Help I think my gecko is paralyzed!

[Narcissus]

My young mediterranean gecko (I think it's like 3 months old or so?) recently shed but had a really difficult time with it because I think it got too dry. Most of the dead skin is off now, but he seems to not be able to walk now and sits in a really weird kind of twisted up position. He moves his head to look around very rarely, but most of the time he's just literally sitting and not moving at all. He hasn't eaten in like 5 days, and I'm getting scared.

I can't afford to take him to a vet, but if anyone can offer some diy advice I would be grateful.

 

[Narcissus]

Just now I checked on him and he was flipped over on his back. I've helped him back onto his belly, but he still isn't moving. If I couldn't see him breathing I'd think he was dead.

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

Hi ~

I'm very sorry that your young Mediterranean gecko is doing poorly. How is your gecko now?

Before 5 days ago and this difficult shed had he been eating and acting normally?

 

[Narcissus]

Yes, he was climbing around and hunting his food like normal. The day before Christmas I fed him a few more crickets than normal, since I figured he's getting bigger and may need more now. He ate all of them and was looking pretty fat, and I took him out of his cage for a little while that evening to show him off to some friends. The next time I tried feeding him I guessed maybe he wasn't eating because he was still full from the couple of days before, but then I noticed him start to shed and thought oh yeah that's normal. But the next day after that was when I started to really worry.

Since writing this post last night, I notice he's moved to a different part of his cage, but he still keeps falling over and still hasn't eaten the cricket I left for him.

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

Yes, he was climbing around and hunting his food like normal. The day before Christmas I fed him a few more crickets than normal, since I figured he's getting bigger and may need more now. He ate all of them and was looking pretty fat, and I took him out of his cage for a little while that evening to show him off to some friends. The next time I tried feeding him I guessed maybe he wasn't eating because he was still full from the couple of days before, but then I noticed him start to shed and thought oh yeah that's normal. But the next day after that was when I started to really worry.

Since writing this post last night, I notice he's moved to a different part of his cage, but he still keeps falling over and still hasn't eaten the cricket I left for him.

A Hemidactylus turcicus? It would be helpful if somebody who's kept these could chime in.

How have you been supplementing him? Please list brand, exact name, and frequency.

 

[Narcissus]

I just feed him crickets from PetSmart. They come in boxes with little green food cubes and you can tell when they've eaten because it turns them green, but I haven't looked into what the green stuff actually is. I feed him a couple of crickets every other day, and if he doesn't eat them that day I try again the next day.

 

[Narcissus]

finally, some good news!
Today he is moving around a lot more (still can't walk without falling over, but he seems much more lively than before) and attempted to eat a cricket! The cricket did escape from his mouth, but I'm watching to see if he'll try again. I've temporarily got him sitting in this small container so I can keep a closer eye on him.

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

I just feed him crickets from PetSmart. They come in boxes with little green food cubes and you can tell when they've eaten because it turns them green, but I haven't looked into what the green stuff actually is. I feed him a couple of crickets every other day, and if he doesn't eat them that day I try again the next day.

finally, some good news!
Today he is moving around a lot more (still can't walk without falling over, but he seems much more lively than before) and attempted to eat a cricket! The cricket did escape from his mouth, but I'm watching to see if he'll try again. I've temporarily got him sitting in this small container so I can keep a closer eye on him.
View attachment 49481View attachment 49481

Your gecko may be having a calcium crash! That could cause seizures and, perhaps, imbalance. Without treatment with supplements, the seizures WILL return.

Most geckos require powdered supplements lightly dusted on their prey a regular basis like calcium with D3, plain calcium, and multivitamins.

Please buy Zoo Med's Repti Calcium with D3 today! Make a paste of Zoo Med's Repti Calcium with D3 + water. See whether he'll lick some off your finger!

Please purchase these other Zoo Med supplements ASAP!

(click to enlarge)​

1. Zoo Med's Repti Calcium with D3
2. Zoo Med's Repti Calcium withOUT D3
3. Zoo Med's Reptivite multivitamins withOUT D3

Sometimes Zoo Med's Reptivite multivitamins withOUT D3 are hard to find. The Reptile Supply Co based in Lodi California carries them and offers good prices. Be sure to check expiration dates when you receive them.

Reptile Supply Company (Lodi, California): 916-226-4089 https://www.reptilesupplyco.com/8-products

Use e-mail for customer service ---> info@ReptileSupplyCo.com
[Zoo Med's Reptivite multivitamins withOUT D3 source]​

 

[Narcissus]

�� I knew it was better to put calcium on their food, but I never realized it could cause seizures if they didn't have it. Thanks for the info! I will go get some as soon as the pet store opens!

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

�� I knew it was better to put calcium on their food, but I never realized it could cause seizures if they didn't have it. Thanks for the info! I will go get some as soon as the pet store opens!

You're welcome.

What your gecko needs immediately is calcium WITH D3!

 

[Narcissus]

update: I got the calcium powder this morning and put some powdered crickets in with the gecko. I also put a little bit of the stuff on his nose and watched until he licked it. He still hasn't successfully eaten a cricket. Is there a way to force-feed a gecko without hurting them?

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

Under New Posts it seems like you just posted. I don't see it. Maybe if I post, your post will appear?

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

update: I got the calcium powder this morning and put some powdered crickets in with the gecko. I also put a little bit of the stuff on his nose and watched until he licked it. He still hasn't successfully eaten a cricket. Is there a way to force-feed a gecko without hurting them?

Please be exact. Were you able to buy Zoo Med's Repti Calcium with D3?

Let his body & bones heal some before you try to force feed him!!!

I'm glad your Hemidactylus licked some powder! How about a 2nd "dose" of the calcium with D3 powder tomorrow? After that it will be better to alternate calcium with D3 with plain calcium. Then multivitamins without D3 at 1 feeding per week.

If your gecko's low calcium issues have progressed to his mouth/bones, a gentle way to feed him is to order a 2 ounce package of Pangea Gecko Diet with Insects. That's an all-in-one dry diet one mixes with water. An alternative = Repashy's Grub Pie. That's also a powdered diet one mixes with water. Be sure to refrigerate either powder after opening to extend its shelf life.

Will you be able to order the other 2 Zoo Med powders?

 

[Narcissus]

Update: my baby's eating again!

I got really scared last night because he somehow got out of the small container he was in and lost his tail, but I moved him to a more secure container and gave him a small cardboard thing to hide under (I had removed his regular hides because they were making it difficult to monitor his condition) and he seems to be doing way better today. Thank you again so much for advising me to buy that Zoomed calcium with D3. I think you saved my gecko's life. <3

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

Update: my baby's eating again!

I got really scared last night because he somehow got out of the small container he was in and lost his tail, but I moved him to a more secure container and gave him a small cardboard thing to hide under (I had removed his regular hides because they were making it difficult to monitor his condition) and he seems to be doing way better today. Thank you again so much for advising me to buy that Zoomed calcium with D3. I think you saved my gecko's life. <3

You're very welcome! I'm happy he's eating again. Thanks so much for sharing!

His tail will probably regrow if you're diligent about supplements & nutrition. Don't overdo supplements though! Being consistent & regular is vital for supplements. A gecko can have calcium crashes whenever there is such an imbalance.