please help! sick leopard gecko.

[streuny88]

I have a leopard gecko that I have had for about a year and a half which would make her about 2. She stopped eating about 3 weeks ago and now her feet and under her tail are getting dark like a dark purplish. I just changed her to sand that has calcium in it and will digest if she eats it. She looks like she is going to shed soon. But I just don't know what to do. I don't have the money to bring her to a vet and I'm not too sure of one around here. I also have a uth and a 75 watt basking lamp. She seems like she might be just too cold. Please if anyone has any suggestions let me know. thank you.

 

[Kylerbassman]

Get rid of the calcium sand ASAP. They do not digest it well. Fill out health questionnaire. It's in the stickies in health and illness section

 

[Embrace Calamity]

REMOVE THE CALCIUM SAND. IMMEDIATELY. That stuff is deadly to them. If she ingests it, it will get stuck in her digestive tract and she'll die. Also, fill this out: http://geckoforums.net/f130-health-medications/70912.htm

EDIT: Also, pictures of the leo and setup would be very helpful. And sorry, Kyle. Didn't see you got to it first.

~Maggot

 

[streuny88]

About your leo:
- Sex female
- Age & Weight 2 unknown
- How long have you owned your leo a year and a half
- Where was he/she obtained (ex. Pet store, breeder, wild caught, friend) breeder

A) Health/History
- How often do you handle your leo about once a week
- Is your leo acting any different today? If so how does he/she normally act which differs from now. She has been in her shed hide for that past two days and hasn't eaten for about 3 weeks
- Has he/she had any problems in the past, if so please describe. not at all
B) Fecals
- Describe (look any different than normal) looked normal
- When was the last time he/she went 3 days ago
C) Problem
- Please briefly describe the problem and how long it has been going on: She hasn't been eating and now just recently started turning dark on her toes and under her tail

Housing:
A) Enclosure
- Size 10 gallon
- Type (ex. glass tank) glass
- Type of substrate: was carpet just went to sand 2 days ago (but will be switching back)
- Hides, how many, what kind: 1 rock type hide and a shed hide
B) Heating
- Heat source uth and a basking lamp
- Cage temps (hot side, cool side). unsure
- Method of regulating heat source. heating pad is always. and just started with a 75 watt basking bulb
- What are you using to measure your temps i just got a heat tape thing
- Do you have any lights (describe). basking light 75 watts
C) Cage mates: none
- How many (males, females)
- Describe health, or previous problems

Describe Diet:
A) Typical diet 4-5 crickets everyother day
- What you're feeding (how often, how much) crickets
- How are you feeding (hand fed, left in dish, ect) just put them in
B) Supplements (describe how often)
- What vitamin/minerals are you using (list brands) none
- What are you gut loading food with: nothing

 

[streuny88]

About your leo:
- Sex female
- Age & Weight 2 unknown
- How long have you owned your leo a year and a half
- Where was he/she obtained (ex. Pet store, breeder, wild caught, friend) breeder

A) Health/History
- How often do you handle your leo about once a week
- Is your leo acting any different today? If so how does he/she normally act which differs from now. She has been in her shed hide for that past two days and hasn't eaten for about 3 weeks
- Has he/she had any problems in the past, if so please describe. not at all
B) Fecals
- Describe (look any different than normal) looked normal
- When was the last time he/she went 3 days ago
C) Problem
- Please briefly describe the problem and how long it has been going on: She hasn't been eating and now just recently started turning dark on her toes and under her tail

Housing:
A) Enclosure
- Size 10 gallon
- Type (ex. glass tank) glass
- Type of substrate: was carpet just went to sand 2 days ago (but will be switching back)
- Hides, how many, what kind: 1 rock type hide and a shed hide
B) Heating
- Heat source uth and a basking lamp
- Cage temps (hot side, cool side). unsure
- Method of regulating heat source. heating pad is always. and just started with a 75 watt basking bulb
- What are you using to measure your temps i just got a heat tape thing
- Do you have any lights (describe). basking light 75 watts
C) Cage mates: none
- How many (males, females)
- Describe health, or previous problems

Describe Diet:
A) Typical diet 4-5 crickets everyother day
- What you're feeding (how often, how much) crickets
- How are you feeding (hand fed, left in dish, ect) just put them in
B) Supplements (describe how often)
- What vitamin/minerals are you using (list brands) none
- What are you gut loading food with: nothing

 

[Embrace Calamity]

Okay, lots of things to fix.

