"Best of" syringe feeding

[animateash]

A tutorial website i frequent is doing a pets feature next month and I thought proper syringe feeding for geckos might be a helpful thing to demonstrate. I've had great success with my own method, but my geckos are very used to handling and pretty cooperative. Does anyone have any tips for syringe feeding less willing participants? Any other points you feel ought to be included in a tutorial (helpful things for beginners, etc.)

Just to be clear, I plan to preface this tutorial by saying that syringe feeding is NOT a substitute for a vet visit and is only a short term aid. It is only for administering meds or for the occasional hydration/nutritional boost during recovery, or in the few days before you can get an appointment.

Any input welcome. I want to be thorough and felt it might be wise to gather other perspectives to weigh in with my own experiences.

 

[Aimless]

I would see what's already on youtube for ideas about how not to do it, as well.

angry geckos will often gape for you. IME, the tricky part is restraining without making everything just much harder, if the gecko is in good enough shape to be wriggly.

 

[animateash]

I would see what's already on youtube for ideas about how not to do it, as well.

angry geckos will often gape for you. IME, the tricky part is restraining without making everything just much harder, if the gecko is in good enough shape to be wriggly.

Good suggestion about looking into what NOT to do! I definitely want to be clear with beginners that restraint is different than squeezing. I usually hold mine in a little washcloth burrito, so I have a better grip with less force and so their nails don't dig into me. Most of mine will open up enough if I tickle the corner of the mouth with the syringe nub.