Good News!!

[dim&shell]

As some of you know, I have been a bit concerned about a baby gecko that's in my local petshop (the one I go to, to get my crickets)... Well after some help from my friends (donations of a tank etc) I am going this afternoon, to RESCUE it, I know that the stress isn't good but I can't leave him in there when every week he just looks worse and worse. If any of you could give me any advice on how to get him back to healthiness, please let me know e.g. food, substrate etc?

I will try and take some pictures tonight and post them tomorrow...

Wish me Good Luck :main_thumbsup:

 

[Halley]

Okay it looks as if you already have two leopard geckos, so I would just take care of it the same way. Just feed mealworms, paper substance, moist hide, hot spot 90 degrees etc. Just make sure you quarantine it, which you seem to have planned out with the new tank and all. If you are unsure, I would read a few of the care sheet avaible on the internet. Just type in “leopard gecko care” into the Google search engine and you will have a lot of cares sheets that come up, you might also want to look though, the care & husbandry section here on gecko forums.

The other thing I want to point out to you and this is in no attempt to be rude, or mean to you, in any way. It is my believe when you rescue an animal, from a pet shop, where it is not well taken care of. That what you are doing is supporting that pet shop, and saying that it is okay to take care of animals like that. Then when you buy this leopard gecko, they will replace it with another one that will suffer the same way as this one is. And that cycle with continue. If you don’t buy it, and nobody else does, there is a possibility that the cycle will end, and no other leopard gecko will have to suffer like this one. I know that it would be hard to sit back and watch this one suffer like that, but if you decide to help out this one, you may have to help out more, as they will be taken care of the same way. I would try to educate the pet shop a little more, rather than rescuing it myself. That is this how I feel about this subject.

I think you will, still go get him/her, and if you decide to do this, I hope you can make him healthy, and he can live out the rest of his life in peace. The other advice I have, is to take it to the vet, probably along with a fecal sample, as if it is in poor conditions, it will most likely have parasites. The vet can most likely give you something to help treat this. Also I would recommend tending to it cage last, so the chances of spreading anything decreases. Also keep him in a separate room, from the other. Then I would at least wash my hands after cleaning his cage (this should be done everyday, and food items replaced, with a quarantined animal) however it is best, to take a shower. With these methods you can lower the chances of spreading anything to your other two. I might also read something about quarantine on the internet or on here as well, as that isn’t the all you can do, I’m sure. I would also wait for more people to respond to this post.

 

[dim&shell]

Thank you so much for your help Nicholas. Yeah I plan on keeping him in a separate tank - don't want to stress him out anymore by putting him in with my 2. I didn't know if I needed to do anything to get his weight back up, because he looks SOOO skinny (bones sticking out) and when I saw him the other day he hadn't shed properly and skin was stuck to him still I will still be reporting them to the RSPCA asap, as I understand that I'm helping them by buying him but I can't just leave him.

 

[Halley]

I will still be reporting them to the RSPCA asap

Okay that might help him, and help other reptile all at once, that seems like a good plan.

I didn't know if I needed to do anything to get his weight back up

To get his weight back up. Depending on how large he/she is. I would feed some pinky mice, as well as allowing him to free feed, on some type of grub. I would say mealworms, but those are pretty much no-existence now days. So phoenix worms, is what I would offer him next. They cost a little bit more, but they will be worth it, they are also very healthy. If he is too small to feed pinkies, you might also want to order some waxies, as they have a good fat content. Just make sure he doesn’t get hooked on them.

when I saw him the other day he hadn't shed properly and skin was stuck to him still

Give him a warm water soak, or just a moist hide. I would do both.

 

[dim&shell]

Yeah he's absolutely tiny, seems to be getting smaller every time I see him. I have mealworms and wax worms already but think he's as small as a baby mouse. Where would I get phoenix worms from? I've not heard of them before? Also is it okay to put him on normal kitchen roll paper as substrate?

Thank you so much for your help, much appreciated

 

[Halley]

Where would I get phoenix worms from?

I get mine from Worman.com
http://www.wormman.com/pd_phoenix.cfm

I use them for most of my breeding females, so they keep up the calcium levels; I also give them a calcium dish. I recommend them, as it wouldn't surprise me if he had the starting of MBD from poor care, and improper nutrition.

Also is it okay to put him on normal kitchen roll paper as substrate?

