Elizabeth Freer
Well-known member
NoIdea ~
Turkey baby food will be good too or chicken baby food if you cannot find turkey.
Gecko with injured legs
- Thread starter NoIdea
- Start date
NoIdea ~
Turkey baby food will be good too or chicken baby food if you cannot find turkey.
Tamara
New member
We somehow missed this topic, but based on it's pattern we believe what you have there is Oedura lesueurii , with Christinus marmoratus being our second guess.
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Elizabeth Freer
Well-known member
Thanks, Tamara.
Have an even better idea for the future! Maybe send you, Ingo, others a thread link via the ID subforum.
Thanks guys,
I was thinking he was a a marbled velvet as he has light yellow stripes along his back (not sure if the picture showed it as I reduced the res so as to not upload a large pic size) but if you wanted a clearer pic I can post it up. Knowing the type of velvet, does this change any of the recommendations i.e. temps, etc.?
Ok I'll give turkey baby food a try. I assume I'm looking for plain turkey not with anything added? Yeah I need to look into a few things, I wasn't sure about the humidity as where I am at the moment is quite dry and I wasn't sure if I should make his enclosure humid if he's not used to it in case it stressed him out more.
He's certainly drinking, I've seen him lick moisture off a bit of fake veg I've got in with him (I've been misting his enclosure every night) although how much he's drinking I'm not sure. i also looked at him this morning and he's seemed to lighten up a bit from yesterday so hopefully that's a good sign too.
I left the mealworm guts in with him all night and he doesn't look like he's touched them so I'll give baby food a shot tonight and I'm going to have to look at ordering some food I think, I'm thinking I might ask a reptile place to pack a bit of a mixed bag for me so I can try a few different types of food.
Also last night the heat mat I had seems to have been doing quite a poor job and only maintained the temp at 20deg. Can anyone recommend a good heater that will maintain the temps around that 25deg mark for nights?
I was thinking he was a a marbled velvet as he has light yellow stripes along his back (not sure if the picture showed it as I reduced the res so as to not upload a large pic size) but if you wanted a clearer pic I can post it up. Knowing the type of velvet, does this change any of the recommendations i.e. temps, etc.?
Ok I'll give turkey baby food a try. I assume I'm looking for plain turkey not with anything added? Yeah I need to look into a few things, I wasn't sure about the humidity as where I am at the moment is quite dry and I wasn't sure if I should make his enclosure humid if he's not used to it in case it stressed him out more.
He's certainly drinking, I've seen him lick moisture off a bit of fake veg I've got in with him (I've been misting his enclosure every night) although how much he's drinking I'm not sure. i also looked at him this morning and he's seemed to lighten up a bit from yesterday so hopefully that's a good sign too.
I left the mealworm guts in with him all night and he doesn't look like he's touched them so I'll give baby food a shot tonight and I'm going to have to look at ordering some food I think, I'm thinking I might ask a reptile place to pack a bit of a mixed bag for me so I can try a few different types of food.
Also last night the heat mat I had seems to have been doing quite a poor job and only maintained the temp at 20deg. Can anyone recommend a good heater that will maintain the temps around that 25deg mark for nights?
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Completeleopard
New member
I will answer the questions I 'think' I can answer:
Regarding the ordering food, great idea!
Rather than buying a new heat mat, why not get a thermostat? You can set the temp to what you want on the thermostat, when the mat gets to that heat you set, the thermostat turns the mat off automatically, when the mat gets below the temp set, the thermostat turns the mat on automatically. Place the thermostat sensor under the warm dry hide, right on the substrate. This saves electric and reduces fire risk
This is from Elizabeth's care sheet:
These are good thermostats:
Click: ******Amazon.com: Hydrofarm MTPRTC Digital Thermostat For Heat Mats: Patio, Lawn & Garden It has a convenient digital readout and a small metal probe. This thermostat should vary no more than +/- 3 degrees F from its setting before it turns on or off.
The Hydrofarm MTPRTC also has a 5/8 inch diameter suction cup that slides up and down the probe's cord. The suction cup could be removed. I tape the cord to the side of the glass. Haven't yet tried vegetable oil to the base of the suction cup to improve the suction.
Click: Amazon.com: reptitemp 500r
Click: BAH-1000DC Reptile Thermostat New Model - Incredibly Reliable Digital Chip for Accurate Temperature Control
The BAH-1000DC Reptile Thermostat's probe is thick & enclosed in black plastic (?) with the suction cup attached (and permanent).
Click: Helix DBS1000 Proportional Therm - Helix Proportional - Temperature Control - The Bean Farm
Click: Herpstat 2 Proportional Thermostat - Herpstat Proportional - Temperature Control - The Bean Farm
Click: Zilla 1000 Watt Reptile Heat Temperature Controller 68022 R Zilla | eBa
But before buying a thermostat, what is the size of the tank and heat mat?
