Occasional Diarrhea...?

[kouneli]

General Information
Species of lizard: Leopard Gecko
Gecko's name: Ducky
Morph: Patternless
Gender: Female
Age: Approximately 9-10 months old
Weight: 29 grams
Total length: almost 7"
Length of your reptile when you first acquired it: About 3"
Source (pet store, breeder, previous owner): pet store originally...got her from someone who had bought her from the store and couldn't keep her, but didn't want to bring her back to the store
Captive bred or wild caught: captive bred

Vivarium
Enclosure dimensions (length x width x heighth): 13" x 10" x 7"
Cage (type, size): bin cage/"rack" system
Substrate provided: paper towel
Types of hiding places are provided: humid hide, hot hide
Is there a humidity hide? location? yes, on cool side with some of it close to hot side
Please describe any other furnishings: water bowl, mealworm dish
List recent changes in the environment, if any: On March 6, 2013, moved to new cage.

Lighting
Artificial lighting
Incandescent (“screw-in” bulbs): wattage(s): none
Fluorescent (tube bulbs): none

Natural lighting
Access to ambient daylight from a distant window: yes

Heating
Do you have a thermometer(s) in the cage? no, temperature gun is used daily
What type and brand of thermometer (digital with probe, temperature gun, LCD strip, analog (circle), combo digital thermometer/hygrometer, stainless steel aquarim type, other): ZooMed temp gun, in the case of obtaining air temps in order to fill out this form, an ExoTerra digital thermometer was used
What is the ground temperature right on the substrate under the warm dry hide? 92F
What is the air temperature on the warm end about 6 inches up from the ground? 85F
What is the air temperature on the cool end about 6 inches up from the ground? 79F
What device(s) are used to maintain the temperature (UTH, heat light, ceramic heat emitter, hot rock, other): Flexwatt heat tape
Are you using a thermostat(s)? Yes, Hydrofarm brand
Which hide does she/he spend most of her time? Equal time between humid hide and hot hide, many times she doesn't use a hide at all
Is the temperature decreased at night? by how much? Yes, by 10 degrees

Humidity
Is the humidity measured? Not on a regular basis, but did use an ExoTerra hygrometer to fill out this form
Humidity range: 70% in humid hide, 39% on hot side

Diet
Insects and worms, list type: mealworms, dubia roaches, crickets
Regular diet fed to the insects and worms: Repashy bug burger to dubias/crickets, carrot/potato/spinach/kale/apple to mealworms
Are the insects and worms “gutloaded” 48 hours prior to feeding off to your leo? If so with? Yes, with the usual food as listed above
How often do you feed your reptile? daily
Please list any supplements (with brand names) used. How are they given and how often? Repashy Calcium Plus on the crickets/dubias daily, Miner-All Outdoor on the mealworms daily
What calcium brand are you using? with D3, without or both? Miner-All, without D3...Repashy Calcium Plus, with d3.
Is the calcium in the tank with D3 or without? Without in the mealworm bowl
Multivitamins? Repashy Calcium Plus
Please list any recent additions/changes in the diet: Changed from Miner-All Indoor (used with Outdoor in bowl) to Repashy calcium Plus on January 11th, 2013.

If your reptile is sick, please describe the signs and how long your reptile has been showing these signs: Occasional diarrhea seen in cage; about 4 months (haven't been too worried about it due to the fact that it happens every 2-3 weeks with just one watery mess, then normal feces afterwards). Ducky was dewormed in August 2012 with Panacur.
Is your reptile’s general activity level normal, decreased, or increased? normal
Is your reptile’s appetite normal, decreased, or increased? normal
Have you noticed any of the following?
Weight loss, Weight gain -usual weight gain, though slowly
Discharge from the eyes or nose -no
Increased breathing rate or effort -no
Change in the droppings -yes
Urates white or yellowish -white with normal feces; yellow with orangish tinge with abnormal feces
Abnormal skin color or shedding -no
Parasites on the skin or in the feces -no
Weakness -no

Previous problems and/or illnesses: none

Other Critters in Same Cage or in Household -household...8 other leopard geckos, 5 crested geckos, 1 rabbit, 1 white's tree frog, 1 dog, 1 cat
List other animals that are kept in the same cage: none
Recent acquisitions (new pets within the past 6 months): 3 adult leopard geckos, kept separately...obtained on January 5, 2013
Are any of your other pets ill? one other had showed signs of a vitamin A deficiency (confirmed by reptile vet in January 2013) She is currently back to normal.

