always get my leos to open their mouths by putting my hand over the top of their heads and using my thumb and index finger touch them just below their eyes along the jaw line,sometimes you will need to gently stroke along their mouth to get them to open up.If you are quick enough you can get a prekilled bug in before they close their mouth but it is much easier to have someone poke the bug in the leos mouth.You might also put them in small seperate cages until they are feeling better,it would be easier for them to catch a bug that way.Don't forget to try a couple of wax worms,I know some people don't like to feed wax worms but I've never had a problem with them.