Also, regarding the Turkey baby food, not sure if this helps:
From Elizabeth's care sheet:
For shortterm assist feeding ONLY:
***Turkey Baby Food versus Chicken Baby Food
"Turkey baby food is a milder food than chicken and thus provides less of a shock to the digestive system. The goal of assist feeding is not to overwhelm the gecko with nutrients.
The recommended 1:1 ratio of turkey baby food (which is has a slightly higher water content than chicken baby food) to pediatric fluids (Pedialyte) helps quickly replace fluids and provides a mild dosage of nutrients that are more easily digestable than the more nutrient-dense chicken baby foods. Fluid replacement at a veterinary clinic is often highly invasive procedure and should be avoided if at all possible.
Turkey is also lower in saturated fats as well as total fats. Fats are in both but the turkey diet after mixing contains just 3.1% where the chicken diet would have 3.95% (close to one percent higher in total fat content, of which a higher percentage is saturated fat).
Turkey is slightly more mineral-rich than chicken (based on total ash content) and this may help with replacement of any lost due to a previously substandard diet.
Turkey baby food contains 3 times as much total vitamin D (D2 + D3). This offsets its lower calcium levels. My opinion is that the calcium in turkey is more available than the calcium in chicken baby foods due to the higher level of vitamin
Regarding the ordering food, great idea!
Rather than buying a new heat mat, why not get a thermostat? You can set the temp to what you want on the thermostat, when the mat gets to that heat you set, the thermostat turns the mat off automatically, when the mat gets below the temp set, the thermostat turns the mat on automatically. Place the thermostat sensor under the warm dry hide, right on the substrate. This saves electric and reduces fire risk
This is from Elizabeth's care sheet:
These are good thermostats:
Click: ******Amazon.com: Hydrofarm MTPRTC Digital Thermostat For Heat Mats: Patio, Lawn & Garden It has a convenient digital readout and a small metal probe. This thermostat should vary no more than +/- 3 degrees F from its setting before it turns on or off.
The Hydrofarm MTPRTC also has a 5/8 inch diameter suction cup that slides up and down the probe's cord. The suction cup could be removed. I tape the cord to the side of the glass. Haven't yet tried vegetable oil to the base of the suction cup to improve the suction.
Click: Amazon.com: reptitemp 500r
Click: BAH-1000DC Reptile Thermostat New Model - Incredibly Reliable Digital Chip for Accurate Temperature Control
The BAH-1000DC Reptile Thermostat's probe is thick & enclosed in black plastic (?) with the suction cup attached (and permanent).
Click: Helix DBS1000 Proportional Therm - Helix Proportional - Temperature Control - The Bean Farm
Click: Herpstat 2 Proportional Thermostat - Herpstat Proportional - Temperature Control - The Bean Farm
Click: Zilla 1000 Watt Reptile Heat Temperature Controller 68022 R Zilla | eBa
But before buying a thermostat, what is the size of the tank and heat mat?
Also, regarding the Turkey baby food, not sure if this helps:
From Elizabeth's care sheet:
For shortterm assist feeding ONLY:
***Turkey Baby Food versus Chicken Baby Food
"Turkey baby food is a milder food than chicken and thus provides less of a shock to the digestive system. The goal of assist feeding is not to overwhelm the gecko with nutrients.
The recommended 1:1 ratio of turkey baby food (which is has a slightly higher water content than chicken baby food) to pediatric fluids (Pedialyte) helps quickly replace fluids and provides a mild dosage of nutrients that are more easily digestable than the more nutrient-dense chicken baby foods. Fluid replacement at a veterinary clinic is often highly invasive procedure and should be avoided if at all possible.
Turkey is also lower in saturated fats as well as total fats. Fats are in both but the turkey diet after mixing contains just 3.1% where the chicken diet would have 3.95% (close to one percent higher in total fat content, of which a higher percentage is saturated fat).
Turkey is slightly more mineral-rich than chicken (based on total ash content) and this may help with replacement of any lost due to a previously substandard diet.
Turkey baby food contains 3 times as much total vitamin D (D2 + D3). This offsets its lower calcium levels. My opinion is that the calcium in turkey is more available than the calcium in chicken baby foods due to the higher level of vitamin
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The tank is 500mm x 300mm x 300mm, and the current heat map is a 5w one that's probably 150mm x 150mm, but it just doesn't seem to be getting very warm so I'm not sure a thermostat would fix that...
Ah thanks for the info. Sorry what is pedialyte and where can I get it from? I googled it and I can see it's an electrolyte solution but is there a specific one I should get? Or can I just substitute it for gatorade.
