lost 11 grams in 2 weeks! HELP!!!!

[PhoenixCoconut]

Hi, my "spotty" electric, tiger recently lost (sorry my subtraction was wrong I was in a rush for the title) 17 grams in 13 days.......I recently lost one of my fairly healthy leos for unknown reasons and before her death she lost quite a bit of weight I am sooooooooooo worried!!!!!! Please help


(We are going to do a fecal and vet exam do think that will help? My last one that died had the fecal and was parasite negative.)



About your leo:
- Sex: Male
- Age & Weight:Got in late summer he was 15 grams
- How long have you owned your leo since september 11th
- Where was he/she obtained (ex. Pet store, breeder, wild caught, friend)
Nightglow geckos

A) Health/History
- How often do you handle your leo: maybe about every other day
- Is your leo acting any different today? If so how does he/she normally act which differs from now. The only thing is that when I got him out of his cage he darted when I tried to get him that is not normal for my tame sweet heart
- Has he/she had any problems in the past, if so please describe. No
B) Fecals
- Describe (look any different than normal) Some are a little runny
- When was the last time he/she went about last night or the night before
C) Problem
- Please briefly describe the problem and how long it has been going on
Since I have moved him into a bigger cage he has stopped eating thats been about a month
Housing:
A) Enclosure
- Size about a 40 gallon eco terra cage
- Type (ex. glass type) Exo terra tank
- Type of substrate shelf liner
- Hides, how many, what kind 1 warm hide 1 moist hide that he stays in mostly on the warm side & 2 cold hides
B) Heating
- Heat source: Heat pad
- Cage temps (hot side, cool side) about 96 IDK how to make it not as hot. Do you?
- Method of regulating heat source: two pieces of thin wood
- What are you using to measure your temps: Temp probe
- Do you have any lights (describe) No
C) Cage mates
- How many (males, females)None
- Describe health, or previous problems

Describe Diet:Mealworms dusted in vitamins
A) Typical diet
- What you're feeding (how often, how much)whenever he's runs out of mealies he is fed, and theres about 20
- How are you feeding (hand fed, left in dish, act) left in dish
B) Supplements (describe how often)Dusted his food with it and he has a bowl of it
- What vitamin/minerals are you using (list brands) Herpivite w/ D3
- What are you gut loading food oats for the mealies and occasionally carrots

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME!!!!!!!!!!

 

[katie_]

What are you using to weigh him?

 

[GeckoGathering]

stopped eating

Hi, my "spotty" electric, tiger recently lost 11 grams in 13 days.......I recently lost one of my fairly healthy leos for unknown reasons and before her death she lost quite a bit of weight I am sooooooooooo worried!!!!!! Please help

Nicole...What is the present weight?

Since I have moved him into a bigger cage he has stopped eating thats been about a month

I've had and presently have one not eating or not eating as per normal
after a move to a larger tank. But seems to be holding weight.
The 11 grams loss in 13 days seems rather a sharp drop.
My observations on a average gecko shows me a average
weight gain of 7 grams a month.
So not likely that kind of loss with out a health problem present and check out your scale.

Not sure this is any help....I had a problem with one[death] from
believed to be respiratory problem.
Humid hide on hot side, always kept it moist, he was always
in it. Death was sudden...never a thought.
Since, humid hide is kept on mid to cool side, mist only as per drying out
or gecko showing in shed, and no tank misting.

Cage temps (hot side, cool side) about 99 IDK how to make it not as hot. Do you?

As far as myself..this temp. is not a problem since many of my tanks are
above 100 to 108 or so. No problems here since the humid was removed
from the hot side. Dry hide on hot side is my opinion.
Take care. HJ ​

 

[PhoenixCoconut]

That helps a lot HJ He's in it (Repti rock his moist hide)at the present moment so I should remove it from the hot side? What were symptoms of respiratory? Ya I will check out my scale. Kati its a nutria weigh dietary computer scale, but it seems to work fine with him I reweighed him many times and its the same IDK if my scale was not right that one time. His current weight is 31 and was 48 sorry my subtraction was quick I was worried not really thinking he lost 17 grams even more.

 

[PhoenixCoconut]

Do you think he caught something from my old gecko that died and lost quite aabit of weight? IM SOOOOO WORRIED!

