Emaciated Gold Dust Help Needed

[Fallingspeaker]

Thanks Liz. The box he was in was cardboard but we had plastic lining on the bottom. He was pretty moist when I picked him up but his shed was definitely tough and needed massaging and In dressing.

At the store tonight buying his rehab home and setting it up tomorrow. He’s in a big cardboard box right now with a his smaller moisture box inside of it. I made air holes and food and water. Hopefully he sleeps tonight without more stress

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

Thanks Liz. The box he was in was cardboard but we had plastic lining on the bottom. He was pretty moist when I picked him up but his shed was definitely tough and needed massaging and In dressing.

At the store tonight buying his rehab home and setting it up tomorrow. He’s in a big cardboard box right now with a his smaller moisture box inside of it. I made air holes and food and water. Hopefully he sleeps tonight without more stress

You're welcome, John!

It's amazing that your wife made a large cardboard box home to help him shed and he went right in! It's as if you made a Welcome mat. You and your wife must be Gecko Whisperers. You are definitely thinking "outside the box".

Were you able to remove his gloves and boots in one piece? Since he can now climb, he has a better future!!!

Perhaps we can find online remedies for mouth rot.

 

[Fallingspeaker]

You're welcome, John!

It's amazing that your wife made a large cardboard box home to help him shed and he went right in! It's as if you made a Welcome mat. You and your wife must be Gecko Whisperers. You are definitely thinking "outside the box".

Were you able to remove his gloves and boots in one piece? Since he can now climb, he has a better future!!!

Perhaps we can find online remedies for mouth rot.

He’s in a cardboard box tonight. It breaks my heart having to move him and stress him so much. Today my wife checked his shed and then had to take a 2 hour video call. Afterwards she checked again and found him bent and motionless. She dropped water on him and touched him and he didn’t move. She called me crying that he had passed away. I dropped what I was doing and drove home. Right before I got home she checked his body one more time and he was missing. He was playing dead with her (second time he’s fooled her).

I tried using a wet Q-tip to try take it off but he kept running and jumping and wasting his energy. I ended up holding him. I was able to get all gloves and boots off. They rolled off like sleeves being turned inside out. He ended up playing dead in my fingers while I did all of it.

His tail was black and I thought dead flesh but under his shed it was a little pinkish. After I took his Whole helmet off, his mouth looked clean. He opened it up wide and it was all cream and pink. So for now I’m not so sure he has an infection. It may have been dead skin getting grimy.

He’s still skinny though. I will transfer him into terrarium tomorrow morning and pray he eats. It has been two days that he hasn’t eaten.

 

[Fallingspeaker]

Ok he’s in the hospital terrarium. Drinking dew off the foliage. I am taking off today to monitor and hope he eats.

 

[Fallingspeaker]

He ate a couple times. Maybe a few hundred licks total. But he had to eat upside down. He absolutely hates sphagnum moss. Won’t touch it. I’ll have to buy the soft carpet so he can walk on. After al, he basically grew up on concrete, tile, and human carpet since born.

He really wants to be out of the glass terrarium. Hopefully I can get his weight back on and then we’ll have to decide on If he lives In our house free or in a bigger Vivarium

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

He ate a couple times. Maybe a few hundred licks total. But he had to eat upside down. He absolutely hates sphagnum moss. Won’t touch it. I’ll have to buy the soft carpet so he can walk on. After al, he basically grew up on concrete, tile, and human carpet since born.

He really wants to be out of the glass terrarium. Hopefully I can get his weight back on and then we’ll have to decide on If he lives In our house free or in a bigger Vivarium

Do you think Midori-Chan hatched in your condo? He's been through sooooooo much during the past few days.

Before you remove the sphagnum moss, please give Midori-Chan several days to get used to it!!! Imagine that YOU are a day gecko. Sphagnum moss offers natural hiding places and shelters! Not only that, sphagnum moss offers superior opportunities to keep consistent humidity 24/7. All other hides are moist ------> dry within a couple hours.

I really only know of 1 terra cotta hide (Amazon's OMEM hide) that's really tops for a humid hide.

Method #6 -- Proactive Method
Here's an excellent proactive approach! A LARGE terra cotta cave with a basin on top will keep ANY gecko's humidity higher 24/7. Since the humidification cave is made from clay, colors vary some. Use this cave + an 8 ounce water dish for your leopard gecko.

July 2020: My leopard gecko loves her new LARGE terra cotta humid hide with the basin on top! Place that hide on a textured ceramic tile or on a piece of slate on the enclosure's warm end right next to the warm dry hide. Use sphagnum moss inside as a bedding. Fill the basin on top with water daily.

