[Kuana]

Hi,
I recently purchased a skunk gecko (from the local top crop lol,) and i'm not sure if its to healthy. They told me that they were all clean of parisites when they ordered them, unsure of age (though he is about 8" - 9" long), and its a male. So, we've had him since th 23rd, hasn't realy eaten much of anything, couple bits of apple, and may be 3 crickets. His temp/ humidity are all in the suggested ranges that i have found online. Water changed daily, plenty of food offered, meal worms, crickets, fruit. Coconut hust for bed with some rock on one side that he seems to enjoy lying on now. Also have a fountain running 24/7, lots of climbing and hiding areas, and he's in a 20 gallon tank. Just shed for the first time since we got him 2 days ago. It also would appear that his head is now a bit discoloured from the rest of him. I also noticed from posted pictures that he is much duller in colour, (brown) and his lines are dotted not solid. He also has no bands on his tail. Are these all normal for this type gecko?? The closest vet for stool testing is over 4 hours away!!

[cliff_f]

The lack of markings is perfectly normal. From looking at your pictures he looks really skinny. Just keep offering him a small amount of food every few days till his appetite starts picking up. If you offer him food to often they tend not to eat as well. If you offer food only every few days he will get hungry and eat.

Now after I have said that, here is a big thing. Leave him alone as in do not handle him at all till he starts eating. Mist every day (they do not normally drink from water bowls at all). Other than misting you should not touch or mess with him at all! Once he starts eating and settling in then you can start to mess with it a little. Do not worry about trying to tame or any of that. If you do not get him healthy you will not have a gecko to try and tame.

[Kuana]

Thanks for the speedy reply!!
We havn't handled him at all since he has moved into his new home, just for fear of stressing the poor little guy out.
We mist prob 4-5 times a day, heavily, well depending on where the humidity is. We prob have been offering to much food, but we figured more chances equals more results. We have been pretty worried about him, were pretty attached all ready, if you have any other tips that could help we would realy appretiate any help we get with this sick little guy.

[cliff_f]

Actually I do have a few more tips. You said you misted 4-5 times a day...that is really not necessary, twice a day should be fine. Your really should let the cage dry out and let the humidity drop a little. If you keep the cage wet all the time you can cause fungus and molds to grow that will just make things worse. Two good misting a day(one in the morning and one in the evening) is plenty.

The thing about reptiles they don't think like we do. If they are not hungry and you are pushing food at them all the time they will start to shy away from it. If you let them get hungry and only offer a few crickets at a time, and if they do not eat within a few hours take them back out. They will start taking advantage of the "rare" times there is food. Also since he is that skinny you do not want to put to much food in his stomach at once after he starts eating slowly start offering more food each feeding.