That is actually probably the best substance you could use. I would make sure that the hide is dark though, as I think hiding is a white hide spot, wouldn’t make me feel to secure.

If you have any other questions, just post them, I’ll keep checking this thread.

 

[dim&shell]

Thanks Nicholas - you don't realise how much I appreciate your help. Looked on that site and it's in American dollars - I live in the UK - not sure where I would get these from?

I've just reported the pet shop to the RSPCA (so feeling slightly better now), I've already got loads of hides at home as went a bit mad when sorting out my stuff for my 2 geckos And have Calcium and small crickets and mealworms. Just need to get a heat mat and calcium dish and try and get these phoenix worms.

 

[Halley]

not sure where I would get these from?

The best thing I could think of is just to type in "Phoenix Worms" into a search engine, they may not be in the UK yet, I really couldn't tell you.

Just need to get a heat mat and calcium dish and try and get these phoenix worms.

That sounds like a plan. I would also keep his room, dark, or lightly lightened. That way he can feel more secure, and that will help ease the stress. Also I know that he is skinny, but don’t fall into the trap of over feeding him. If you give him too much, it will shock his system, as he isn’t use to the food anymore, and this could kill him. So give it to him little by little. I would say from how you describe him, give him a MAX of three mealworms, everyday. He will most likely pound those three down in a few seconds, but just wait until he poops, to give him more, that way you know he can digest them. Then you can slowly start to give him more. I would do the three mealworms a day thing, for probably a week, with regular pooping, before I started to let him eat, as much as he wanted. Maybe more. That is something to talk to your vet about, also, as I think that this little one could really use a vet trip. Post pics when you get him home though.

 

[dim&shell]

Should I feed him/her crickets? Or only mealworms? Sorry for all the questions. I will post pictures tomorrow.

Thank you for the advice on the feeding him not too much, my instincts would have been to chuck all the food in :main_laugh:

 

[Halley]

Should I feed him/her crickets? Or only mealworms? Sorry for all the questions. I will post pictures tomorrow.

I would do only mealworms for a few days. As they can be put in a bowl, so this will make it easier to monitor her intake. As the crickets might go and hide somewhere. He also won't have to expand as much energy catching mealworms, as he would crickets. As far as you describe him, he doesn’t have a lot of energy that he can waste, with his body weight and all. So that would be what I would do.

Thank you for the advice on the feeding him not too much, my instincts would have been to chuck all the food in

Yup, me as well. I almost forgot to put that in there.

 

[rubym]

We had a VERY sick little rescue and Marcias slurry did wonders for her. With any sickly animal, you need to be prepared to pay a vet bill. Akasha ended up costing me a little over $170.00 in vet bills. We also had to feed her Marcias slurry for almost a month. My poor little girl had gastroenteritis and the vet said that it would be a slow road to recovery. We got her back in early October and she is just now up to 48 grams. We have to have monthly fecals done on her. The vet warned us that she could have flair ups from the gastroenteritis. She also had a wicked case of pin worms and it took 4 rounds of pancur to get rid of all of them. I was up every hour and half day and night for the first two weeks giving her 4 or 5 drops of slurry and drops of water. We also as other have said had to be VERY careful about hygene. I didn't want any of my healthy geckos to get sick. We got her from a breeder. I paid $5.00 for her. I did report the breeder to the show administrator and he was told not to come back to the show. I just couldn't stand to see this potentially beautiful little alibino die. It was alot of work and I did with out some other stuff to pay for my vet bill but she was well worth it. The first thing I would do if I was you is take him/her directly to a vet and find out what you are dealing with. If you are lucky is is very likely just a case of parasites. Best of luck with your little one.

 

[Greyscale_Geckos]

People have already spoken my main concerns, however I will reiterate something.

Do not pay for that leo. Make a stink about his condition and demand him for free, or at least discounted. Paying fully and aiding in putting more leopard geckos in his condition is not worth it. This is serious.

Reporting does nothing, I've been there and done that.

I apologize if I sound bitter... It's because I am. Please read this story if you have the time:

http://geckoforums.net/showthread.php?t=14236

Remember, not all these stories are happy endings. Rescues do take a lot of work.

I applaud any person who wants to take on the time and the responsibility that having a rescue entails. Really, your heart is in the right place. Even if you do pay for him, at least say that his condition is poor.

Either way, when you get him... Do take him to the vet immediately like Ruby said. Be prepared to pay a lot of money.

