Paranoia is Setting in..

[LizMarie]

Sorry for the Longish Post..
I must have some serious issues because the more I think about acquiring a new gecko the more pararnoid I'm becoming. I think it has to do with my first Leo and not knowing exactly what she died from.

My first Leo was an Albino I dubbed Petunia, she wasn't very friendly but really goofy and funny. I enjoyed just having her around. Until I noticed one day she had a bloody stool (it was kind of pink but I figured it was diluted), after that I noticed she wasn't eating and just loosing weight. I was going to take her to the vet but the first one was$90 for just a visit, and I couldn't afford it. Soon after I found a cheaper vet but she died before I was able to take her in. After finding her dead and stiff in her cage I said I would NEVER have another one because her death was too tramatizing for me, but what can I say I've been bitten by the Gecko Bug.

Not knowing what she died from scares me because I'm not sure how to prevent it. Not knowing how to prevent it makes me think that whatever gecko I get in the future might die the same way because of something I neglected or was unaware of...



Does anyone have advice on what I could do to possibly calm my nerves, and stop me from being paranoid?

I know to spot clean everyday and plan to use Tile so I can easily wipe the spot clean. How often should I disinfect the tank? I was thinking every week or is that over-kill? I want to try extremely hard NOT to go down the same path.

 

[Ccrashca069]

Well you are a member here how so thats a good step in the right direction. You have also found a vet you can afford now. So take advantage and just start reading alot of the post here and believe me you will get brain overload. This forum is better then any book out there you can buy. All you have to do is ask a question and someone will try to help you the best they can.
I think the once a week disinfecting is over kill. Maybe every 2 weeks or once a month. I spot clean every day and once a week I take each tank apart and clean it better. I disinfect once a month.

 

[Leopardbreeder]

I think, from what you said, she died from impaction. I think she had bloody stool from not being a able to defecate and was so impacted, she could not eat. Was she housed on sand? I know that so many people think sand is ok, but it really isn't IMHO.

 

[LizMarie]

I NEVER used sand, I did enough research on other forums that it wasn't the best idea. I had her on Repti-Carpet in the beginning but her nails would get stuck to the small little threads so I switched to paper-towels. She also feed on Crickets in the beginning then on to mealies when I found out about those and the occassional waxies from time to time. That were dusted.

 

[Ccrashca069]

a bit off topic but Matt your myspace pic and that shirt is funny lmao!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Leopardbreeder]

Lol. Yeah, gotta photoshop my face in!

Could she possibly have had worms and became impacted with those?

 

[paulnj]

Matt.... ever hear of internal parasites:main_yes:

It's not worth pondering now :main_rolleyes:

Get a well started gecko from a breeder on this site. Alot of people retire breeders once they get to the next level. They are usually 1-2 years of age and have many years of healthy life left in them. Not only that, but will usually be more accustomed to handling and be extra lovable :main_thumbsup:

 

[Bodon]

My one turtle died a horrible death. i wont even describe it, but she was really old and i dont know what did her in either. The other turtle in the same tank was fine so its hard to say. But you can't give up because something bad happens. Sometimes bad things just happen with pets, sometimes they are our fault and sometimes they aren't. From the sounds of it you didn't do anything wrong, and even if you did you can change how you go about things so it won't happen again. i say go for it, get another one. You weren't a bad owner so don't feel guilty. You could give a gecko a great home and a great life, but maybe that gecko will miss out if you decide to stay away from owning another one....

 

[Golden Gate Geckos]

LizMarie, I understand how the death of a beloved pet can traumatize you and make you worried about getting another pet. But, there's something we all must remember, and that is we are dealing with living creatures... and all living things die. We don't always have an explanation of why.

We need to weigh the good and the bad parts of being animal keepers. For me, the joy of having them far outweighs the fear of their deaths. All we can do is provide them with the BEST care we know how to, take them to the vet when they need intervention, and enjoy the enrichment they bring to our lives.

 

[Mel&Keith]

Well said Marcia. Paul also had an excellent point. If you start with a healthy adult gecko you should be able to more easily maintain their health.

 

[cheeseball705]

it can be a real bummer when your pet leo dies. my first female died in my hand. i came home from work one morning hopeing to find eggs in the laybox. instead there was blood on the papertowel. i am pretty sure she was egg bound cause she waspast due and i wasnt knowledgable enough at the time to see the signs. i felt horrible but not sure there was much i could have done. even if i had known to take her to a vet there are no reptile vets in my area. sometiems one can only do so much for thier animals but best thing is to learn from past and to try to do better next round knowing what to to look for. i sure u will be a good owner liz and there are many good geckos out there that come from repuitable breeders whose animals are good quality to begin with.

 

[SteveB]

My offer still stands, we're always available to come meet up and talk herps. That's regardless of anything else.

From what I can gather- you are well informed, caring, and attentive. You will do just fine.

 

[Golden Gate Geckos]

You know, I have been breeding leopard geckos for almost 13 years, and I have lost several over the years. A couple were totally my fault... I just didn't know that what I was doing was wrong. I've lost 17 to poisoning from tainted crickets, a few to complications with egging, and some to freak occurrences. Every time I lose a gecko, it rips my heart out to the point that I actually consider getting out of the hobby/business completely. My make myself absolutely sick with grief when one of my beloved geckos dies.

But, then I have to think about all the joy my geckos bring to me! What would I do if I didn't have them to care for every day... to see their funny smiling faces when I hold them? I can't describe how thrilled I am when each and every little one comes out of their egg after so many weeks of waiting.

If we hold back from loving something out of fear of losing it, we are truly cheating ourselves from the happiness it can bring us. Even if it is only for a limited time...

 

[Leopardbreeder]

Amen Marcia!

 

[LizMarie]

Thanks for the kind words. I really appreciate it.

Even though her death discouraged me from the hobby for a few months, it hasn't stopped me from wanting more. Just know I'll be a little more attentive to any signs of a health problem, and have the back up of an affordable Vet if any problems occur. And to ease my wondering mind from infected food from the pet shop near me, I found a food supplier that affordable with some good reviews.

BTW thanks..