I would like to begin by saying that I joined this forum sort of as a last resort to help geckos that arent mine.
I work at one of the big chain pet stores as a regular sales associate. Yes, I know they receive a lot of backlash for numerous reasons. No, im not going to give out a specific name.
I desperately want to help these geckos in need. I am however very limited to what I can and cant do since I am a regular associate and the animals are "product."
We have a "back" area of the store, where we keep sick, injured, and overstock animals. It is divided into two rooms, one with the sick and the other with the healthy (not that this will stop transmission being that they are still in the same airspace and equipment is shared) but thats not what this is about anyway.
Right now we have two tanks with geckos. One with 2 and the other with 1 (they did have 3 and 2 respectively, but they are dying off...) We have always had a problem with our geckos, they are always unhealthy and they always arrive to us this way and progressively get worse.
Let me mention now that I only know basic leo care. I have never owned one before, so I am not experienced in terms of health issues. I raise panther chameleons though and have had corns, boas, GTPs, and a beardie before though so im not new to reptiles.
We have all the wrong husbandry for these guys. They are in 15 gallon tanks with carpet, red light bulb, one hide, being fed mealworms only. They say no crickets because they would just eat at the geckos and they are likely right. They show no interest in the worms however. The hide has a wet paper towel with moss, which is something we have never had with our leos before but they did it for these guys since they are in rough shape. There are thermometers but no one looks at them. This could be worse, at least theres no sand.
These geckos are very very sicky looking. Arms and legs and tail are toothpick thin, you can see the outline of their skull, their poop isnt solid, not eating at all, you name it. And I am getting extremely frustrated watching them whither away. To understand the severity of the geckos in question, here are a few pictures:
I also want to mention that on the belly of some of the geckos, there is a very dark red triangular shape in the stomach. Im assuming it is some kind of organ, maybe the liver, and im assuming that its not normal for it to be that noticeable and that dark. I can take pictures tomorrow if necessary.
Their care hardly gets taken seriously by anyone. The management claims to have taken them to our vet, and the vet said that there was nothing he could do at all. And that was when the geckos were in slightly better shape. They were sent back with no kind of medication, no instructions, nothing.
When I asked about it, I was told by a manager "Oh theyre malnourished because of competition for food and now theyre not eating because theyre malnourished."
That makes absolutely no sense. Not to mention that there are always crickets and mealworms in the gecko tank on the floor, they are CHOOSING not to eat. The ones we left on the floor arent in any better shape, I dont know why theyre not in the back with the other sick ones. Literally even a 9 year old child commented that our leos on the floor looked sick just the other day. The other day one of the managers said they were about to put them back out on the floor with the customers. I couldnt believe it.
We are giving the geckos reptiboost but I feel like its not doing anything. Im pretty sure it is the only thing they are eating period, and that im the only one even giving it to them. I dont even work every single day to be able to give it to them.
I just really want to help these guys and do what I can given my limited act of power. Ill take any advice I can. I just hate having to sit and watch them die. We lost two within the past few days, they just black bag them and put them in the freezer and we take it mainly as a profit loss.
What on earth can I do to help these geckos?
I work at one of the big chain pet stores as a regular sales associate. Yes, I know they receive a lot of backlash for numerous reasons. No, im not going to give out a specific name.
I desperately want to help these geckos in need. I am however very limited to what I can and cant do since I am a regular associate and the animals are "product."
We have a "back" area of the store, where we keep sick, injured, and overstock animals. It is divided into two rooms, one with the sick and the other with the healthy (not that this will stop transmission being that they are still in the same airspace and equipment is shared) but thats not what this is about anyway.
Right now we have two tanks with geckos. One with 2 and the other with 1 (they did have 3 and 2 respectively, but they are dying off...) We have always had a problem with our geckos, they are always unhealthy and they always arrive to us this way and progressively get worse.
Let me mention now that I only know basic leo care. I have never owned one before, so I am not experienced in terms of health issues. I raise panther chameleons though and have had corns, boas, GTPs, and a beardie before though so im not new to reptiles.
We have all the wrong husbandry for these guys. They are in 15 gallon tanks with carpet, red light bulb, one hide, being fed mealworms only. They say no crickets because they would just eat at the geckos and they are likely right. They show no interest in the worms however. The hide has a wet paper towel with moss, which is something we have never had with our leos before but they did it for these guys since they are in rough shape. There are thermometers but no one looks at them. This could be worse, at least theres no sand.
These geckos are very very sicky looking. Arms and legs and tail are toothpick thin, you can see the outline of their skull, their poop isnt solid, not eating at all, you name it. And I am getting extremely frustrated watching them whither away. To understand the severity of the geckos in question, here are a few pictures:
I also want to mention that on the belly of some of the geckos, there is a very dark red triangular shape in the stomach. Im assuming it is some kind of organ, maybe the liver, and im assuming that its not normal for it to be that noticeable and that dark. I can take pictures tomorrow if necessary.
Their care hardly gets taken seriously by anyone. The management claims to have taken them to our vet, and the vet said that there was nothing he could do at all. And that was when the geckos were in slightly better shape. They were sent back with no kind of medication, no instructions, nothing.
When I asked about it, I was told by a manager "Oh theyre malnourished because of competition for food and now theyre not eating because theyre malnourished."
That makes absolutely no sense. Not to mention that there are always crickets and mealworms in the gecko tank on the floor, they are CHOOSING not to eat. The ones we left on the floor arent in any better shape, I dont know why theyre not in the back with the other sick ones. Literally even a 9 year old child commented that our leos on the floor looked sick just the other day. The other day one of the managers said they were about to put them back out on the floor with the customers. I couldnt believe it.
We are giving the geckos reptiboost but I feel like its not doing anything. Im pretty sure it is the only thing they are eating period, and that im the only one even giving it to them. I dont even work every single day to be able to give it to them.
I just really want to help these guys and do what I can given my limited act of power. Ill take any advice I can. I just hate having to sit and watch them die. We lost two within the past few days, they just black bag them and put them in the freezer and we take it mainly as a profit loss.
What on earth can I do to help these geckos?
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