Unusual defacation and decreased appetite?

[LeopardGeckoBreederFan]

I have a male tremper albino that's about 5 months old. He deficates regularly, about once or twice a day, but lately they have been runny and not solid. They also smell pretty badly. The white part looks the same but the brown/black part isn't clumped together at all and there seems to be excess liquid. He also seems to have a decreased appetite, only eating 4 mealworms a day at most when normally he would eat around ten or so. Is he sick or did he pick up a parasite or something? Should I take him to the vet or wait to see if its a temporary thing? Please help!

 

[Conched]

Runny stools can be caused by parasites or bacterial infections.

Could also be partial intestine blockage.

What type of substrate do you use ? If the substrate is not the issue you should have a fecal exam done to see if it is parasites.

Changes in the environment or other stress factors should not be ruled out either. Stress can cause runny stools along with improper heating.

I know this sounds all over the place, you just have to start someplace and begin the process of elimination.

 

[LeopardGeckoBreederFan]

For him I'm using newspapers as my substrate. Heating definitely might be a problem because I don't have a thermometer right now or a UTH but they are being shipped at this moment.I think I will take a fecal sample into the vet today or tomorrow to go ahead and rule out (or confirm) parasites. Will they be able to test for bacterial infection with a sample?

 

[Conched]

Not sure. Better question for the vet. Some bacterial infections are plainly visible while others are not and show symptoms.

One thing I would reccomend is to quarantine all sick and injured animals.

 

[LeopardGeckoBreederFan]

I already have him in a separate cage but I did have him in the same cage for a couple of days when I first got them so if its parasites then he might have already passed them on.