My leo uses this terra cotta hide all the time! She alternates between her warm dry hide and this warm humid hide. This terra cotta humid hide retains a constant humidity level without any effort on my part. My leo's former humid hide was often dry, quite dry in fact.

Terra cotta is porous. It is the only type hide that actually "breathes".

Click: https://www.amazon.com/OMEM-Reptiles-Hideout-Humidification-Lizard/dp/B01M1NTI44

View attachment 48541 View attachment 48970 View attachment 48703

Sizes
Small: 3.54'' x 2.76'' x 2.36''
Medium: 4.72'' x 3.35'' x 2.95'' (Good size for Oedura castelnaui - Northern Velvet Geckos)
Large OMEM hide (for ALL leopard geckos up to maybe 90 grams): 5.9'' x 4.72'' x 3.74''
X-Large: At this time OMEM does not make an XL version of their terra cotta hide.

The entry hole for the large OMEM terra cotta hide measures 2 inches wide x 1.5 inches high.


For link 4 click: 7 Stuck Shed Humidity Box Assists for a gecko's toes, body, head, & eyes -- September 2020 (update includes OMEM terra cotta humidification hides!)

My leopard gecko uses this OMEM hide all the time and so does one of my northern velvet geckos.

 

[Fallingspeaker]

Thanks for the suggestions. He ate about 4 separate times. Basked up near the lamp for a lot of the day. He tried multiple times to find a way out. It’s heartbreaking watching it, I’m sure he can see all of his old spots through the glass. He made a poop. I got a piece of bamboo that I will cut to various sizes for lots of bridges

He sticks to the glass all day long with only a couple short stays on leaves. Maybe he missed climbing during the last few weeks.

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

Thanks for the suggestions. He ate about 4 separate times. Basked up near the lamp for a lot of the day. He tried multiple times to find a way out. It’s heartbreaking watching it, I’m sure he can see all of his old spots through the glass. He made a poop. I got a piece of bamboo that I will cut to various sizes for lots of bridges

He sticks to the glass all day long with only a couple short stays on leaves. Maybe he missed climbing during the last few weeks.

Here's an idea: leave the bamboo ends accessible so he can hide inside.

My favorite part of your message is: "He sticks to the glass all day long with only a couple short stays on leaves." :yahoo:

(click to enlarge)​

 

[Fallingspeaker]

I’m wondering how to get a UVB light for this horizontal 10gal tank. Since I have a 8.5” shallow dome, do I get another dome with a compact zoo med 10.0 and light half the tank?

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

I’m wondering how to get a UVB light for this horizontal 10gal tank. Since I have a 8.5” shallow dome, do I get another dome with a compact zoo med 10.0 and light half the tank?

1. What type finish does the inside of your 8.5 inch shallow dome have: white paint or metallic finish? The metallic finish is more reflective.
2. Have you located Midori-Chan's incandescent bulb on one side of the 10 gallon, so your gecko has a thermal gradient?

The UV Index needs to be just right. Otherwise UVB could damage your gecko's vision. Will you need Zoo Med Reptisun's mini-compact, regular compact, a 5.0 or a 10.0? I don't know how to set up UVB for your GDG within a 10 gallon.

Please join Facebook's Reptile Lighting group. Admin Frances Baines may jump in and let you know how to do it.

 

[Fallingspeaker]

1. What type finish does the inside of your 8.5 inch shallow dome have: white paint or metallic finish? The metallic finish is more reflective.
2. Have you located Midori-Chan's incandescent bulb on one side of the 10 gallon, so your gecko has a thermal gradient?

The UV Index needs to be just right. Otherwise UVB could damage your gecko's vision. Will you need Zoo Med Reptisun's mini-compact, regular compact, a 5.0 or a 10.0? I don't know how to set up UVB for your GDG within a 10 gallon.

Please join Facebook's Reptile Lighting group. Admin Frances Baines may jump in and let you know how to do it.

The 8.5 is metallic. Yes it’s on one side of tank. He loves basking under it on his high sticks or leaves of the Pothos. I don’t think it’s too hot since he chooses to stay there throughout the day.

I’ve been trying to give him a few pinheads a day. This morning immediately after waking up he climbed into the Plastic cricket Holder looking for more food. So today I decided to feed him till he’s full. He ate about 15 dusted pinheads and abruptly left the container with another one left Inside. So I’m assuming he’s full. I’m building more bamboo perches and bridges as time allows.

He has choices between mango smoothies and papaya smoothies but loves cricket buffets.

