Reptile & Amphibian Forums

OK.Things are settled a little.The little ones are warm and tired.I have the Ensure(vanilla) but think I'll wait till morning.They are very jumpy.They weigh between 2.2 and 2.7grams each.Tried to get the vet but our Herp guy is away till Mon.(figures) The samllest crickets we found still look so big.These guys are tiny.They will let me hold them...2 had shed stuck on their feet.I didnt want to add any other problems so i gave them anouther small luke warm tub and loosened it off.It also seemed to settle them down.Any good ideas what to try feeding them...they need something and I'm afraid the crix are too big.They all drank some water so dehydration is less of a concern.Its going to be a long weekend.My kids are so concerned...and mad.They dont understand how this SOB could do this.But then again...neither do I!Any help would be appreciated!

good! I just read the last posts and was just starting to wonder what was going on with these guys. I really would not offer crix tonight. Is it right you just picked them up this morning? You could try the Ensure or some baby food, but really the best thing you can do is let them de-stress, be warm, and leave them be (no more handling) for the evening, and offer some crix tommorrow. If they won't eat crix, try the Ensure. Also, make sure they have a dish of calcium in there too. I wish you the very best!
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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
9 eggs a-cookin'

I wonder if you could possibly like mush up crickets or mealworms and feed them through a water dropper? My mom used to be a wildlife rescueer and that's what we did for most of the animals coming in. I'm not sure if it would be the same for reptiles though, but just a suggestion.
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~*Chibi*~
Sir Iggy ( 1.0.0 El Salvador Blue Iguana), Ryo-ohki, Orion, Bud, & Finnegan (3.1.0 crazy kitties), Rosebud (0.1.0 cockerspaniel), Trixie and Kayko (0.1.1 leopard gecko)

Oh by the way, where in upstate ny? I live in Buffalo, and there is the WNY Herp Society that goes after people like that.
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~*Chibi*~
Sir Iggy ( 1.0.0 El Salvador Blue Iguana), Ryo-ohki, Orion, Bud, & Finnegan (3.1.0 crazy kitties), Rosebud (0.1.0 cockerspaniel), Trixie and Kayko (0.1.1 leopard gecko)

I don't know if this'd be of much help, but I had a gecko that was too small to eat the crix I had, and ended up having to cut the crickets in half, and feed him with tweezers. Of course, he was used to the tweezers, so I don't know if this'd just stress the babies more :/ I tried this with stubborn feeders, too, and just touched the yummy cricket guts on the tip of their nose, as soon as they tasted it, they chomped down on it.

Anyway, the best of luck to you and those little guys, that's a wonderful thing you did, and I hope they'll make it

I would not forcefeed them anything untill have have given them a chance to eat on thier own.
As for the crikets,you would be suprised what they can fit in thier mouth sometimes.
If they are really too big, Mealworms would also work if you can get some of those.
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Sarah H

www.fototime.com/inv/500FFD9910FF842
[email]ghia12345@aol.com[email]

I would give them a little time to settle down and then try offering them some crickets, they might be able to eat them, if the crickets are a lot bigger than the space between the babies eyes then i would not offer them. If they do not take to the crickets use the ensure. I would be cautious about offering mealies as they are tough to digest and these babies insides are probably not up to par right now. Try to get some softer worms like wax worms (not good as a staple but ok in a pinch, as treats, and to fatten leo's up) or butter worms. If they wotn take the bugs try cutting one in half and dipping the juicey insides on their noses, this should intice feeding. Dont force feed them unless its absolutely necesarry because it is VERY stressfull. As soon as they poop take fecals to the vet cause they may well have parasites.

good luck!
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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

HI, I just read your original post. I just can't figure out how somebody could be so cruel! Those surviving babies are so lucky that you came along

You mentioned that the crickets seem to big for them, are they pinheads?

Btw, its nice to run into another reptile fan thats from my area. I'm located near Utica, NY.

Good luck, I hope all goes well!
michelle

Hey there -- thank God you found them...

I agree w/what others said -- don't try to force feed them before seein a vet -- but I wanted to comment that I have had good luck using mini veterinary syringes (without needles, of course!) to feed rescues that still refused to eat after a week or so.

To my surprise, this method can stimulate appetites enough to encourage feeding autonomously again. I was initially worried that they'd never "learn" to eat live prey, but BOY -- that is definitely a strong instinct we don't have to worry about! Even a baby Leo that has never seen a cricket and been syringe fed for a couple months will instinctively hunt and kill when healthy & exposed to crickets!

I highly recommend discussing this option w/a herp. vet, picking up some baggies of mini syringes, and making a "slurry" for the babes when the vet OK's it (extra calcium ensure meat baby food veg baby food, like turkey peas vanilla ensure). I always put some "Repti-Cal" or other calcium supplement in it when I wasn't using the Ensure). Some leos also like yogurt and fruit baby food -- and with rescues, every calorie counts!!

Good Luck