Ah thanks for the info. Sorry what is pedialyte and where can I get it from? I googled it and I can see it's an electrolyte solution but is there a specific one I should get? Or can I just substitute it for gatorade
.Completeleopard
New member
1. No a thermostat won't fix the heat mat, its too small
2. Pedialyte, not sure where to get it, but once Elizabeth sees this thread she might know where you can get it
2. Pedialyte, not sure where to get it, but once Elizabeth sees this thread she might know where you can get it
Elizabeth Freer
Well-known member
Hi NoIdea ~
1. You may find more specific care info by googling marbled geckos in New South Wales.
2. Click here for a current thread on Christinus marmoratus, one of Tamara's two suggestions: http://www.geckosunlimited.com/comm...oratus-marmoratus-new-owner-2.html#post422848
3. Yes, plain turkey baby food. Oxbow's Carnivore Care is better balanced all around for assist feeding.
4. Humidity ~ Spraying the enclosure in the evening has benefits. Comforting to hear that your little guy is licking those droplets!!!
5. Heat mat troubles: Can you Aussies order from Amazon.com? I recommend a heat mat 1/3 the length of the enclosure and as close to the width as possible. Amazon carries these 11 inch x 11 inch Ultratherm heat mats sold by the Bean Farm. These mats can be reused and come in 11 different sizes.
6. What about just heating from above? Have you heard about ceramic heat emitters that only emit heat, no light. During the day you might add a low wattage incandescent bulb.
7. Sorry for no degrees C conversions here. I keep my Oedura castelnaui in 10 gallon tanks. During the winter months I heat the enclosure with a 40 watt red bulb on one end during the day. Ambient room temps from 72 F + a little. The bulb is timed to go off at night. Temperatures dip to no lower than 66 F. In the summer months (May-September) I use a 25 watt bulb instead.
8. Get plain Pedialyte! Pedialyte is an electrolyte replacement liquid sometimes given to sick children to prevent dehydration. In the USA grocery stores carry it.
1. You may find more specific care info by googling marbled geckos in New South Wales.
2. Click here for a current thread on Christinus marmoratus, one of Tamara's two suggestions: http://www.geckosunlimited.com/comm...oratus-marmoratus-new-owner-2.html#post422848
3. Yes, plain turkey baby food. Oxbow's Carnivore Care is better balanced all around for assist feeding.
4. Humidity ~ Spraying the enclosure in the evening has benefits. Comforting to hear that your little guy is licking those droplets!!!
5. Heat mat troubles: Can you Aussies order from Amazon.com? I recommend a heat mat 1/3 the length of the enclosure and as close to the width as possible. Amazon carries these 11 inch x 11 inch Ultratherm heat mats sold by the Bean Farm. These mats can be reused and come in 11 different sizes.
6. What about just heating from above? Have you heard about ceramic heat emitters that only emit heat, no light. During the day you might add a low wattage incandescent bulb.
7. Sorry for no degrees C conversions here. I keep my Oedura castelnaui in 10 gallon tanks. During the winter months I heat the enclosure with a 40 watt red bulb on one end during the day. Ambient room temps from 72 F + a little. The bulb is timed to go off at night. Temperatures dip to no lower than 66 F. In the summer months (May-September) I use a 25 watt bulb instead.
8. Get plain Pedialyte! Pedialyte is an electrolyte replacement liquid sometimes given to sick children to prevent dehydration. In the USA grocery stores carry it.
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Ok thanks, I'm looking for the info. Unfortunately stupid Amazon only ships selected items to Aus, which is pretty much cds and dvds and the odd book. Any thoughts on any other brands of heat mats you know of? Worst case is I can leave the bulb on but that's probably a bit hot during the night. If you're talking 66F that's a bit colder than his enclosure was getting so maybe the heat mat isn't as bad as I thought.. Although I definitely want another one I just don't want to pay $60+ for a rubbish one from a pet store (the one I got was $30 already).
Yeah I thought about ceramic but I couldn't find one with a low enough voltage to keep his enclosure cool enough during the night, but I guess if I hooked it up with a thermostat that could work, though a heat mat would likely be easier and both would need to be ordered anyway.
Also I'll look into the pedialyte and see if I can find a supplier in Australia to give him, I've seen an additive in the pet store that you add it to their water and it's got a whole bunch of vitamins and stuff in, Jurassipet JurassiQuench - Reptile Health & Wellbeing - Reptile let me know if that would be ok?
I couldn't find any plain chicken or turkey baby food but I put 2 lots of worm guts on his nose and he ate both again last night so at least he's getting something, and I've sent some enquiries to reptile food places.
Yeah I thought about ceramic but I couldn't find one with a low enough voltage to keep his enclosure cool enough during the night, but I guess if I hooked it up with a thermostat that could work, though a heat mat would likely be easier and both would need to be ordered anyway.
Also I'll look into the pedialyte and see if I can find a supplier in Australia to give him, I've seen an additive in the pet store that you add it to their water and it's got a whole bunch of vitamins and stuff in, Jurassipet JurassiQuench - Reptile Health & Wellbeing - Reptile let me know if that would be ok?
