Gecko not eating/drinking

[audreythejungleg]

I have had my gecko, Fred, for a little over a year now. I bought him off a friend who's female had had babies. Fred was very healthy up until about 3 or so months ago. He wasn't eating much, but his tail was fat so I assumed he was just not hungry. Then he started having problems shedding. The skin would not come all the way off and I frequently had to (carefully) remove it myself with a cotton bud. I then went on vacation about a month later and entrusted his care to my dad. I left him directions and all that jazz and assumed fred would be taken care of. He was losing fat in his tail at this point, wasn't drinking much water and didn't move around his tank much at all. I was not gone for more than two and a half weeks. When I got back, his tank was a mess of dead mealworms, dead skin and feces. He didn't have water and his eye was closed shut with dead skin. I was obviously horrified by this and immediately took him back from my dad.
I did call a vet, and was told to give him soaks twice day. I changed his substrate to newspaper (previously walnut shells. This was what my friend told me to use for a substrate when Fred was given to me, and I just didn't question it) and he is now back in his clean tank. As you can see from the picture, his tail is very skinny. He is also very jumpy and nervous. He is moving around more, but he's walking so that his belly is as far away from the ground as possible, like crocodiles sometimes do. There was a mealworm beetle in his tank when I got back from my trip, obviously I quickly got it out and killed it, but I do wonder if somehow Fred got infected by it. He was sick before that ordeal though. Please respond with any help you have. Thank you.

 

[Kmay571]

I wouldn't be too concerned about the beetle. Have you considered impaction from the walnuts? Has he had any waste?


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[audreythejungleg]

I wouldn't be too concerned about the beetle. Have you considered impaction from the walnuts? Has he had any waste?


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I did consider that and he's on newspaper and paper towels now. He has not had a bowel movement recently, that I'm aware of. I think the problem may be impaction but I'm not sure. Is there a way to tell definitely?

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[Kmay571]

You may be able to see the blockage on his belly. It is usually a dark spot. Other than that, I would get him to see the vet specifically about impaction. In the meantime, keep up with the soaking. Make sure the water is warm. That should help keep him hydrated as well. Double check that the surface of the hot side is about 90*F.

As for shedding issues, do you have a humid hide for him? If not, they are cheap to make with a Tupperware container.

About eating: has he eaten anything lately? If not, you can try gutting the insect and dabbing some on his nose. He may lick it, he may not. If he doesn't, you may have to consider possibly force feeding him, but I would only do that as an absolute last resort and with guidance from your vet. I have never had to force feed a leo, only a crested gecko, so I cannot give you much advice on that.


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[audreythejungleg]

I'm considering making slurry for him before I consider force feeding. any thoughts on slurry?

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[Kmay571]

I would do it. It's easy to make and I think he really needs the nutrition.
When I made a slurry at the pet store I work at, I just crushed up some gut-loaded, dusted feeders mixed it with some pedialyte and water (I did half and half). I would just put a drop of the top of his nose and get him to lick.


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[audreythejungleg]

Ok, he's been on newspaper for a few days now and the cause of him not eating is most definitely impaction. He's been popping out his previous substrate. Is this something he can just get out of his system or will I need to interfere? I am still going to make the slurry just so he gets some nutrition, because he won't eat mealworms

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[Kmay571]

If he is pooping out the old substrate, he should be able to pass the rest by himself. That is a very, very good sign. He might not want to eat because his system is backed up. You can still make the slurry, as his appetite *should* come back as he passes the walnut shells. He should recover by himself, so just keep an eye on him.


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[audreythejungleg]

Great, thank you so much for your help

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