I wish you good luck. Also, I suggest buying disposable gloves, you will need them when you work with him. Throw them away and wash your hands really well before even touching your other geckos.

 

[Ccrashca069]

You might also send a message or email to PSGeckos or anyone else from the UK. They might be able to help you out on where to find the items and feeders you need.

 

[dim&shell]

Thank you guys... Went petshop last night and explained that the gecko was in critical condition and they just said that he's a bit skinny but fine?? Anyway after a bit of fuss they agreed to let me have him half price. Got him home, gave him a bath and managed to get some of the shedding off his toes, he still has some round his eyes so will give him another one last night. Fed him 3 mealworms as Nicholas suggested, he kept running away from them (obviously wasn't sure what they were), so cut one in half and basically forced him, he ate all 3 in the end He also LOVED his water bowl, sat in it for ages and kept knocking it over - had to get up 5 times last night to refil his water and take out the wet tissue. Here are some pictures... any advice would be greatly appreciated...

 

[SleepyDee]

Thank you guys... Went petshop last night and explained that the gecko was in critical condition and they just said that he's a bit skinny but fine?? Anyway after a bit of fuss they agreed to let me have him half price. Got him home, gave him a bath and managed to get some of the shedding off his toes, he still has some round his eyes so will give him another one last night. Fed him 3 mealworms as Nicholas suggested, he kept running away from them (obviously wasn't sure what they were), so cut one in half and basically forced him, he ate all 3 in the end He also LOVED his water bowl, sat in it for ages and kept knocking it over - had to get up 5 times last night to refil his water and take out the wet tissue. ...

hiya
you can order livefood from several UK online shops (livefoods.co.uk, globallivefood.com to name two) there isn't the shortage of mealworms here in the UK that apparently is a prob in the states.
Would def take him to a vets for a check-up to rule out any parasites, disease etc, keeping him in quaratine and wearing gloves when sorting him or his cage out is a good precaution too (things have a nasty habit of spreading pdq if care isn't taken) You can find vets in your area by checking out rcvs.org.uk
I'd say he's also probably dehydrated ~ hence loving the waterbowl ~ has he got a moist hide?
Papertowel is brill as a substrate even more so when quarentining :main_thumbsup:

I know petshops ain't exactly good but I have to say it's not necessarily them that's to blame for the leo's condition sometimes unfortunately it's the breeder

anyways best of luck with him

 

[dim&shell]

Thanks for the advice... Apperently should feed him phoenix worms as they're more nutricious than meal worms but can't find a UK site that sells them? I have meal worms already and the pet shop I go to order them in for me but they don't sell phoenix worms or wax worms.

I'm pretty sure it's the petshop because in his little tank he didn't have any water, hides or heat mat and was on sand. Plus they were feeding him massive locusts!

No he hasn't got a hide just yet, getting one tomorrow from the local pet shop to me, they're ordering one in for me as getting a little one for him as don't think he'd have the strength to get into the bigger one (that my two have got).

 

[dim&shell]

By the way how many Geckos have you got? Got any pictures? Love to have a nose x

 

[SleepyDee]

you don't have to buy a moist hide depending on the leo's size I use a mix of cat dentibics containers, plastic take-away tubs, marg tubs etc with entrances cut in the side ~ cheap and easy to clean

By the way how many Geckos have you got? Got any pictures? Love to have a nose

lol currently have about 13 adults/sub-adults and 26 hatchlings (with more on the way lol) You can see most of the adult/sub-adults on my website (links in my siggie) though I haven't got any pics of this years hatchlings up yet

 

[dim&shell]

Just had a nose, Gizmo is definitely my favourite - although the rest are gorgeous!! They are addictive aren't they?

How do I go about making a moist hide using a tub - have loads of take away tubs lol.

 

[SleepyDee]

Just had a nose, Gizmo is definitely my favourite - although the rest are gorgeous!! They are addictive aren't they?
How do I go about making a moist hide using a tub - have loads of take away tubs lol.

definately addictive lol and yep Gizmo is def one of my favourites especially as she's homegrown
making the moist hide is easy ~ there's two ways you can do it ... either cut an entrance hole in the side of a lidded takeaway tub big enough to allow the leo's to get in and out (about half inch or so from the bottom so they can't kick the filling out) or cut a circular hole in the lid ~ then I put damp moss inside (some use vermiculite, perlite etc) and hey presto one moist hide