New Leo Owner: Health Issues or Just Paranoid?

[CurlyFries]

Hi everyone. I'm new to this forum (kind of, I've been reading post for a couple of years now ) I finally got my first two leopard geckos yesterday. I've done my research for years now, and the time finally came. Although I've read up about care, behavior is still something I'm unfamiliar with. I have a few questions about my new younsters. Sorry if my first post is long.

First off there's two about 8 weeks old, a hypo tangerine and a nice brown/gray color I can't really name. The tangerine was very active and the friendlier of the two, until today. From the moment I brought them home and rearranged the tank, it's been exploring. (Not sure if male or female, I'll check when they get more friendly in a few days or a week, if both males or male and female, I will separate, but are peaceful for now). Tangerine (not official name) ate about 8 small mealworms this morning, not dusted, I was just happy it ate. They tails seem thin, especially on the dark one. The dark one is thinner, smaller and wasn't interested in food. I've left them alone, but left food inside just in case. Today, they both seem to be a bit lethargic? Dark one was in the moist hide for quite a while and tangerine just plopped on the warm spot, sometimes with eyes closed. Also, their throats are puffed out, maybe they're about to shed? Sick? They'll breathe, the throat moving up and down but still puffed out quite noticeably. Is thia normal? One more concern on health. I got homw from worm and noticed the dark one walking slowly and one hind foot shaking with every step. It doesn't shake anymore, nor when it walked quickly. MBD?

As for temps, they hot spot has an undertank heater at 90 and cool spot, at about 70, but it's nighttime right now. There's a hide on the hot side, moist hide in the middle, hide on cool side with water bowl attached. Tangerine is in the hot hide and dark one in the cool hide right now. There is an empty dish for mealworms. Substrate is papertowels. Tank is way too small, ten gallon, but will get a 30 this week. That's how the lady before me had them. I am not sure how often/when/how much/etc she dusted. From what I know she didn't use multivitamins on her refrigerated mealworms, just Tetrafauna ReptoCal with D3. I put mine in oatmeal and feed varied vegetables. Should I continue to use this brand of calcium? I think I may switch to RepCal for calcium with and without D3 and supplements. Right now I have Zoo Med Repti Calcium without D3 to keep inside the tank. I saw tangerine lick up a bit yesterday.

Just to add, I will do my best to feed a varied diet of mainly mealworms, crickets, phoenix worms, and small dubias.

They are inside their hides and have been for hours, aren't they more active at night? It's their second day, sorry, just want to make sure my new babies are fine.

I have a pic attached, can anyone tell me what morph the dark on may be? I'm sure it must be fairly common, but I can't figure it out. Thata is repticarpet btw,its papertowels now.

Thanks for any and all help! I really want my babies to grow big and live for a long time 

 

[indyana]

I wouldn't worry too much if it's only their second day. Geckos can act shy and scared for weeks after a move to a new home. He may have been exploring so much to figure out the layout and now he's decided on a spot he feels safe. Also, he's probably digesting! Expect them to hide a lot for a while.

Definitely start dusting the feeders. Feeders do not have the proper calciumhosphorus ratio on their own, even when gutloaded, which is why dusting with supplements is so important. Add a reptile multivitamin and alternate dusting food with multivitamin and calcium+D3 (or mix the two and dust with a mixture if you prefer). As you said above, leaving calcium without D3 in the cage is good. I do not feel the brand you are using in bad, so you can use it up and just buy Rep-Cal next time.

The second one looks to be displaying snow and hypo coloration. You'll have to see how it matures and how many spots it has as an adult.

Overall, they do not look bad at all. It will take them a little while to settle in and begin behaving more normally.

 

[indyana]

Oh, and congratulations on your first geckos!

 

[CurlyFries]

Thanks for your reply . I think I was a bit paranoid. Right now they're both in the moist box, probably are about to shed. How many timea should I dust per week? You mentioned alternating, does one supplement and two calcium+D3 sound good?

Snow and hypo? How exciting, can wait to see its adult colors. [emoji4]

 

[indyana]

Because these are juveniles, I would dust every time. As I said, you can alternate or mix. If you wanted to alternate, you would do a reptile multivitamin supplement one feeding, then calcium+D3 the next feeding, back and forth. Otherwise, you'd just mix a small batch of vitamins/calcium/D3 and use it every time.

These guys look to be the size where they should still be fed and supplemented every day. (Breeders, chime in if you have a different opinion, please.) As they get larger, you can go to feeding every other day. Eventually, you get to the point where you only feed once or twice a week. You'll know when to do this because either their appetites will decrease or they'll start getting too fat.

 

[CurlyFries]

I just ordered RepCal cal+D3 and supplements. Tangerine doesn't seem to like the taste of the tetrafauna brand (?) He'll bite the mealworm, them spit it out, stare at it, lick it, and lose interest unless it squirms and moves, then he'll attack again and eat it. Hmm. But he(she) licks up the cal w/out D3 just fine.

I have a new concern [emoji26] while tangerine is eating fine, the dark one isn't. I actually havent seen it eat at all. If I drop a mealworm in front of tangerine, he'll stalk it immediately, or at the least, look at it. The dark one won't show interest or even acknowledge it. It looks skinny, especially compared to tangerine. Ill post a pic as soon as I can. I will try crickets tomorrow, and if not maybe even wax worms? Any suggestions? Any help is appreciated.

 

[indyana]

Well, if they weren't being properly supplemented before, it might take them a little while to get used to having their food properly dusted. Don't give up too easily.

As I said, you really, /really/ should not be surprised if they don't eat for a while (even a few weeks!). From what you've said, it sounds like the dark one is very shy and/or stressed. Just keep offering food and disturbing as little as possible.

If the dark one still hasn't eaten anything in a couple of weeks, you may want to consider getting a fecal test done by a vet to see if he has parasites that could be affecting his health and appetite.

 

[CurlyFries]

Wow, a couple of weeks is quite a while, but that's such a relief to know! Ill keep offering, at least it doesn't scramble everytime I come near the tank [emoji2]