Set up-

Normal feces-

Abnormal feces-

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

kouneli ~

I realize breeders house leos in bins all the time, but sometimes the breeders don't plan to keep those leos around. Just maybe get them up to a certain size and sell them.

Keeping leos in bins has been done and no doubt will continue. To me it is much better to keep a single leo in a 30 x 12.5 x 12.5 inch tank. Just look at the "playground" any leo would have then! Even leopard geckos appreciate stimulating environments.

Check out some of leo custom habitats on some of the posts following my caresheet! Lovely, interesting vivariums.

 

[kouneli]

She won't be housed in the bin for life. I'm just waiting until she gets large enough to be housed with the adult females.

 

[cricket4u]

She won't be housed in the bin for life. I'm just waiting until she gets large enough to be housed with the adult females.

Hi,


I would never house this gecko (or any other really) with another gecko. You will be putting the other at risk based on this photos. Has this gecko been tested for crypto?

 

[kouneli]

Hi,


I would never house this gecko (or any other really) with another gecko. You will be putting the other at risk based on this photos. Has this gecko been tested for crypto?

Reason why I'm going to be figuring this out before I put her in with another gecko. She's never been tested, but I thought that there was weight loss, along with other symptoms, involved with Crypto.

 

[cricket4u]

Reason why I'm going to be figuring this out before I put her in with another gecko. She's never been tested, but I thought that there was weight loss, along with other symptoms, involved with Crypto.

Not necessarily, it's a misconception and one of the reasons why I believe all reptiles should be housed individually. If provided with very good husbandry a leo can appear totally healthy and you will never know. I've kept a few who either were asymptomatic or went into remission by providing optimal housing conditions, diet and very minimal stress.

At times the test will come back negative due to intermittent shedding of oocysts. Geckos with crypto tend to wax and wane depending on the care provided. Not even the top "normal" picture looks all that great. Do have her tested for crypto and all other routine parasites, although I highly suggest to keep her separate indefinitely. It would be in her best interest to move her to an actual enclosure in order to provide her with the best care possible.

 

[kouneli]

She will be kept separate at least until I know what this is that's causing it. If there's possible Crypto, I will never put her with another.

As for keeping geckos in a bin/rack, many breeders keep their adults in 15qt or higher, and they are kept there for life many times. Breeders don't sell all of their geckos. Bin cages can also make a leopard gecko feel more secure than most glass tanks, in my opinion (as well as many other gecko-owner opinions). The geckos that I have in bins rarely use their hides. I say that as long as they have proper heating, humidity, hides, food, supplements, and water, they're happy. Clearly you can't keep proper heating in a tiny container..or the right amount of hides/bowls..so obviously it wouldn't be a happy gecko. All of my geckos also get ample time out of their enclosures at night. Several even seem to enjoy handling, as they are willing to climb onto my hand, even when they are outside of their enclosures. I always have one or two out at a time (never mixing from different cages), so it's easier to keep an eye on each.

Now then, if I could get some answers or suggestions without criticizing the way I keep my geckos, I would be quite pleased.

 

[cricket4u]

I'm sorry, but I will never agree on keeping our "pets" in hotel like accommodations. I also do not believe that they climb on your arm with the attentions of being social. Why would they need to use their hides when they are in one (pretty much). :biggrin: Compare the space you're providing to their natural environment. They should be allowed to thrive in their home, not yours.

I was not criticizing, simply suggesting to provide an environment in which will allows a larger temp gradient, space for activity and exercise, space for providing enrichment, proper lighting. A large enclosure can benefit them both psychologically and physically. They can feel as secure in a very large area by providing landscaping, decor and coverage. More space allows a variety of climates for them to choose from.

My point is by providing more, the chances of great health increases.