 

[acpart]

If you have a mesh cover for your 10 gallon, you can use a florescent tube which you would place on top of the mesh, and at that height I'd recommend the 5.0.

Aliza

 

[Fallingspeaker]

If you have a mesh cover for your 10 gallon, you can use a florescent tube which you would place on top of the mesh, and at that height I'd recommend the 5.0.

Aliza

Thank you Aliza. How do I fit the incandescent dome with a tube and cover?

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

The 8.5 is metallic. Yes it’s on one side of tank. He loves basking under it on his high sticks or leaves of the Pothos. I don’t think it’s too hot since he chooses to stay there throughout the day.

I’ve been trying to give him a few pinheads a day. This morning immediately after waking up he climbed into the Plastic cricket Holder looking for more food. So today I decided to feed him till he’s full. He ate about 15 dusted pinheads and abruptly left the container with another one left Inside. So I’m assuming he’s full. I’m building more bamboo perches and bridges as time allows.

He has choices between mango smoothies and papaya smoothies but loves cricket buffets.

Thanks so much, John! Midori-Chan is thriving under your care.

Perhaps Aliza already does what she's recommending. That would be helpful to know.

Dr. Fran Baines has all the knowledge, skills, and tools she needs to help with your UVB setup. We could get the UV Index rating for GDG, but that's just "half" the worries. The Solarmeter 6.5R which you'd need to measure the rays costs ~$200+.

I wonder why you're hesitant to reach out to Dr. Baines? She helps geckophiles all the time. There are 4 variables I shared above. In addition, Dr. Baines recommends that a linear fluorescent (tube) not reach across the entire length of the tank -- just about 1/2 the length or so. Zoo Med Reptisun's 5.0 tubes measure 17.25 inches long (minus the pins). You'd also need a Slimline fixture for the tube. Amazon sells non-reflective linear fixtures. Still the fixtures would span a 10 gallon's length.

I just wanna be safe rather than sorry. UVB is a science. It's NOT as easy as 1, 2, 3.

 

[acpart]

Thank you Aliza. How do I fit the incandescent dome with a tube and cover?

Put the cover on the cage, lay the florescent fixture across the top right on the mesh and then put the dome on one side. I'm including a picture taken of my GD day gecko's cage from the top. you can see the metal florescent fixture and the white puck light next to it (the plant to the left is the new home of my repotted jade plant). I know that my enclosure is bigger than a 10 gallon, but with a little creative maneuvering, you should be able to fit both, or else get a smaller dome light.

 

[Fallingspeaker]

Thank you Aliza and Liz for all the help so far.

The rehab appears to be working. I’ve dropped his diet to 5-6 slightly bigger pinheads each morning with fruit smoothies always available. He eats about 3-4, and then comes back in an hour to eat the rest. Although he still looks skinny and you can still see his spine, I’ve noticed his tail is getting a little longer and definitely has gotten fatter. It has now matched the girth of his butt. It seems that his new tail stopped growing during the 3-4 weeks of trouble and now all his nutrients is going into growing his tail. He’s starting to wag his tail now too. Before I think it was too small and only cartilage, but with all the extra size he seems to now be able to control it.

We will keep it up with the goal to get his body plump. I’m assuming this will happen after his tail is complete.

He seems super lazy. Eats till he’s full then sleeps all day long in different spots. Though sometimes we catch him jumping around. He’s getting a lot faster when running and jumping into his cricket bowl during breakfast.

 

[Fallingspeaker]

Midori-Chan has been resting a lot during the day after eating a lot. But tonight he started to shed again. It's only been 13 days since the last shed when he needed help.

I wonder if he's eaten so much and grown so much in the past week.

On another note, there were two other gold dusts in our condo today. One came in from outside, stared at my wife, and then left. The other one is hanging out in a cabinet under our TV. I don't want another rehab.

One pic is the day he shed 13 days ago playing dead in my hand. The second pic was a week later.

 

[acpart]

In the second picture the gecko looks a lot better! I kind of wish I had geckos showing up in my house instead of spiders.

Aliza

 

[Fallingspeaker]

Our gecko ate so much yesterday I thought his stomach would pop. I Wonder if geckos lacks self control. He also pooped in his cricket container twice with crickets still in there so maybe he does lack it.

The intruder gecko hangs out in our house every day now and stares at my wife all day long. She fed him a fruit smoothie and he ate all of it and thanked us by pooping all over. I wonder if it’s his first fruit ever since they all live in a concrete high rise.

 

[acpart]

I find that if geckos eat too much (at least with my leopard geckos) they will regurgitate and often "learn their lesson". It sounds as if you're on your way to becoming a day gecko sanctuary!

Aliza