Really need advice…I rescued an extremely skinny leopard gecko

[sammiicastro]

Hi, so I recently rescued a really skinny baby leopard gecko a couple days ago, I don't know it's background or its previous owners. Since I have had it, it has not eaten. I would think this is maybe from stress from the move but him being so skinny already, it worries me, he doesn't have much left to lose. I am planning on taking him to the vet this coming Saturday, but until then, is there anything I can do to get him to eat or just anything to get him nutrients. I know time is not on my side, so I'm just looking for anything I can do to help, but not harm him.
Some info on his setup, his hot side is 90, his low side is 80, he is on newspaper so I can see if he is pooping. He has multiple hides one on the hot side and cool side, also he has water and a dish of meal worms I put in there, I have tried to get him to eat by putting mealworms, crickets, and calciworms in front of him, but he has no interest in them. I rescued thia little guy knowing there was a chance he might not make it but I didn't want him to die just sitting in a petstore adoption cage with no name and no hope for him.

 

[TheGeckoSanctuary]

He's skinny but not emaciated (no signs of dehydration, hip bones aren't showing, etc).

Before your vet visit, I would weigh him and keep track of his weight every few days to ensure he isn't losing but otherwise keep handling to a minimum so he can settle in as stress could easily be playing a part to why he isn't eating. Keep offering different types of food in different ways (in a bowl, dropping in front of him, tong feeding, etc.) and hopefully something will capture his attention.

For your vet visit would bring a fresh fecal sample as parasites could cause a drop in appetite as well.

Good luck with this little one and keep us posted!

 

[cricket4u]

Perhaps there's something wrong with your set up? Could be why he is not eating. Go down this list. The cool side should be no higher than 75f.

#66---Leo Not Eating? Troubleshoot these causes......cricket4u (July & Nov 2013)
"Leos are very greedy and normally eat right away if everything is set up properly. However, I know there are exceptions. Try switching the hides. (The Exo-Terra hide is more secure and may be the reason. If he's not utilizing the heat, chances are he may not eat.) If that does not work, lower the temp as Elizabeth suggested. You may want to cover the sides of the glass so that he will feel more secure.

Improper temps---air temps too hot or too cold
Improper humidity---too dry is most common
Stress---too much handling---lack of hides or not enough---cagemate bullying, cage too small, et cetera......
Repetitious Diet---variety is important
Spoiled food---upset stomach or simply a bad experience (common with superworms)
Food offered at the wrong time of day---lights on
Wrong size prey---too big or too small
Improper photoperiod
Prey not recognized---leo needs moving prey to elicit feeding response
Malfunctioning heating equipment---goes unnoticed---should be checked daily
UTH is too warm---unregulated---gecko avoids the warm spot, therefore will not eat (need thermostat)
Most common of all CHEAP thermometers => false temp readings
Too much calcium causing constipation and/or loss of appetite

Parasites
Infection
Metabolic---calcium or vitamin deficiency
Impaction
Dehydration
Pain from an injury or otherwise"

 

[sammiicastro]

Ok thank you guys, I will kepp you posted. I made an appointment at the vet for tomorrow instead of Saturday, hopefully all goes well, and also I will cool down the cool side of his tank to around 70

 

[sammiicastro]

UPDATE on this little guy (Blu). I had taken him to the vet and got him checked out. He's healthy, it turns out his previous owners only would feed him waxworms. I had to force feed him for awhile since he was pretty skinny, but about 2 weeks ago he started eating mealworms . He's doing really well now and I hope to get him started on dubias soon. Here's a pic (also any idea on what morph?

 

[Completeleopard]

How's is blu doing now, still eating? Are your providing calcium and vitamins?

 

[sammiicastro]

yes he is eating now, I have been rotating calcium, calcium with minerals and D3, and reptivite. He's been doing really great actually, he has been growing and shedding, he has come really far.

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

yes he is eating now, I have been rotating calcium, calcium with minerals and D3, and reptivite. He's been doing really great actually, he has been growing and shedding, he has come really far.

:yahoo: that Blu is eating now!! Has he tasted dubia?