I couldn't find any plain chicken or turkey baby food but I put 2 lots of worm guts on his nose and he ate both again last night so at least he's getting something, and I've sent some enquiries to reptile food places.
Elizabeth Freer
Well-known member
NoIdea said:
What kind of mixtures did you find with turkey or chicken baby food? Perhaps one of those would still work? Gerbers is the brand I have.
Have you any mealworm pupae or freshly molted mealworms? Wonder if he would eat the whole worm?
I think it's best to give him fresh water....no additives.
Completeleopard
New member
Hello Noldea -
I do not think that will be adequate , it is suitable for sponge drinking animals (spiders, insects)
JurassiPet JurassiQuench contains:
Calcium (min) 0.050 mg
Ascorbic Acid (Vit C) 0.050 mg
Moisture (Max) 99%
Amounts per 1 g. Ingredients: alcium chloride, ascorbic acid (Vitamin C)
The information is from the JurassiPet website.
I do not think that will be adequate , it is suitable for sponge drinking animals (spiders, insects)
JurassiPet JurassiQuench contains:
Calcium (min) 0.050 mg
Ascorbic Acid (Vit C) 0.050 mg
Moisture (Max) 99%
Amounts per 1 g. Ingredients: alcium chloride, ascorbic acid (Vitamin C)
The information is from the JurassiPet website.
So update time, he has just shed most of his skin, and a leg! His front left leg was removed during the shedding process so wasn't expecting that but good with the bad, he is really moving now and I was able to handle him for the first time and he let me hand feed him some more mealworm guts, so I've dropped another cricket in his enclosure so we'll wait to see how he goes with that, hopefully he's got his mojo back! I was really surprised at how quick he can move now, I think his front leg was hindering him a lot so I think this is a positive and hopefully it'll let him hunt again.
Yep I've been picking out the smallest, freshest and most active looking mealworms so hopefully now he's lost that leg he might start having a bit more of a go at some food. Baby food wise there was chicken and mixed vegetables like corn and carrot (I guess I can just pick around the veggies...) but no turkey sorry. If I bought some turkey could I make my own?
Ok thanks heaps for that CL, I had no idea and that's the only water supps they sell so it'll have to be an online order.
Yep I've been picking out the smallest, freshest and most active looking mealworms so hopefully now he's lost that leg he might start having a bit more of a go at some food. Baby food wise there was chicken and mixed vegetables like corn and carrot (I guess I can just pick around the veggies...) but no turkey sorry. If I bought some turkey could I make my own?
Ok thanks heaps for that CL, I had no idea and that's the only water supps they sell so it'll have to be an online order.
Completeleopard
New member
Well that's great news that he can move easier now, I find it amazing how well reptiles can adapt to situations! Great news about the handling and being able to feed him more!
I'd recommend getting some scales to track his weight.
Is he pooping?
I'd recommend getting some scales to track his weight.
Is he pooping?
Yeah I was amazed at how quick and agile he is even with one leg missing and another not working. I'll wait to see what happens with his back leg when he finishes shedding but he's getting his colour back which is great to see and safe to assume it means he's feeling a bit better I think.
Ok I'll look into getting some kitchen scales for him, although given how he is I'll have to try to get him to hold still! He's pooped once since I had him and that was 2 days ago I think. He hasn't really eaten a whole lot though. How regular is it for them to poop? I read every other day but some of the stuff I've read compared to what you both have told me has been quite off so I'm not trusting it.
Ok I'll look into getting some kitchen scales for him, although given how he is I'll have to try to get him to hold still! He's pooped once since I had him and that was 2 days ago I think. He hasn't really eaten a whole lot though. How regular is it for them to poop? I read every other day but some of the stuff I've read compared to what you both have told me has been quite off so I'm not trusting it.
Elizabeth Freer
Well-known member
Poop frequency depends upon eating, of course.
How about sharing a video of this little guy? I would very much like to see him in motion!
Just use the container method when weighing. Then substract the container's weight from the weight shown on the scales.
Completeleopard
New member
Elizabeth ,
How about some Flukers Repti Boost for this Velvet Gecko? Or Zilla Jump Start?
How about some Flukers Repti Boost for this Velvet Gecko? Or Zilla Jump Start?
Elizabeth Freer
Well-known member
Completeleopard ~
1st choice: Oxbow's Carnivore Care
2nd choice: Flukers' Repti+Boost
Zilla's Jump-Start is extremely poor. Corn syrup is the first ingredient listed. Reading right off the box:
---crude protein - 0.68%
---crude fat - 34.5%
...and so on......
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Completeleopard
New member
Thanks for that Elizabeth , so should the OP give some Flukers of Oxbow to this gecko?
Completeleopard
New member
Hello Noldea
How's your gecko
How's your gecko