New Golden Gecko from Orlando Repticon!!

iluvfoals

New member
Hi!!! I just got a golden gecko from the Orlando Repticon! I think it's a male but I'm really not sure. Anyway, good health tips would be great! :) also, should i use a heat lamp (night), a heat lamp (day), a heat lamp (regular bulb), or a heat pad on the side? I know their nocturnal so I am just using a heat pad on the side. Also, I know that these geckos are display animals. ;) Thx!image.jpg and he seems skinny. Real skinny and he didn't notice any crickets... :(
 
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Marauderhex

New member
With my girls, I use a heat pad on the side. With goldens, you can feed Repashy CGD. The new (3.0) formulation has an increased protein content and the diet lines up with the nutritional requirements of the geckos.
 
Mist the enclosure often, try to tong feed him for a while he might do fine if you can get him hydrated and feeding regularly.

Good luck.

Maurice Pudlo
 
Bad, they are arboreal geckos and nearly always stay oriented head down on a vertical surface. This is not to say that head up is not good, only that this is the most often seen position.

Considering the cost of entry to the repticon, travel to it, the gecko, a minimum of $80 for a veterinary exam and nominal treatment, your $15 repticon gecko may well cost you more than a CBB of the same type and that includes shipping.

Consider looking around here on GU for people who keep golden geckos, they pop up every so often for sale in the classifieds section.

That is if this fellow does not make it.

Maurice Pudlo
 

Aimless

Super Moderator
hi - he may or may not make it. the chances are very good that he was was WC (wild-caught) and this means 1. you have no way to know his age; and 2. he is quite probably carrying a heavy load of internal parasites. even a CBB (captive born and bred) gecko can have parasites, but it's much more common in WC animals.

if he does carry parasites, he will not get better with just the correct husbandry. he will need to see a vet, determine the type of parasites, and then be medicated over time. along with the correct husbandry, this is what it will take to save him.

also, can you post a picture of the whole cage?
 
I'm saying that golden geckos don't lay on the substrate unless they are near death.

I have never had luck recovering any Gekko species once it lays on the substrate.

There are quite a few people here with more extensive experience with Gekko and may chime in differently.

In most circumstances I would suggest you take him to a vet as soon as possible, but it would need to be a very good vet and I'm afraid the outcome will not be very good.

Maurice Pudlo
 

Aimless

Super Moderator
it depends. if he is carrying parasites and that was the reason he was acting so ill, he may temporarily seem better but he will get sick again. those illnesses tend to be fairly cyclic.

if you have the option at all, I strongly recommend taking a fecal sample to a vet. otherwise, I'm glad he's eating for you!
 
If you have him eating that's great, as stated above, if you can collect a feces sample (fresh) put it in a zip-lock bag with a slightly damp paper towel and get that to a vet asap.

Treatment is based on weight of your gecko and the type of parasites found.

You can help recovery by maintaining excellent hygiene inside the geckos enclosure and providing optimal living conditions. Ultimately though medication is the key to increasing the chances of survival in the long run.

Maurice
 

MdngtRain

New member
did you get a chance to take him to the vet or at least get a fecal?
also, in the pic it looks like you have him on shavings... I don't know much about golden geckos, but I have never seen shavings recommended for any gecko. I would try something a little more earth-like and better at maintaining humidity (even in FL). Also, meal worms are an ok supplement, but less nutritious than say roaches or even crix. Can you get him feeding on a variety of feeders? Also supplement with CGD as suggested earlier. I cared for a golden gecko at a nature center up north, and it refused the cgd, but we always offered it just in case. I also managed to get them to start feeding more of a variety and the little one put on weight quite nicely. (I believe discoid roaches are legal in FL, as I have seen them sold in some stores. Also the green roaches are legal here)
Good luck with your new little one and keep us updated :)
 
The green roaches are 'green banana roaches' a little small for golden geckos but a workable solution if accepted.

Long small spoons with plastic or rubber coating help in offering cgd to golden geckos, they tend to attack the stuff more than try to consume it. If wet enough though they may lap it up for hydration more than anything else.

At this point any nutritional intake is a good thing.

Maurice
 
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