Hi...new Leo owner

[sandyvern]

Hi Everyone

New to this site and new to Leopard Geckos. My bf saw an ad for a 'free to good home' gecko....and so now I am here

I have 4 beardies as well...and my bf has 4 snakes and 5 tarantuals...so not entirely new to reptiles...just geckos.

I have been trying to find info about geckos without too much success...so hoping this site might be a good source of info.

I am not sure that we have inherited a healthy gecko. Have only had him for a week (today) but when we got him he seemed to have 'sores' on his mouth and face. And he doesn't seem to open his eyes much. I have since come to the conclusion after some research that this was due to possibly not having shed completely during a previous shed. He has just finished shedding for the first time since we had him yesterday...although I had to help him with a q-tip around his face and toes. I think with this shed he seems to have gotten rid of the 'sores' on his face. Although his eyes were particulary difficult shedding...on the second day of him shedding (yesterday) his face and eyes in particular were totally covered over. After having 2 warm water soaks yesterday was finally able to clear his face. But still not opening his eyes much. And now there seems to be a swollen bump by one of his eyes.

He is currently in a 10 gal acquarium (what he came with)...has a UTH and a humid hide. Has pooped a couple of times...and has seemed to eat some worms.

I started him on a treatment of Reptaid (today was day 5 of treatment)which I have used with success on my beardies to help with increasing appetite and energy and overall health.

Just wondering if anyone has more info that they could give to a new gecko owner.

Thanks!
Sandy

 

[Saphira]

sounds like he wasn't kept humid enough. poor thing. I would continue to soak him daily. Everything else sounds good from what you listed. Glad he found you for his home. poor sweety.

I have been having issue's with my leo's eyes too. I have two threads in the health and medication section...if you want to read and see if there are any other ideas in there for you.

 

[rawson5084]

Welcome to GF

 

[sandyvern]

sounds like he wasn't kept humid enough. poor thing. I would continue to soak him daily. Everything else sounds good from what you listed. Glad he found you for his home. poor sweety.

I have been having issue's with my leo's eyes too. I have two threads in the health and medication section...if you want to read and see if there are any other ideas in there for you.

Hi Racheal
Wow...sounds like you have had such an ordeal with your gecko! It sounds like geckos are much more trouble than beardies!! So if he has had shedding issues before does that mean he will always have shedding issues? I feel so bad 'bothering' him all the time...I hope he realizes I am trying to help him. He at least looks better since he has shed this time...I just wish he would open his eyes...so I can see them and see if anything more is going on. He is enjoying his moist hide though now...so hopefully that will be helpful to him.

Did you ever try the Reptaid on yours? And if so did it help any? I have used in on my beardies and it has helped with their energy levels, color and appetite. With Leo (the kid that we got him from named him Leo) he has been pretty frisky when I try and handle him...just seems pretty lethargic in his house. I feel bad about having to cause more stress to Leo by handling him so soon after getting him...but he just didn't seem right when we got him...so was hoping to help him out.

Anyway...just more ramblings...I am trying to reserve judgement on geckos...I am hoping normally they are less maintenance

 

[mainelygeckos]

Leos are so low maintenence butyes on occasion you get one or two that needs help in such areas as sheeding and whatnot. If he has has bad sheds but you are able to help him remove anything stuck he may have trouble shedding but not sure if it will be all the time and the humid hide will def help with that. Keep up the good work they are very easy to care for Oh and love the baby beardie in your avatar gorgeous..we will get one within the next year as my hubby seems to love their looks

 

[Bellalee]

If he cannot open his eyes he might have shed stuck in his eyes, what was he kept on before?

What do these soars look like also?

 

[THE WHISPERER]

Welcome to GF

 

[Khrysty]

Can you post a picture of him?

Also you mentioned the tank came with a humid hide. Does he have two other dry hides as well? What sort of substrate is he being kept on? How are you reading temperatures?

 

[sandyvern]

Keep up the good work they are very easy to care for Oh and love the baby beardie in your avatar gorgeous..we will get one within the next year as my hubby seems to love their looks

Thanks....I think beardies are great! So I would say definitely go for it!

Just wanted to update....Leo seems much better today:main_thumbsup: I just had him in a soak again today and was using a q-tip on his one eye that still seemed a bit stuck. And by the time we were done his one eye was open and looked good....and the one I was helping was open...looked a little like there was still maybe a little something still stuck but at least it was open and looked better anyway. He was also much more calm about me helping him today...at least until he got tired of it. So decided to quick bugging him for today...I will check again later...but won't soak him again today will just wait til tomorrow and see if he needs another soak.

The things I originally said were 'sores' I think were just unshed bits around his face...since he has finished shedding yesterday they are gone....and looks normal.

He does have a "bump" by his eye...the one I was helping with....but looks like it might actually be a scrap or cut...so maybe it will heal and be ok.

I am much happier with his progress today....the only thing now is I would like to see him eat more...but maybe now that his eyes are better and open he will be more willing to eat some more.