Another blind gecko post... different situation.

[turtlescales]

I more or less "rescued" a leopard gecko yesterday and am looking for some input. It is a male of uncertain age, about 7 inches long. Haven't weighed him, definitely under weight.

The previous owners did not understand the humidity requirements or importance of removing stuck sheds. The gecko is blind, due to stuck sheds they said about a couple months ago. Apparently, it also had an abscess at one point from another shed issues that seems to have healed. Housing him separately from my 2 girls, at least for now. I would like to eventually put him in with the girls if possible, I suspect he is a cold male as he did come from a place like +++++ or something like that, doesn't matter as I have no intention to breed these guys.

I've never seen one lose their sight from stuck sheds... I imagine it is entirely too late to take action (I wish I had of been told sooner). Is there even a tiny chance of restoring even some of its sight?

My second question, they had been hand feeding him. He accepts food readily, just needs more of it. Has anyone dealt with a blind gecko and their feeding needs? I figure he knows where the water is and moves around the cage a lot, he shouldn't have a problem finding a bowl of legless crickets and stuff. I hate feeding meal worms, my girls get crickets and dubia roaches and the occasional waxworm.

Any suggestions would be helpful, I've got a good amount of experience with reptiles after doing work for over 10 years with a herpetologist and taking care of a big collection but a blind gecko is a new one for me!

Thank you!

 

[DrCarrotTail]

If he still has shed stuck on his eyes there's a good chance he may be able to see again if it comes off. You may need to visit a vet for some antibiotics and ointment to out on them tho. If the eyes are scarred and he's unable to see then that would be a different story. Many blind geckos need to be hand fed for the rest of their lives. Since they are visual predators many will not hunt if they cannot see movement. Sometimes it can be easier to assist feed than to try to entice a gecko with food on tongs. I would seriously hesitate to put a handicapped gecko in with any others. If he is blind he won't be able to see the threat gestures of other geckos warning him to back off before he is attacked and that will put him at a serious disadvantage and in danger.

 

[DrCarrotTail]

If you post a picture of him and his eyes people may be able to make a better assessment of whether there is a chance of further recovery or not. Leos are super survivors and where there is a chance they usually make a comeback!

 

[turtlescales]

I hate to admit this, I just wrapped up the end of a 19 credit quarter at school and haven't had time to do anything for this guy until today. Now, the poor thing has a swelling above his eye. The old owners told me this happened once before and that they had lanced it, I suspect it is infection building up from the stuck sheds. I am going to try to get it into the vet if I can, I am out of work until next month so I am not sure I can juggle enough. Breaks my heart, my oldest girl I have had for 12 years and never had issues like this and it is frustrating being the one to foot the bill for another's mistakes. The herpetologist I worked for told me how to help with the stuck skin over the eyes, and I have had to perform a number of minor veterinary procedures on herps over the years with him. Not our animals, but on rescues. Still... I need a vet to get antibiotics, that swelling came about far to quickly to be anything but a bacterial infection. I will try to get some pictures up soon.

 

[indyana]

Sorry to hear that he's not doing too well. I hope you are able to get some antibiotics and help him out. It's very sad to see animals that get into poor health because their owners didn't take the time to research their needs and care for them properly.