Impaction? Symptoms

[xpmr5]

I fed my juvenile (5") enigma leopard 6 medium to large crickets yesterday (slightly wider than head). I fed him them one at a time. He put all of them down really quick. I figured 6 was more than enough, even though he could have probably eaten more in that 15 minute "recommended" time span. You could see his internal organs through his belly since the day I got him (bluish area in the belly). He has been eating and pooping fine since I got him 2 weeks ago. I've been paranoid since yesterday night when I looked at his belly again and researched on impaction and wondered if his belly had become a darker blue. He has pooped twice since yesterday mornings feedings. What really worried me the most was earlier this afternoon he was laying with his rear legs stretched out, and his rear legs looked to be paralyzed. However, I put my finger near him to see if he would move, and to my surprise, he did. He's been acting normal all along (like a typical cranky juvenile). He's been roaming around fine and seems to be doing fine. I'm wondering if there's anything wrong with him and if laying with the hind legs stretched out is normal.

 

[Alex G]

Impaction is basically a really bad version of constipation, so if he's pooping, you should be fine. Is this your first reptile? I remember what a helicopter mom I was about my first cornsnake! Bits of coco husk in the water? IT MUST BE MITES! Came out of hiding at an irregular time the day after food? HE MUST'VE REGURGED etc etc... don't worry, these guys are "beginner" geckos for a reason... they're hardy. If something is wrong, you seem like you're observant enough that you'll know it.
For future reference, symptoms of impaction include not pooping or difficulty pooping, lethargy, low interest in food, and difficulty breathing. Lots of things can cause an impaction but the easiest thing to fix is probably substrate. Keeping young ones and possibly even adults of loose, hard substrates like sand (even calci-sand) seem to be highly incriminating in reptile impaction. Also, low temperatures and inappropriately sized food items can cause impaction as well. There are some people who claim feeding mealworms can lead to impactions, but they don't really have any statistics to back this up, just one lone vet with no research on it, and many big-name breeders feed exclusively mealworms with no issues. YMMV.

 

[xpmr5]

Impaction is basically a really bad version of constipation, so if he's pooping, you should be fine. Is this your first reptile? I remember what a helicopter mom I was about my first cornsnake! Bits of coco husk in the water? IT MUST BE MITES! Came out of hiding at an irregular time the day after food? HE MUST'VE REGURGED etc etc... don't worry, these guys are "beginner" geckos for a reason... they're hardy. If something is wrong, you seem like you're observant enough that you'll know it.
For future reference, symptoms of impaction include not pooping or difficulty pooping, lethargy, low interest in food, and difficulty breathing. Lots of things can cause an impaction but the easiest thing to fix is probably substrate. Keeping young ones and possibly even adults of loose, hard substrates like sand (even calci-sand) seem to be highly incriminating in reptile impaction. Also, low temperatures and inappropriately sized food items can cause impaction as well. There are some people who claim feeding mealworms can lead to impactions, but they don't really have any statistics to back this up, just one lone vet with no research on it, and many big-name breeders feed exclusively mealworms with no issues. YMMV.

The leg situation is what scared me though.

 

[Alex G]

Should be alright, sounds like he was just loungin'. I once saw on of mine sleeping face down with both her front legs facing her tail once... Whatever's comfortable

 

[LeoMerlin]

The impaction thing is what scares me the most with my leos (They are on PAPER TOWELS, NO SAND or any other loose substrate). I just got a second one about a week ago, and I seriously believe something may be wrong with it. It's very tiny, and I had trouble getting it to eat when we brought it home. After a day or so it finally ate, but I haven't seen it poop much. I think maybe one really successful poop was found in the tank but since then, not really. I think it over ate one day and threw up the food, but it usually will just eat the one cricket (small). Today I looked at the new leo and found a "dark" spot on its belly. I don't know if it's an impaction or not. I gave it a warm bath, and now it's staying on the warm side of the tank, finally. It was staying on the cool side for the longest time. I'm hoping this will help and that I won't have to take it back to the store. I want to do my best to help it out. Merlin doesn't have too much issues with eating, he's growing just fine, and goes to the bathroom daily without any issues.

 

[fl_orchidslave]

As far as the legs- leopard geckos sprawl out in very peculiar positions sometimes. It looks weird but they're comfortable. The dark belly spot is food eaten and digesting, and their organs. Especially on young ones, their belly skin is thin and translucent, showing their guts.

 

[LeoMerlin]

Hmm okay I am worried because it has not gone to the bathroom in awhile and is still refusing food. I read and was told something like Gerber Chicken food can be used to get it to eat and maybe try Pedialite. If no improvement by Monday, may take it to a vet.