[hexentanz]

In November of last year we had a P. klemmeri hatchling pip its egg open just a tad bit. After it not moving out of the egg for several hours I decided to help the little one out. When I finally made this choice the gecko appeared lifeless, so I figured no harm could come from taking it fully out of the egg. When I got it out of the egg I could see that it did manage to absorb the yolk sac and even started to shed a bit while inside the egg (strange), but the poor thing seemed very dead. I removed the remaining shed and placed the body inside a small clear box at the bottom of the parents tank until I could bury it the next morning. A few hours later short before going to bed I noticed movement from the gecko the movements were very twisted, but there was movement none the less. Over the next hours the baby appeared dead several more times, but eventually was moving slightly normal. It was a long battle after this to keep the young one alive, back feet were balled, all it would eat was Repashy, etc.

After a few days I placed the little one inside its clutchmates enclosure with the box I was keeping it in. From time to time the clutchmate could be observed nudging the little one, I guess in an attempt to get it to move and it did. Days following placement inside the enclosure the feet started to unball and the runt climbed out of the box, it did not stick so well at first until its next shed but it managed to get around pretty well despite this until the shed. It took quite awhile before the little runt would eat anything, but Repashy but it finally did start eating. The runt grew along with its clutchmate, but was always just a pinch smaller.

Recently the time came where its little friend was ready to move on to a new home and in the days to follow after it left leaves me wondering if this gecko managed to the survive the whole time because of its clutchmate? Since the clutchmate has gone to a new home the runt seems very skittish and refuses to eat anything but Repashy again. I moved her to a slightly bigger tank, in the hopes this might lift her spirits a bit higher (since there is nothing there to remind her of her friend), but she still wants to eat nothing but Repashy and I often have to coax her out of hiding.

So now I am back to square one with the poor little one and left wondering if they may be a little more dependent on each other than we all originally thought?

I thought about adding in another gecko with her, but I worry that I will go right back to square one as soon as that one leaves as well, so I have not done this.

[Elizabeth Freer]

Maureen ~

I love this story!!! Sounds as if your special little klem needs a "forever" partner .

[daggekko]

I'd be willing to bet that certain species might do better with social groups than others. I have seen so many people keep and raise P klemmeri as breeding groups. On the other hand, yesterday I was watching 2 month old P laticauda chase the daylights out of its tank mate. Time to seperate!

Sounds like you need to put the friend back in and find them a forever home together

[hexentanz]

I forgot to mention earlier, when the clutchmate went to its new home that it fought with the new friend for quite some days before it came to terms with it being a new friend.

Unfortunately daggecko the only way I could place them back together is if I asked for the gecko back in exchange for another and I feel awkward doing this because the guy has children and you cannot fool a child, they just know when a pet is not theirs. :/

Today my little one is not even taking Repashy. I'm going to try and place her with another one I have. I cannot lose this animal, i have come too far!!

[Yoshi'smom]

Awww.... Maureen! Let us know how things go with your little ones new friend. I have my finger's crossed everything will be ok!

[daggekko]

Yeah it would be akward asking that but it is worth explaining what's going on to the new owners. Or maybe you could ask them to take the one your having issues with on a temporary-to permanent time to see if this fixes the problem. I think it is worth the chance!

[Elizabeth Freer]

Maureen ~

If you were willing to part with this fragile one, would the person who bought his clutchmate be interested in having both of them?

[lauraleellbp]

Aww, I really hope you figure out something that works for it!

[LLDG]

Sounds like the little kid needs a noursement boost.

Repashys Suppements are good but I have one issue with ALL supplements. They are not always the best for sick or weak geckos.

When a human is sick we don't force vitamins into the person. Instead, it's better to push good nutritional food. Based on this, here is my suggestion:

Get a jar of fruit baby food, plain yogurt, and a jar of chicken baby food.

Mix a one to one to one mix of the above. This is highly nutritional. I've used this over and over for nursing sick geckos. I only add vitamins/supplements every few days.

Just my experience here.

[hexentanz]

In the condition the gecko is in I would not feel comfortable handing it over to anyone else, unless they had extensive years worth of keeping experience.

The clutchmate that was sold was to be paired off with another female until they are both ready for a male. The tank they are in is almost as long as a whole rooms wall, so I would for sure not feel comfortable giving the fragile gecko to them because it would not be a situation where it could be easily monitored. I also do not feel so comfortable having the gecko in a city that takes me over an hour to reach should something go wrong.

Today I managed to catch the gecko i had to possibly pair up with the runt and unfortunately it looks to be that the gecko is a late blooming male (a little over 9 months and pores look to be just coming in). I'm attaching a pic in case I am possibly wrong (the areas within the circle are what concern me it may be a male).


@Leann - I got some chicken and some peach fruit baby food tonight and will try offering her some of this tomorrow.


Today the gecko is back out and about and looking a tad chunky, so she must have eaten the Repashy or fruitflies in the tank.