I have 2 male leos...

[KevinAndSquirtTheGeckos]

Both of my male leos are swollen and move somewhat slower than usual. What may have caused this? Im giving them warm soaks and that makes them poop. What else can I do to help?

 

[Aimless]

Tak them to a vet. Those are reasonably serious symptoms that could be a couple of things, and you'll need a proper diagnosis.

 

[KevinAndSquirtTheGeckos]

The problem is I don't live anywhere near a vet that handles anything more than dogs and cats. Is there an online vet I can talk to or send pictures to?

 

[Aimless]

nope. veterinary licenses are based on seeing the animal in person.

swelling can indicate kidney troubles. it can indicate gout. it can indicate impaction. most of these conditions are related to diet, but in order to fix it you need to know which problem it is.

have you spoken to any local vets? sometime a dog/cat vet will consult with an exotic vet from further away?

 

[KevinAndSquirtTheGeckos]

I just talked to a somewhat local vet and they will see my leos, but they are limited on what they are able to do medically. Im also limited on money, so if I can diagnose the issue myself that would help a ton. They aren't pooping as much as they used to but they are eating plenty.

 

[Aimless]

ok, we can't diagnose anything here. it's not possible. but if you have husbandry problems maybe we can help fix them, at least.

first of all, describe your set up please. include photos as well as information about heating (and how temp is measured).

please give us photos of the geckos. nice, clear photos.

please give us every detail of diet, including gutloading and supplementation.

if you can give us this information in exhaustive detail, perhaps we can pinpoint a problem.


one other thing - are these the 2 you posted about asking about pregnancy? are you housing them in the same cage?

 

[KevinAndSquirtTheGeckos]

Yes, these are my only 2 geckos, so its the 2 I was talking about with the pregnancy question. Although the heat is not monitored, they have a heating rock and a heating pad. One hide is over the heating pad, and if they want to hide and be cool, they go behind the hide where its cool and private. Instead of sand, the tank is lined with a towel. There is a water bowl on the cool side of the tank, and also a poop pad on the cool side. The main part of their diet is superworms with occasional grasshoppers and crickets. For some reason it will not allow me to upload photos.

 

[KevinAndSquirtTheGeckos]

okay I figured it out, so heres the bottom of the tank. I removed the hide to show both geckos.


I cant upload a closeup of the geckos because its saying my file is too big.

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

Both of my male leos are swollen and move somewhat slower than usual. What may have caused this? Im giving them warm soaks and that makes them poop. What else can I do to help?

ok, we can't diagnose anything here. it's not possible. but if you have husbandry problems maybe we can help fix them, at least.

first of all, describe your set up please. include photos as well as information about heating (and how temp is measured).

please give us photos of the geckos. nice, clear photos.

please give us every detail of diet, including gutloading and supplementation.

if you can give us this information in exhaustive detail, perhaps we can pinpoint a problem.


one other thing - are these the 2 you posted about asking about pregnancy? are you housing them in the same cage?

Yes, these are my only 2 geckos, so its the 2 I was talking about with the pregnancy question. Although the heat is not monitored, they have a heating rock and a heating pad. One hide is over the heating pad, and if they want to hide and be cool, they go behind the hide where its cool and private. Instead of sand, the tank is lined with a towel. There is a water bowl on the cool side of the tank, and also a poop pad on the cool side. The main part of their diet is superworms with occasional grasshoppers and crickets. For some reason it will not allow me to upload photos.

View attachment 32584

okay I figured it out, so heres the bottom of the tank. I removed the hide to show both geckos.


I cant upload a closeup of the geckos because its saying my file is too big.

Hi ~

Thanks for sharing some details and for your photo.

Please copy, paste, and complete GU's Health/Wellness Questionnaire. Having the details right there helps us discover difficulties at a glance. Let me know if you have trouble doing that.

Click: http://www.geckosunlimited.com/comm...68527-helping-your-sick-gecko-read-first.html

Here is some feedback:
1. Seems like your enclosure is a good length.

2. The leos I see seem to have good body weight. (One may be a little heavy?) Can you figure out how to make the file sizes smaller so that we can see more?

3. If both leos are male, they should be separated right away. As they get older, fighting/aggression will happen. One leo could end up injured or even dead. :-(

Click: Sexing Leopard Geckos

4. Towel substrate: How about changing the real towels to paper towels or textured tiles? Your leos can get their claws and teeth stuck in towels like that; they are not very sanitary; bugs/worms can easily hide and die underneath them.

5. Please buy a good quality digital thermometer with a probe right away! (~$10-$20) Knowing the precise temps in the enclosure is extremely important. Too cool---the leos will be uncomfortable and unable to digest their prey. Too warm---leos will not eat.

6. You mention a hot rock and a heating pad. Please remove the hot rock. Hot rocks are not safe. Could overheat and cause burns.

7. Is your heating pad an under tank heater? What size as compared with the base of the enclosure?

8. Consider an UTH (must have) as well as a 10 inch diameter dome fixture (with a Ceramic Heat Emitter) to keep your leos cozy.

9. Good idea to have warm moist, warm dry, and cool dry hides. We have suggestions to help you make a simple warm moist hide.

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

Getting to the bottom of sexing. I would like to help Kevin and Squirt.

