Concerned about my grandis

Marisa · #1 10-24-2011, 08:50 PM

Well this sucks. About a week ago I noticed V my Phelsuma grandis just not looking normal. I can't put my finger on what just off. Anyways yesterday and today we have noticed sagging skin/weight loss. I am VERY concerned. This gecko is like a family member to us, lives in the living room, and I'd hate anything to happen.

He is CB (2008 ) and has always been in perfect health. I've changed nothing about our routine we've used since he was a baby, nothing has been added or removed from the cage. His diet is exactly the same as it has been since 2008.

So far he is not acting normal, just hanging out on the back of the cage. Not normal for him at all. He moves to the basking site, then back to the back. The only other "symptom' is weight loss. So I am thinking parasites of some kind? Would this come from the crickets? Obviously they can carry parasites, then stress could bring them out but nothing has changed in his life.

Any ideas? I am going to take a sample to the vet if I can find one that won't make me bring him in first. I think that might kill him. We've never touched him let alone caught him.

hercules · #2 10-24-2011, 10:25 PM

I would take him to the vet as soon as possible, and get a dropping sample tested. This sounds pretty serious.

hercules · #3 10-24-2011, 10:30 PM

He also could Be depressed, so maybe you should play with him or get him a partner. I think he could also have a parasite, I'm not completely sure what kind though. He could have some sort of disease. The Parasite Or Disease could definately be from the Crickets.

hercules · #4 10-24-2011, 10:33 PM

Besides the vet visit, I would probably just leave him alone. Messing with him might just make stress on him worse.

rhino43grr · #5 10-25-2011, 01:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hercules

He also could Be depressed, so maybe you should play with him or get him a partner. I think he could also have a parasite, I'm not completely sure what kind though. He could have some sort of disease. The Parasite Or Disease could definately be from the Crickets.

Quote:

Originally Posted by hercules

Besides the vet visit, I would probably just leave him alone. Messing with him might just make stress on him worse.

just to be clear...

they should play with their day gecko, but leave him alone because messing with him might stress him out.

Marisa · #6 10-25-2011, 09:58 AM

Thank you for your help and I don't want to offend you but that is not the advice I need right now. These creatures don't "get lonely and need to play". This is obviously something serious medically and I am hoping someone will have some suggestions.

O.k. a new "symptom" has shown itself. He has not been on the front or side glass for about a week so I didn't notice this before. But today he was and underneath looks like his hemipenis are out and "dried up" if that is even what those are. I realize in the photo it just looks like some dried shed, but it's not. It's MUCH thicker then that.

Also not visible in the photo, is the vent has some dried blood. As stated before I've had this gecko since early 2008 and know what his underside is supposed to look like, while the photo is terrible, the underside looks all sorts of wrong. As soon as I took one crappy test shot, he moved away.

Help?

Marisa · #7 10-25-2011, 01:04 PM

I wanted to come and add that I've been watching him today very close. He just decided to move from the back wall to his basking site. Something is off with his movements on top of what I posted above. I can't explain exactly what is off about how he is moving but it's not how he normally moves. It's much slower and almost careful, where normally he moves at lightening speed without any caution at all.

JIGSAW818 · #8 10-25-2011, 03:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marisa

Thank you for your help and I don't want to offend you but that is not the advice I need right now. These creatures don't "get lonely and need to play". This is obviously something serious medically and I am hoping someone will have some suggestions.

O.k. a new "symptom" has shown itself. He has not been on the front or side glass for about a week so I didn't notice this before. But today he was and underneath looks like his hemipenis are out and "dried up" if that is even what those are. I realize in the photo it just looks like some dried shed, but it's not. It's MUCH thicker then that.

Also not visible in the photo, is the vent has some dried blood. As stated before I've had this gecko since early 2008 and know what his underside is supposed to look like, while the photo is terrible, the underside looks all sorts of wrong. As soon as I took one crappy test shot, he moved away.

Help?

My advice would to keep his temps and humidity like you have been, take him to the vet because from what I understand he is very sick or has a horrible infection down there. If it gets worse than it already is he will start picking down there. How often do you clean the tank? Bacteria build up from not cleaning the tank can cause all kinds of nasty stuff. Blood, from what you said is not a very good sign. You need to take immediate action and take him to a vet, they will help you more than we can over the web. You should hurry before what ever he has spreads.

lauraleellbp · #9 10-26-2011, 02:29 PM

I agree, I'd get him to the vet ASAP.

I hope it's not to late to pull him through- best of luck!!

LLDG · #10 10-26-2011, 08:27 PM

Marisa:

Yes, it sounds like something is going on with your P grandis.

From what I can tell, these are the symptoms:
Dry vent/hemipen
stressed/hiding
weight loss

Weight loss with shed problems is almost always indication of parasite infection. Getting a stool sample to a veterinarian is a good call.

Double check humidity and temperature. Things change over time.

One more thing: check expiration date on all your vitamins. Shed problems and behavior changes can be cause by lack of vitamins (or expired vitamins).

Hope all goes well.