Major Dilemma! Need Advice!!!

[leolover23]

Ok guys, first of all, hiya 'cause I haven't been on the boards in a while (exam week, really crazy!) and second of all, I have a MAJOR dilemma!

We go to our local pet store to get dog food and mealies and they sell a few pets there, almost like at the meijer's section--really tiny! Anyways, there's this leo there that looks SO extremely unhealthy! I am new to leopard geckos and I could still tell that there must be something wrong! He's a wee bit smaller than my 2 and a half year old leo but he looked kinda skinny when I saw him the first time. The next time we went I saw the back of him and his tail doesn't even look like a leopard gecko's tail because it's so thin! It looks so weird and not plump and I have no clue what's wrong but I want him SO bad!!! I want to make him OK again! Poor baby! I think the store knows that he's sick because for like 2 weeks now he's been on a "Holiday Sale" for like $10 cheaper. Holiday sale? Yeah right.

Sorry this is so long, but now comes the dilemma part:
1. I have NO clue what gender my leo is
2. We don't really have any more space to have another pet
3. If the gecko at the store has a contagious illness and is in the same cage, my leo could get sick too!

What do you guys think I should do?
What are some of the contagious illnesses a leo can get?
What are some of the diseases in general?
I don't know if it's just malnutrition or not, but we're going back tomarrow to look at him! I hope he'll be all right!!! Can y'all help me please?

 

[Jenn]

How big is your current enclosure? No matter what you will need a seperate enclosure to quarintine the animal. you must keep it competely away from yours for ATLEAST 30 days. I would also keep them seperate if you dont know the sex to either.

 

[Mel&Keith]

My opinion:

Do NOT buy the gecko. Paying any amount for it is only encouraging the poor treatment.

It could be carrying many different parasites, some fatal, that could infect your gecko no matter how careful you try to be and even if you house them in separate rooms.

If it's a chain pet store take a picture with your phone and email the company headquarters or customer service department. You'd be surprised, they do take action sometimes. If it's a privately owned shop tell them about your concerns and tell them to check out this forum.

 

[acpart]

THere is no right answer to this and in the long run you have to follow your heart, but here are some things to think about as you try to make this decision (a lot of this has been said by other people in other threads):

--by buying sick animals from pet stores you are encouraging the pet stores to continue acquiring sick animals, or not caring for animals and eventually making them sick

--as you have said, there is a danger that you will bring an infectious disease into your home which could kill your other geckos

--you may spend a lot of money to make this gecko well and still have it die

on the other hand:
--you may be able to bring an animal that isn't doing well back to health

consider the following possible actions:

--calling animal control in the town to check them out for animal cruelty

--if you really think you want to try to cure it, try to get them to give you the gecko for free, since a gecko that ill shouldn't ethically be sold to anyone (you could always threaten them with animal control)

--if you're going to take this gecko, learn about quarantine procedures for the worst possible illness --crypto, so you don't infect your other geckos

There's a lot to think about here. Sometimes there's great virtue in taking and risk and sometimes there's great virtue in saying no.

Good luck,
Aliza

 

[Retribution Reptiles]

i would have to agree with AC. Weigh the pros and cons and really look at how much money that you may have to invest.

 

[astronut1885]

I feel your pain. I want to buy every bad-off gecko I come across, but unfortunately I'd be bankrupt if I did. I guess if it's really calling to you, then buy it, who knows, it could end up being a wonderful pet. As others have stated, you would definitely have to quarantine and practice really good hygine to assure that if it is sick, you don't transmit it to your current gecko. As far as sexing your gecko, it's pretty easy if it's 2 1/2 years old. Look at the base of the tail. 2 bulges? Male. No bulges? female. For further assurance, look above the vent (bum for lack of a better term). If there is a clear row of pores in a wide V shape, again, male. No pores...female. If you have a girl, then if you should choose to save this gecko and it earns a clear bill of health, then it could be housed with whatever the rescue gecko is.

 

[cwazy]

What do you guys think I should do?

sigh and walk away :main_thumbsdown:

 

[leolover23]

Thank you so much guys! I really REALLY REALLY want to find a way to keep him...I hope he just has a "common cold" or is just not taken care of right so we can get him. What are some of the possible contagious diseases they can pass?

Thanks again!

 

[LizMarie]

Thank you so much guys! I really REALLY REALLY want to find a way to keep him...I hope he just has a "common cold" or is just not taken care of right so we can get him. What are some of the possible contagious diseases they can pass?

Thanks again!

Honestly half the time you get a gecko from a pet shop you will probably have more than the "common cold" or is just not taken care of right and you won't find out until you get him. Were you able to hold him and inspect him? Or just saw him through a glass? He can have upper respiratory problems, neurological problems bc I doubt the breeders they get them from care, Metabolic Bone Disease, Moth Rot, diarrehea w/ or w/o blood, impaction if it's being kept on sand. And as for contagious diseases parasites and moth rot I think can be transmitted to your other gecko.

If you get that gecko the first thing you must do is find a Reptile Vet have him checked out and tested for everything in the book! In that alone the price of the gecko might have doubled even triple in some cases. And you'd have to follow to proper quarantine which means that you'd have to buy a complete new set up.

I feel that same way you do about wanting to get any gecko that's being mistreated in a pet shop but I can't. It'd cause to much heart break if it doesn't work out for the best and can run a hole in your pocket. I bet a lot of people here have bought leos from pet shops but they tried to get the best looking gecko in many cases instead of getting the one that looked the worse.

If you do get him i wish you the best but you CANNOT house them together yet without doing the proper quarantine procedure and trying to get a vet to put everything at rest. Plus if you do want to put them together later there is no guarantee that the geckos will even like each other or last very long.

 

[Mel&Keith]

Go to the health and medications section and search "parasites". There are many different parasites that are common among pet store reptiles because if the cross contamination. The Leopard Gecko could be 100% healthy when it gets to the store but once it's there its exposed to all sorts of parasites that came with wild caught reptiles in the store.

If you decide to get it, you HAVE to keep it in a completely separate tank and take it to the vet. Even if you keep them in separate rooms, you can still contaminate your other gecko if you happen to switch their cage furnishings when you clean their tanks.

I know if tugs on our heart strings when we see an animal that isn't being cared for properly but weigh the risks and costs before you decide. Housing alone will probably be around $50, the vet could be anywhere from $60-hundreds, and the gecko could still die or infect your other gecko.

 

[rubym]

NO one can really tell you what you should do. It is ultimatly up to you. Please remember that this little guy can end up costing you alot more then just what you pay that day at the store. A herp vet can end up being very expensive. You can run the risk of exposing yours to a list of illnesses and parasite ( I would NOT put a new gecko in with one of mine without being quarantined). You may have to hand feed this new little guy. It can end up being very time comsuming. It can be worthwhile or it can be heartbreaking. This new little guy may end up not being sick at all. He may just need extra TLC but you need to be prepared for what could happen. Best wishes.

 

[leolover23]

Ok...guys sorry to freak you out...he's fine I think...I went to the store and we looked at him and I think he's just young. He's a little on the skinny side, but I think he's ok...I really want to thank you all for being so supportative because i was REALLY freaked/anxious/mad/insane!!! Thank you guys so much and please keep praying that he's okay! I'm so glad I joined the forums with such nice people! Thank you guys!!! (and yes, I still want him...lol)