Squirt = female
Kevin = female

Any feedback to post #9 on this thread, KevinAndSquirtTheGeckos?

If you are checking in via cell phone, dealing with the details in post #9 will not be easy. Can you get to a real live computer?

 

[KevinAndSquirtTheGeckos]

I intend on buying a thermometer and humidity gauge sometime this week. I have a rag over the rock so it still heats, but doesn't burn my little leos' feet. Yes its an under the tank heating pad, and it covers maybe 20% of the bottom and that's where they spend most of their time.

Im still very confused about the genders. Ive had conflicting answers on both of my leos.

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

I intend on buying a thermometer and humidity gauge sometime this week. I have a rag over the rock so it still heats, but doesn't burn my little leos' feet. Yes its an under the tank heating pad, and it covers maybe 20% of the bottom and that's where they spend most of their time.

Im still very confused about the genders. Ive had conflicting answers on both of my leos.

Good on a digital thermometer with probe. Don't buy a circle (analog) thermometer. They tend to be inaccurate.

Better to have an UTH that covers 1/3 to 1/2 the bottom. That's one way for your leos to be more active. Amazon carries Flukers and the Bean Farm. Both companies sell 11 x 11s and 11 x 17s. You stick them on with heat resistant aluminum tape. The UTHs that come with adhesive can't be reused, because removing them can damage their internal wiring.

All the GU replies I've seen to Squirt's 1303 jpg said FEMALE. Kevin(a) also looks female going by your 1310 jpg.

If you actually had 2 males, then probably you'd have noticed aggression/competition by now. Your leopard geckos will "know" their sexes before you do. New pictures of each will be welcome.

How about trusting the feedback from people who've had much experience with leos? Since Kevina is older, there should be no question. How old is Squirt?

 

[KevinAndSquirtTheGeckos]

Good on a digital thermometer with probe. Don't buy a circle (analog) thermometer. They tend to be inaccurate.

Better to have an UTH that covers 1/3 to 1/2 the bottom. That's one way for your leos to be more active. Amazon carries Flukers and the Bean Farm. Both companies sell 11 x 11s and 11 x 17s. You stick them on with heat resistant aluminum tape. The UTHs that come with adhesive can't be reused, because removing them can damage their internal wiring.

All the GU replies I've seen to Squirt's 1303 jpg said FEMALE. Kevin(a) also looks female going by your 1310 jpg.

If Squirt was really a male, then probably you'd have noticed aggression/competition by now. New pictures of each will be welcome.

How about trusting the feedback from people who've had much experience with leos? Since Kevina is older, there should be no question. How old is Squirt?

Squirt is 6-7 months, or so I was told. I got squirt in june, and the lady at petco said he/she was about 2 months old at that point.

 

[KevinAndSquirtTheGeckos]

I have a guinea pig, so I have to buy hay every week to keep it in stock. Would super worms eat hay? I feed my leos grasshoppers and crickets occasionally but its very difficult because they jump away before my leos can catch them, and then they become disinterested.

 

[majahawt]

If your leos are too slow for hoppers, you could always pull the legs off them before feeding. They'll still crawl around but they won't be as fast :3 I don't think superworms will eat hay, really :/ I give mine bug grub and fresh veggies, though I know you can give them oats, poultry food or bearded dragon food :3

 

[KevinAndSquirtTheGeckos]

Thanks and do leos eat earth worms?

 

[hmarie186]

Earthworms are not generally an accepted food source for leopard geckos. I have never heard of anyone feeding them.

 

[Tokaybyt]

Are the grasshoppers you're providing live or freeze dried/rehydrated grasshoppers, aka Flukers or ZooMed's can-o-grasshoppers? I feed crickets as a staple and then mix with various bugs. I know Petco always has a dish of mealworms within their store caging. It could be possible that your geckos are or have become lazy towards eating crickets.

Elizabeth has the sexing thing under wraps, though I am confused that you are still on the fence about their sex after I posted the nice, clear, detailed photos of female vs male leopard geckos.

Going to echo hmarie that earthworms are not an commonly accepted food source. They may possibly consume them in the wild, but for the most part, captive earthworms available at bait shops or PetSmart, Petco, or Wal-Mart are not gutloaded and stored refrigerated (this drops their desire to feed) and are thus probably not very nutritious.

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

Here's the deal about feeding the feeders oats. (All Purpose Poultry Food and Zoo Med's Natural Adult Bearded Dragon Food are fine.)

Click: Show Foods

Look at the contents:
Calcium 54
Phosphorus 523

/\ that ratio completely contradicts what we are trying to achieve: 1.5-2.0 calcium : 1.0 phosphorus. Since the majority of bugs and worms are WAAAAAAAAAAY overbalanced with phosphorus, feeding them oats is counterproductive.

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

I have a guinea pig, so I have to buy hay every week to keep it in stock. Would super worms eat hay? I feed my leos grasshoppers and crickets occasionally but its very difficult because they jump away before my leos can catch them, and then they become disinterested.

Superworms will probably not eat hay.

How about placing the crickets and grasshoppers in a large Sterilite bin or perhaps an XL Kritter Keeper? Then feeding them a good diet will be very easy. Feeding them prior to feeding them to your leos transfers nutrition to your leos.