Reptile & Amphibian Forums

siiiiigh...never should have gotten WC....but anyway, since Brit hasn't eaten since I got her and she's looking a bit lethargic and will not come out of her hide, I gave her fluids today (for a 100g lizard, she got 12mL lactated ringer's solution). I figure I need her to be hydrated before I address other issues, like possibly deworming (my vet uses panacur--fenbendazole--sound ok?), and what the problem is with her hind leg (she uses it normal but holds it funny when picked up or lying down, worried about MBD). I'd like to get her to eat but she doesn't come out of her hide anymore. I do think I need to get her basking spot hotter, but any ideas about getting her to eat? so far fancy leafy veggies and mixed veggies haven't gone over well, anything you've had luck with in getting a short-term captive to eat on its own? I'm mostly worried about hydrating her the next few days, then I'll turn to feeding, and hopefully she'll produce a fecal sample at some point to run for parasites.
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Sue
currently living with me:
0.1 Western hognose (Sola)
1.0 Crested gecko (Gator)
0.1 Niger Uromastyx (Brit)
0.1 'found in someone's garage' kitty (Terra)

You can try warmed up frozen green peas (almost a sure thing) or bee pollen granules or any sort of 100% pesticide free edible flower like dandelions, pansies, hibiscus, or nasturtiums. Avoid bugs of any kind or dry foods, of course, until you're comfy with her hydration levels.
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Torey
Eugene, Oregon, USA
1.1 Uromastyx geyri (Joe and Arthur)
3.0 Uromastyx dispar maliensis (Tank, Turtle, and Spike)
1.0 Uromastyx ornata (Scuttlebutt)
1.2 Anolis carolinensis (Bowser, Leeloo, and Sprocket)
0.1 African dwarf frog (Sheila)
1.0 Betta splendens (Mr. Miagi)
1.1 Felis domesticus (Roscolux and Jenny)

i am sorry that your babe is not doing well. helga was a rescued wild caught and when i first got her she would only eat peas and fresh soybeans but mostly peas. she eventually started eating yellow squash but was never a big greens eater until recently. have you tried soaking her in shallow warm/hot water? she may drink a little too. just be sure to dry her off when you are done, especially the tail. since she is new she may be a little moody. what exactly is she doing with her leg?
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vonnie
***There is no pleasure in having nothing to do; the fun is in having lots to do and not doing it. Mary Wilson Little ***

I've had good luck on my WC recovering his appetite with a 50%-50% mixture of baby food (squash, peas, mixed veggies) and pedialyte. A little twice a day for about a week and a half, then once a day until he was getting his weight and appetite back. Good luck. BTW, he was down to 84g when I did this.

-Jim
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2.1 - Rocky, Runako, and RoxyIII (my care sheets)

sub-q injections (10 mL each day of lactated ringer's solution into her armpit area) for 2 days after soaking her the first day. I haven't done anything this weekend, though she has been coming out more which i feel better about....she's looking perkier. I might try the babyfood thing, since my crested never finishes a jar before I throw it out, it would be a good way to use it up.
maybe I'll offer both the babyfood, and peas and bee pollen.
thanks for the suggestions. I'll probably soak her again sometime soon too

a PS--before I posted this I got her out to weigh her and somehow she has gained 22g in a week of not eating...and I put some babyfood on the tip of my finger and stuck it in front of her, and she ate some!! a few tonguefuls but still, progress!
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Sue
currently living with me:
0.1 Western hognose (Sola)
1.0 Crested gecko (Gator)
0.1 Niger Uromastyx (Brit)
0.1 'found in someone's garage' kitty (Terra)

I've read that adding flower pedals, like dandilions will get a feeding response.
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1.1.20 albino burms (male also labyrinth)
1.1 normal burms
1.2 ball pythons
1.1 spotted pythons
1.2 albino corn snakes (1 female snow)
0.1 house snake
1.2 kenyen sand boas
1.0 guyana red tail boa
1.0 amazon tree boa
1.1 everglades rat snakes
1.2 iguanas
0.1 water dragon
0.2 green basilisks
0.0.1 ornate box turtle
1.2 dogs
0.1 children
0.1 wife