Hi guys! I'm new around here so I'm going to do this the best I could.
I've had Geronimo since christmas '95 and he's my best buddy in the whole world. He's been very sturdy since then but recently his health has suddenly fallen off. He's pretty fussy with food (have to catch him in the right mood) and will sometimes go a week or two without eating but his time was different. He stopped eating after a shed and when I took him for a walk two weeks later he was reluctant to open his eyes and seemed very lethargic. On closer inspection two of his legs were more swollen than the others and when I returned him to his tank he couldn't walk without setting himself down between very pained looking steps with eyes closed.
Since then I've gone to the local pet store (earth echoes, toronto) and was recommended a UVB bulb which I mounted in an IKEA desk lamp. I was also given two liquid supplements which I feed him with an eyedropper once daily, alternating. Unfortunately I don't have the actual types as I was given a small vial of each. One is a milky calcium liquid (strawberry flavored) and the other is a yellowish apple juice coloured reptile multivitamin.
After scouring these boards it seems that the consensus is that feeding him the calcium is a mistake without feeding and honestly I am totally lost as to what to do to help my little guy get better. I think I've caught this fairly early because his decline was so quick and he's since stabilized (for a week?).
I need to get some food in him, one of the recommendations is this stuff here:
Amazon.com: Fluker Labs SFK73030 Insectivore/Carnivore High AMP Boost Reptile Supplement, 50gm: Pet Supplies
Another popular one is this here:
Amazon.com: Oxbow Carnivore Care Pet Supplement, 2.5-Ounce: Pet Supplies
But I'll need to source a feeding needle, any ideas where I can pick one up that is the correct size in Toronto or off of amazon (they seem to be mostly for cats and dogs).
In the next half hour I will be heading back to earth echoes to see if they have any of these feeding formulas and give an update on the guy's health, as well as to see if it's worth the stress of bringing him there in person.
Anyway, here's the TLDR list of questions which I am in desperate need of help with:
1) Geronimo is very weak and hasn't eaten in 3 weeks. Should I:
a - get oxbow carnivore/reptaid delivered by monday and feed it to him?
b - make a bug mash and try to force feed him?
c - wait it out and get his energy back another way?
2) Geronimo has a lot of trouble walking, sets himself down before each pained step. Some legs appear swollen.
Here are some recent photos of his usual spunky self:
This is him now:
This is the terrarium as it is currently set up:
Here's the standard form:
Questions answered in red will get answers shortly. I hadn't had to take special measures with him for his whole long happy life so forgive my ignorance!
General Information
Species of lizard: Leopard Gecko
Gecko's name: Geronimo
Morph: Normal
Gender: Male
Age: 18
Weight:
Total length: 9"
Length of your reptile when you first acquired it: 4"
Source (pet store, breeder, previous owner):
Captive bred or wild caught:
Vivarium
Enclosure dimensions (length x width x heighth): 24x12x12
Cage (type, size): 15 Gal Aquarium
Substrate provided: Cedar mulch, sand in pooping area (just added, but never had a problem in the past)
Types of hiding places provided: driftwood, oak bark hide on UTH
Is there a humidity hide? location? no
Please describe any other furnishings: small lucky rock
List recent changes in the environment, if any: none, for 18 years. added a UVB light a few days ago
Lighting
Artificial lighting
Incandescent (“screw-in” bulbs): wattage(s):
Fluorescent (tube bulbs): compact fluorescent reptisun 10.0 UVB 13 watt desert mounted in an ikea desklamp
Access to ambient daylight from a distant window: room has a large southfacing window, no direct sunlight to tank.
Heating
Do you have a thermometer(s) in the cage? no
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: superworms, crickets, waxworms, silkworms, hornworms
Regular diet fed to the insects and worms: no feed, i go to the store regularly
Are the insects and worms formally “gutloaded” 1-2 days prior to feeding off to your gecko? If so with? yes, not sure what with
How often do you feed your gecko? every 2-3 days
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: has not eaten in 3 weeks
General Health
If your gecko is sick, please describe the signs and how long your gecko has been showing these signs: lethargy, visible shoulderblades, tail is half as thick as it used to be (down to ~1cm at thickest point), not opening eyes much, pained walking
Is your gecko’s general activity level normal, decreased, or increased? dramatically decreased
Is your gecko’s appetite normal, decreased, or increased? non existant
Have you noticed any of the following?
Weight (loss or gain): loss
Discharge from the eyes or nose:
Increased breathing rate or effort:
Change in the droppings: no droppings as of bedding change last sunday (nov10)
Urates
---white or yellowish:
---size of urates as compared to size of feces:
Abnormal skin color or shedding: shed was actually very good
Parasites on the skin or in the feces:
Weakness: high
Previous problems and/or illnesses: health problem free since '95
Other Critters in Same Cage or in Household
List other animals that are kept in the same cage: crickets have been removed since Geronimo started exhibiting weakness
Recent acquisitions (new pets within the past 6 months): no
Are any of your other pets ill? no
I've had Geronimo since christmas '95 and he's my best buddy in the whole world. He's been very sturdy since then but recently his health has suddenly fallen off. He's pretty fussy with food (have to catch him in the right mood) and will sometimes go a week or two without eating but his time was different. He stopped eating after a shed and when I took him for a walk two weeks later he was reluctant to open his eyes and seemed very lethargic. On closer inspection two of his legs were more swollen than the others and when I returned him to his tank he couldn't walk without setting himself down between very pained looking steps with eyes closed.