 

[PhoenixCoconut]

Im moving him into a smaller cage with a simple setup! I still would love comments Im confused on what it is...Parasite maybe should I do fecal or check up, or both?

 

[GeckoGathering]

weight loss

That helps a lot HJ He's in it (Repti rock his moist hide)at the present moment so I should remove it from the hot side? What were symptoms of respiratory? Ya I will check out my scale. Kati its a nutria weigh dietary computer scale, but it seems to work fine with him I reweighed him many times and its the same IDK if my scale was not right that one time. His current weight is 31 and was 48 sorry my subtraction was quick I was worried not really thinking he lost 17 grams even more.

Nicole, from the ASSUMED age from time you got him[15 g.] + adding est. 30 or 60 days before you got him, your weight of him was
probably correct. [48 grams......]
[avg. gecko, avg. weight gain mo. (7g) approx. 6 to 7 mos. old =42 - 48 G.]
If battery scale?....replace with Good strength type. [not 24 for $1]
Although when they are weak you normally get diff. answers, not the same each time.

Respiratory is usually from too cold tank (99 wouldn't be)
and or too humid.[??] besides in a wet hide too much..
do you Mist the habitat?
Any of these signs or conditions?

**being kept too cold, too wet, prolonged stress due to enclosure being kept at a single temperature rather than the species' required thermal gradient.
**Symptoms include listlessness, weight loss due to decreased appetite, swollen or bloated body, gaping, open mouth breathing, often with audible exhalations when in an advanced state. Wheezing may be heard, or clicking noises when breathing. Bubbly, stringy or sheeting mucous appears in the mouth. The head may be held in a raised position to facilitate breathing.

Take care. HJ

​

 

[katie_]

Is he still eating? He looked pretty healthy in the picture I saw of him.

 

[PhoenixCoconut]

HJ I do not mist the habitat only the hide(moist) He is not eating still kati, well at least his bowl looks the same, but he poops. So IDK

 

[GeckoGathering]

Weight Loss

HJ I do not mist the habitat only the hide(moist) He is not eating still kati, well at least his bowl looks the same, but he poops. So IDK

Wait now....you say he is not eating.
But he poops. ?????
What goes in usually comes out.
So really you are not seeing him eat​

.

 

[PhoenixCoconut]

Im not seeing him eat but nothing comes out of the bowl IDK what he is eating!! Im so confused.

 

[grboxa]

What do his bowel movements look like more recently, because HJ is right, whatever goes in must come out. You probably just aren't seeing him eat, but that still wouldn't explain the weight drop. Have you seen him drinking water more then usual?, and vet visit would be beneficial. Why dont you try different feeders if your sure hes not eating from the mealworm bowl.

 

[OnlineGeckos]

Rapid weight loss is bad, I'm afraid a vet care may be required at the moment. 17g in 2 weeks is a lot of lost weight. You've already lost a gecko due to unknown causes, so I'd be very weary of something spreading through your collection. Make sure if you do take him in, take him to see a vet that specializes in reptiles. Explain your situation, explain that you recently had another death of unknown causes so you really need to figure out what may be wrong.

By the way what substrate are you using and what do you use in your moist hide?

 

[PhoenixCoconut]

Im using paper towel, and moist paper towel. Yes we are scheduling a vet appointment.


grboxa, his poop has been more mushy like maybe parasites. Im doing a fecal also at the vet. Im not seeing him eat, but his food bowl has the same amount of mealies. IDK if he's drinking more but he has been sticking his head most nose in it and then licking it of his nose. We are going to go get crickets today and try those.

Thanks everyone for all your help, I will be taking him in the bet ASAP!

 

[PhoenixCoconut]

I have an appointment scheduled for today so he should go in soon!

 

[grboxa]

Good to hear , keep us posted.

 

[PhoenixCoconut]

He went and they said he was the healthiest gecko they have ever seen. They did not notice anything, when he poops we are going to do a fecal exam. They gave me recovery its for dogs and cats. He likes it

 

[Taquiq]

All you can do now is wait for the fecal exam and see what comes out of this. 96 is in the proper temperature range, but if you really want to control it I would suggest buying a thermostat.

 

[PhoenixCoconut]

He pooped but it dried out I woke up at 5:30 and it was dry will I have to wake in the middle of the night?