I'm a little worried...

[DrCarrotTail]

That gecko is incredibly thin. Your setup sounds okay so I would be worried that there is something else going on. If he's really been eating 6 mealworms a day up until the last few days I would assume he's got boatload of parasites that are eating all his nutrients before he gets any. Reptiles have a way of not showing they're sick until the last moment. It's the way they don't get eaten in the wild. Sorry to say, I would rush that little guy and his most recent fecal to the vet ASAP or you might lose him.

 

[athdaraxen]

That gecko is incredibly thin. Your setup sounds okay so I would be worried that there is something else going on. If he's really been eating 6 mealworms a day up until the last few days I would assume he's got boatload of parasites that are eating all his nutrients before he gets any. Reptiles have a way of not showing they're sick until the last moment. It's the way they don't get eaten in the wild. Sorry to say, I would rush that little guy and his most recent fecal to the vet ASAP or you might lose him.

He ate 6 meal worms on the first day I gave them to him, which was also the last time he ate, before that he would eat about 2 crickets a day which is all he would eat then refuse anymore.

And while you might not believe this he actually has gained weight, not much, but its noticeable to me because I try to examine him every day. I should have taken pictures.

The nearest vet to me isn't open until Monday and I have to work or I won't be able to afford to take him regardless.

Just when I thought things were ok. Everything goes to crap.

 

[DrCarrotTail]

How many times since you got him has he had live crickets or mealworms?

 

[athdaraxen]

How many times since you got him has he had live crickets or mealworms?

He didn't eat for the first 4 days I had him, he first ate on the 11th and ate 2 crickets every day, no problem up until the the 21st. That is when I first fed him meal worms for the first time, he ate 6, no crickets. Later that day I switched him to tile. I heated yup the tile before I put him in there using the UTH and 2 over head lights until it got to the proper temps. Then I placed him in the middle. It wasn't until the 23rd that he really got all sleepy and such.

Just to add he explored and poked at the tile and everything for like 2 hours. It was completely adorable.

 

[DrCarrotTail]

Okay I got a bit worried when I read you were giving him "Zoo Med Leopard Gecko food". IMO that stuff is horrible. Whoever is making and marketing it should be locked up. Geckos need real food with real nutrition and calories in it. I wouldn't feed that to him again.

Those are unusual eating habits for a gecko so young. To give you something to compare - I picked up a little gecko gal about the size of yours but with a fat tail at a reptile show on September 8th. She was 12g then and has been eating 7-10 mealworms a day and weighed in at 17g today.

A couple days without eating when they're that little and thin is a lot more worrying than for an adult gecko with a nice fat tail. When they have no fat on their tails and no calories in their bellies they can start to use reserves from more important places in their bodies.

I would count five mealworms out and leave them in a bowl overnight. If he hasn't eaten any them by tomorrow morning I would try cutting one in half and squeezing some worm guts on his face and trying to get him to lick them off. He's really skinny and probably pretty lethargic. I know you said you're strapped for cash but if he has been eating like you say then it really does sound like he has something going on other than just not eating. Whatever it is probably won't go away on its own and I would try to get him - or at least a fecal sample - to a vet ASAP.

 

[Ozy]

OMG. Seeing that overhead pic.. He is PAINFULLY thin! I would even say emaciated! It seriously looks like he has parasites. His stomach looks HUGE compared to the rest of him.. Not good

 

[Ozy]

Just to put in perspective how thin he actually is. I also got my leo from my local petco and this is her on the day I brought her home. which is the smallest she's ever been. You can see her tail is the same width as her hips and her legs are much meatier. You said he was the fattest one. You mean fat in the stomach? Because a big stomach and a skinny little tail like that on a leo is NOT good. I wouldn't be surprised if his gut was full of parasites.

 

[athdaraxen]

Okay I got a bit worried when I read you were giving him "Zoo Med Leopard Gecko food". IMO that stuff is horrible. Whoever is making and marketing it should be locked up. Geckos need real food with real nutrition and calories in it. I wouldn't feed that to him again.

Those are unusual eating habits for a gecko so young. To give you something to compare - I picked up a little gecko gal about the size of yours but with a fat tail at a reptile show on September 8th. She was 12g then and has been eating 7-10 mealworms a day and weighed in at 17g today.

A couple days without eating when they're that little and thin is a lot more worrying than for an adult gecko with a nice fat tail. When they have no fat on their tails and no calories in their bellies they can start to use reserves from more important places in their bodies.

I would count five mealworms out and leave them in a bowl overnight. If he hasn't eaten any them by tomorrow morning I would try cutting one in half and squeezing some worm guts on his face and trying to get him to lick them off. He's really skinny and probably pretty lethargic. I know you said you're strapped for cash but if he has been eating like you say then it really does sound like he has something going on other than just not eating. Whatever it is probably won't go away on its own and I would try to get him - or at least a fecal sample - to a vet ASAP.

Well the Zoo Med crap was in there most of the time, mostly because that's what they feed him at the store (OH by the way once I got my gecko, I go in the next day and they completely revamped the gecko section with fresh love stuffs. >_>) so I left it in there to make him more comfortable or something, I don't know. Its gone now though.

And wow, that growth is awesome! I bet she is adorable. <3

I was actually going to ask about that, I was reading that somewhere and that was actually going to be my next question if that could be a good course of action.

And as I said I can try and get to the vet but this bugger has utterly drained me of money. I've spent at least $200 on him so far and I just cannot keep it up anymore. This sucks. I got him thinking it would be a good easy way to start off after my mice died. The people at Petco were all like, "these guys are like the hamsters of reptiles" easy and simple. *head desk*

Just to put in perspective how thin he actually is. I also got my leo from my local petco and this is her on the day I brought her home. which is the smallest she's ever been. You can see her tail is the same width as her hips and her legs are much meatier. You said he was the fattest one. You mean fat in the stomach? Because a big stomach and a skinny little tail like that on a leo is NOT good. I wouldn't be surprised if his gut was full of parasites.