What is the brand of your calcium with D3? How often are you lightly dusting the prey?

Consider dusting as just icing on the cake. It is very important to feed your feeders a healthy diet 24/7. All important vitamin D3 as well as vitamin A acetate are important ingredients of a daily diet for crickets and Blaptica dubia.

Click here for tips on feeding crickets, et cetera:
http://www.geckosunlimited.com/comm...ckets-blaptica-dubia-hornworms-silkworms.html

 

[Completeleopard]

If you fill in this questionnaire then others can help you to check that your husbandry is correct so that hopefully no other complications appear again, glad your gecko is doing well now

Leopard Gecko Questionnaire

General Information
Species of lizard:
Gecko's name:
Morph:
Gender:
Age:
Weight:
Total length:
Length of your reptile when you first acquired it:
Source (pet store, breeder, previous owner):
Captive bred or wild caught:

Vivarium
Enclosure dimensions (length x width x heighth):
Cage (type, size):
Substrate provided:
Types of hiding places provided:
Is there a humidity hide? location?
Please describe any other furnishings:
List recent changes in the environment, if any:

Lighting
Artificial lighting
Incandescent (“screw-in” bulbs): wattage(s):
Fluorescent (tube bulbs):
Access to ambient daylight from a distant window:

Heating
Do you have a thermometer(s) in the cage?
What type and brand of thermometer (digital with probe, temperature gun, LCD strip, analog (circle), combo digital thermometer/hygrometer, stainless steel aquarim type, other):
What is the ground temperature right on the substrate under the warm dry hide:
What is the air temperature on the warm end about 4 inches up from the ground:
What is the air temperature on the cool end about 4 inches up from the ground:
What device(s) are used to maintain the temperature (Under Tank Heater, heat light, ceramic heat emitter, Flexwatt heat tape, hot rock, other):
Ventilation space for your UTH by elevating the tank above the shelf (some UTHs come with sticky feet for the tank corners):
Are you using a thermostat(s)?
Which hide does she/he spend most of her time?
Is the temperature decreased at night? by how much?

Humidity
Is the humidity measured?
Humidity range:

Diet
Insects and worms, list type:
Regular diet fed to the insects and worms:
Are the insects and worms formally “gutloaded” 1-2 days prior to feeding off to your gecko? If so with?
How often do you feed your gecko?
Please list any supplements (with brand names) used. How are they given and how often?
What calcium brand are you using? with D3, without or both?
Is the calcium in the tank with D3 or without?
Multivitamins (include brand name)?
Please list any recent additions/changes in the diet:

General Health
If your gecko is sick, please describe the signs and how long your gecko has been showing these signs:
Is your gecko’s general activity level normal, decreased, or increased?
Is your gecko’s appetite normal, decreased, or increased?
Have you noticed any of the following?
Weight (loss or gain):
Discharge from the eyes or nose:
Increased breathing rate or effort:
Change in the droppings:
Urates
---white or yellowish:
---size of urates as compared to size of feces:
Abnormal skin color or shedding:
Parasites on the skin or in the feces:
Weakness:

Previous problems and/or illnesses:

Other Critters in Same Cage or in Household
List other animals that are kept in the same cage:
Recent acquisitions (new pets within the past 6 months):
Are any of your other pets ill?

 

[sammiicastro]

Update! Blu is doing great and has gained quite a bit of weight.

 

[sammiicastro]

Since he is.bogger now, any idea on the morph?

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

yes he is eating now, I have been rotating calcium, calcium with minerals and D3, and reptivite. He's been doing really great actually, he has been growing and shedding, he has come really far.

Update! Blu is doing great and has gained quite a bit of weighReally need advice…I rescued an extremely skinny leopard gecko-20140526_123117.jpgt.

Since he is.bogger now, any idea on the morph?

Blu is lookin' good.

Have you plain Reptivite? How often do you use it? My vet suggests only a very tiny amount on some of the crickets maybe once a week.

For morph questions, share Blu's pic right here: Leopard Geckos | Morphs & Genetics