1) As was stated, remove the sand immediately.
2) Buy this: T-Rex Leopard Gecko Calcium Plus Supplement Reptile Food Supplements Use it to dust every feeder every time you feed. (Put some of the powder in a plastic bag, put the crickets/whatever in, shake them until they're well coated, and then feed.) Your gecko needs you to give it calcium and vitamins.
3) You need to know what your temps are. Buy a digital thermometer with a probe and put it on the ground of the hot side. They have to be between 88 and 93. Any colder than that, and your leo won't be able to digest her food properly.
4) She needs three hides. You need one on the cool side, one on the warm side, and a humid hide in the middle. Leos move between areas of different temperatures to regulate their body temps, but if they can't feel secure (able to hide), they'll stay somewhere that's too hot or too cold so they don't risk being eaten by a predator.
5) Find a reptile vet in your area and have her checked out. Turning dark is a bad sign.

Do you have any pictures?

~Maggot

 

[katie_]

I fear since you werent supplimenting, your gecko went to town on the calcium sand in a desperate attempt for calcium.

 

[Embrace Calamity]

I fear since you werent supplimenting, your gecko went to town on the calcium sand in a desperate attempt for calcium.

Would that cause the dark tail and legs? I've never even heard of that.

~Maggot

 

[DrCarrotTail]

Also unless your house is super cold a 75 watt basking lamp is a LOT for a 10 gallon. The light will also probably stress a Leo out if its bright and on often. I had 40 watt night bulbs on mine when I lived in a super chilly apartment and it was almost too much. You need to get a thermometer to measure the ground temperatures to make sure you're not cooking her.

I agree with everyone else that the supplementation and sand are the big issues.

Best of luck!

 

[streuny88]

I am getting rid of the sand and putting the carpet back in. I have a 50 watt bulb that I just changed from. I will replace that right now. I live in NY and as you know it is winter. But lately the weather doesn't know if it wants to be hot or cold. thanks.

 

[Kylerbassman]

Ok, also you have got to be overheating/dehydrating your Leo. A Uth and a 75w basking bulb is a lot in a 10 gallon tank. I would bet you are really running hot in that tank. I honestly would use a 25w max if the proper size Uth is being used. What are your cycles for day and night, and what are you using at night if you do?

I agree vet visit would be the way to go. It's so important to fix soon because once Leo's are in a bad state, it's usually very progressed. Without all of the necessities for a long period of time can spark deficiencies, sickness, bone disease, lost limbs toes and eyes. It may not be the case, but the way you describe the color and locations it does concern me and I would seek professional help.

Follow other husbandry suggestions and hope you get it taken care of soon. Thanks for taking the time out to answer the questionnaire. It helps us so we can help you and your Leo. Look around the forum and soak in the good knowledge and experience these people offer. Good luck

 

[Kylerbassman]

Also unless your house is super cold a 75 watt basking lamp is a LOT for a 10 gallon. The light will also probably stress a Leo out if its bright and on often. I had 40 watt night bulbs on mine when I lived in a super chilly apartment and it was almost too much. You need to get a thermometer to measure the ground temperatures to make sure you're not cooking her.

I agree with everyone else that the supplementation and sand are the big issues.

Best of luck!

+1

 

[streuny88]

thanks guys. I just realized that the sand was what was turning her black since it is black. I guess I didn't know as much about geckos as I thought I did. I changed the light bulb and i got rid of the sand. I still have the problem that she isn't eating. I am going to take everyones suggestions and change her enclosure to fit the suggestions that you all have given me. Thanks again.

 

[Ozy]

Get rid of the light and sand. Put her on some paper towels for now. Get a $10 Lutron Lamp Dimmer at Lowe's or Home Depot and hook that up to your UTH to regulate it, just move the slider up or down to cool down or heat up the UTH, when the light on the dimmer is bright that means that LESS power is going to the UTH which will make it cooler, when the light is dimmer, MORE power is going to the UTH which will make it hotter. You can also buy a temp gun there. You need to gut load your insects. Fluker's High Calcium Cricket Diet and Repashy Bug Burger are both good. Also dust every feeder with Repashy Calcium Plus. Make a little warm bath with some Spring Water and unflavored Pedialyte and soak her for 10 minutes. Gently rub her belly in a downward motion from head to vent. Then put a couple of drops of Olive Oil on her nose. Take her to the vet.