** He had the fattest tail out of the other 7 geckos in his enclosure. Which probably means ALL of them are sick too.

Guys I'm going to be honest/realistic,I'm freaking out here, I really don't think I can get him what he needs. I want to save him but with how my money is right now I don't know if I can save him. I don't know what to do. I don't know.

I honestly thought I had it. I thought everything was ok. I hoped so hard and did everything I could think not to end up in this situation, I did all I could and now its just... *head desk*

 

[Ozy]

Well they ARE easy and simple if you don't get one that is sick. I'm going to have some real talk with you for a minute. I do not mean this in a mean way AT ALL. From how thin he looks in the pictures and the fact that he's pretty much stopped eating and stuff. If you can't afford to take him to the vet and have him treated, then take him to a local vet and have him humanely euthanized. Don't prolong his suffering by trying a bunch of different things yourself. I know no one likes to think about euthanasia, but in your situation I honestly think it would be for the best. We both know he was not cared for very well at the store, there were SEVEN geckos in that teeny enclosure and if he had the fattest tail out of all of them I would HATE to see what the others looked like! I would not be surprised AT ALL if most of his cage mates were dead by now.

 

[athdaraxen]

Well they ARE easy and simple if you don't get one that is sick. I'm going to have some real talk with you for a minute. I do not mean this in a mean way AT ALL. From how thin he looks in the pictures and the fact that he's pretty much stopped eating and stuff. If you can't afford to take him to the vet and have him treated, then take him to a local vet and have him humanely euthanized. Don't prolong his suffering by trying a bunch of different things yourself. I know no one likes to think about euthanasia, but in your situation I honestly think it would be for the best. We both know he was not cared for very well at the store, there were SEVEN geckos in that teeny enclosure and if he had the fattest tail out of all of them I would HATE to see what the others looked like! I would not be surprised AT ALL if most of his cage mates were dead by now.

I'm crying now. Crap.
I really hoped it wouldn't have to come to this. I really didn't. His poops seemed all good, picture perfect examples, he was eating at what I thought was well. Crap man. Just crap.

Is it even legal to sell these geckos like this?! I can't see how it can be?

Sorrry, I'll be ok. I am upset, but I'll be ok. I'll see if any of the local vets are open tomorrow, maybe they can treat him, if not.

 

[Ozy]

I PM'd you. Let's talk.

 

[DrCarrotTail]

They are easy and simple if you get a healthy gecko and good advice. Most of the time people at petco have no idea what they're talking about and give counter productive advice.

Realistically, your gecko is really thin. He may be past help at this point even if you were to take him to the vet and spend whatever it takes. However, geckos are hardy little fighters and your guy might just pull thorough. Even the most experienced of us all have set backs and make mistakes. It's part of learning and living. You can only try your best.

If I were in your shoes I would:

1.) Stop freaking out, take a deep breath and the best you can do is try your best. Freaking out doesn't help anything.
2.) Put the five mealworms in a bowl near where he is sleeping and say a prayer before you sleep tonight that he eats on his own. If not get up in the morning and smear some guts on his face. If that doesn't work start reading and asking about the slurry or what else might be okay to force feed him. He'll need energy to hunt and eat on his own.
3.) First thing Monday start calling vets to see if they can do a cheap fecal exam. Someone on here said their vet charges $10 - you might get lucky and have a vet near you that would be willing to do this. If they're sending it out to a lab it doesn't necessarily have to be a herp vet so ask around.
4.) Keep us updated! We're pulling for you and your little guy. Sorry this is such a tough experience.

 

[athdaraxen]

I PM'd you. Let's talk.

Well, I have bad news, I think he'll be gone by morning. He's become rather unresponsive all of a sudden.

Wait, he got up again. I think he stopped breathing for a bit there, I had to touch him to rouse him. All he did was lift his head though.

And he's down again.

I'm gonna try the meal worm gut thing now. I don't want to sit here and do nothing.

 

[athdaraxen]

Omg, guys I think its the meal worms! (Maybe not....)

I got some of the guts on his face he licked them once and FREAKED OUT.

He spit it out and then he rubbed he face on the tile twice.

Same reaction to crickets.

He is now kinda shakey. I moved a plant to get to him and now he is back under that plant. He is glued to that plant.

But he is back to laying down with his eyes closed again.

 

[Ozy]

Try mashing some of the crickets together with a bit of water and repashy, then dab a bit on his nose. Be careful of his nostrils.

 

[athdaraxen]

Try mashing some of the crickets together with a bit of water and repashy, then dab a bit on his nose. Be careful of his nostrils.

I'll try that now.

**
He wouldn't even lick it, just rubbed it off. I stopped because I'm pretty sure I'm scaring him.

****
Which on that note. I forgot to say I did as you asked Dr. CarrotTail. We'll see what happens after I go to sleep which as much as I hate to say it, I need to get to bed, its 2 am lol I didn't even notice the time.

*
He's scared now, he's backed up in a hide on the cool side and will not come out. He keeps looking for me and if I move he darts back inside.

 

[DrCarrotTail]

Sorry he wouldn't eat. He needs a bit of time to recover and regain some energy before you try again so sleep for you and peace and quiet for him is a good idea

 

[Ozy]

+1 to the doc. Night. Keeping you and Sparky in my thoughts.

 

[athdaraxen]

Thanks you two. We'll see how he is in the morning.

He's stopped freaking out and is now laying down again. He gets over freaking out rather fast. :|

 

[ImNotYogi]

Is it possible to give him a waxworm or two to hopefully jump start his appetite and get something in his stomach?