Since then I've gone to the local pet store (earth echoes, toronto) and was recommended a UVB bulb which I mounted in an IKEA desk lamp. I was also given two liquid supplements which I feed him with an eyedropper once daily, alternating. Unfortunately I don't have the actual types as I was given a small vial of each. One is a milky calcium liquid (strawberry flavored) and the other is a yellowish apple juice coloured reptile multivitamin.
After scouring these boards it seems that the consensus is that feeding him the calcium is a mistake without feeding and honestly I am totally lost as to what to do to help my little guy get better. I think I've caught this fairly early because his decline was so quick and he's since stabilized (for a week?).
I need to get some food in him, one of the recommendations is this stuff here:
Amazon.com: Fluker Labs SFK73030 Insectivore/Carnivore High AMP Boost Reptile Supplement, 50gm: Pet Supplies
Another popular one is this here:
Amazon.com: Oxbow Carnivore Care Pet Supplement, 2.5-Ounce: Pet Supplies
But I'll need to source a feeding needle, any ideas where I can pick one up that is the correct size in Toronto or off of amazon (they seem to be mostly for cats and dogs).
In the next half hour I will be heading back to earth echoes to see if they have any of these feeding formulas and give an update on the guy's health, as well as to see if it's worth the stress of bringing him there in person.
Anyway, here's the TLDR list of questions which I am in desperate need of help with:
1) Geronimo is very weak and hasn't eaten in 3 weeks. Should I:
a - get oxbow carnivore/reptaid delivered by monday and feed it to him?
b - make a bug mash and try to force feed him?
c - wait it out and get his energy back another way?
2) Geronimo has a lot of trouble walking, sets himself down before each pained step. Some legs appear swollen.
Here are some recent photos of his usual spunky self:
This is him now:
This is the terrarium as it is currently set up:
Here's the standard form:
Questions answered in red will get answers shortly. I hadn't had to take special measures with him for his whole long happy life so forgive my ignorance!
General Information
Species of lizard: Leopard Gecko
Gecko's name: Geronimo
Morph: Normal
Gender: Male
Age: 18
Weight:
Total length: 9"
Length of your reptile when you first acquired it: 4"
Source (pet store, breeder, previous owner):
Captive bred or wild caught:
Vivarium
Enclosure dimensions (length x width x heighth): 24x12x12
Cage (type, size): 15 Gal Aquarium
Substrate provided: Cedar mulch, sand in pooping area (just added, but never had a problem in the past)
Types of hiding places provided: driftwood, oak bark hide on UTH
Is there a humidity hide? location? no
Please describe any other furnishings: small lucky rock
List recent changes in the environment, if any: none, for 18 years. added a UVB light a few days ago
Lighting
Artificial lighting
Incandescent (“screw-in” bulbs): wattage(s):
Fluorescent (tube bulbs): compact fluorescent reptisun 10.0 UVB 13 watt desert mounted in an ikea desklamp
Access to ambient daylight from a distant window: room has a large southfacing window, no direct sunlight to tank.
Heating
Do you have a thermometer(s) in the cage? no
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: superworms, crickets, waxworms, silkworms, hornworms
Regular diet fed to the insects and worms: no feed, i go to the store regularly
Are the insects and worms formally “gutloaded” 1-2 days prior to feeding off to your gecko? If so with? yes, not sure what with
How often do you feed your gecko? every 2-3 days
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: has not eaten in 3 weeks
General Health
If your gecko is sick, please describe the signs and how long your gecko has been showing these signs: lethargy, visible shoulderblades, tail is half as thick as it used to be (down to ~1cm at thickest point), not opening eyes much, pained walking
Is your gecko’s general activity level normal, decreased, or increased? dramatically decreased
Is your gecko’s appetite normal, decreased, or increased? non existant
Have you noticed any of the following?
Weight (loss or gain): loss
Discharge from the eyes or nose:
Increased breathing rate or effort:
Change in the droppings: no droppings as of bedding change last sunday (nov10)
Urates
---white or yellowish:
---size of urates as compared to size of feces:
Abnormal skin color or shedding: shed was actually very good
Parasites on the skin or in the feces:
Weakness: high
Previous problems and/or illnesses: health problem free since '95
Other Critters in Same Cage or in Household
List other animals that are kept in the same cage: crickets have been removed since Geronimo started exhibiting weakness
Recent acquisitions (new pets within the past 6 months): no
Are any of your other pets ill? no
