please help!!!!

[mommylajes]

We just got a leopard gecko a week ago and she was doing fine up until a few days ago. We fed her mealworms for the first time and after that she has been acting weird. When she pooped the next day there were what looked like pieces of undigested mealworms then she was acting like she was gagging for a min but nothing came out. She has been acting really weird, she hasn't eaten in 2 days and she falls asleep after walking a few steps and she just moves really slow....She looks like she might be starting to shed but could that cause her to be so tired? I'm so nervous I don't wanna lose her ): HELP!!!

 

[acpart]

Her behavior can change when she starts to shed. Sometimes the gecko loses its appetite for a few days. Also, when a gecko gets into a new environment it often is quite active as it explores. Once it finishes exploring, it may become relatively inactive and spend a lot of its time hiding, especially if it's a juvenile. Keep an eye on her, see if she sheds and keep offering food. It's not unusual for there to be an adjustment period.

Aliza

 

[Reborn]

My best bet is your temps are to low. undigested food and slow movements are the most common signs of to low of temps. they need heat to digest there food and to get energy to move. What are you temps? and how are you heatin

 

[mommylajes]

Thanks! I will get back with you on the temps but we are heating with lamps. Her tail is also getting skinny and it was fat....

 

[Jusselin]

What type of bulbs are you using? What does your set up look like?

 

[sausage]

can you fill in the stick thread questionnaire please

http://geckoforums.net/showthread.php?t=70912

copy and paste the whole thing into here and fill it in.

although i can already see a massive problem, the lights! you need a UTH not lights

 

[Jusselin]

although i can already see a massive problem, the lights! you need a UTH not lights

My thoughts exactly unless they were red bulbs but still. They need the belly heat to help digest AND they might not be digesting correctly because of your lights. It is more than likely causing stress to the geckos.

 

[leopardgeckosrule]

A tough case. Leos need a check with a vet pretty often. A local vet visit can never hurt because with leos you might think there ok... But really they could be sick!!! You need to take her to the vet as soon as possable! I hope she is ok and I hope i helped!!!!

 

[Tim Braxma]

She might of puked up those undigested meal worms and that is probably what explains her gagging.. which means she is sick. Usually when they puke up their food like this that means that they have something blocked up in their digestive system. If this is the case you will need to give her a 20-30 minute warm bath which should help clean out her stomach and get rid of what ever is backed up in there. After this try feeding her and if she doesn't eat, then try this a few extra times each day. Also, what type of substrate is she housed on because if she was on sand that is probably what is blocking her up.

 

[Jusselin]

She might of puked up those undigested meal worms and that is probably what explains her gagging.. which means she is sick. Usually when they puke up their food like this that means that they have something blocked up in their digestive system. If this is the case you will need to give her a 20-30 minute warm bath which should help clean out her stomach and get rid of what ever is backed up in there. After this try feeding her and if she doesn't eat, then try this a few extra times each day. Also, what type of substrate is she housed on because if she was on sand that is probably what is blocking her up.

Or don't do any of this....

If its this bad, go to the vet. if its impaction a "warm bath" won't help.


If she was gagging and throwing up I am willing to bet the heat lamp is stressing them out.

 

[Ozy]

I agree. I would get an Under Tank Heater (UTH) and hook it up to a Lutron Lamp Dimmer. Get an Acurite digital thermometer and tape the probe on the floor of the hot side to monitor temps. The only light on my leo's cage is a red bulb and I only use that if the cool side gets TOO cool. The red light is also hooked up to a dimmer. Your hot side temps should be 90-95. I usually have my cool side temps around 80. Also make sure they are not on any kind of loose substrate. I use slate tiles in my cage, but you can also use paper towels. Slate tile is a PERFECT substrate, because leopard geckos are from rocky deserts, not sandy ones, so it is very natural for them. I know when I replaced the paper towels with slate tile my leo was like.. YAY!!! *run all over cage*

 

[Crewdog00]

Temps?

88-95 hot side. Helps digestion.

 

[Golden Gate Geckos]

I agree that it sounds like she regurgitated the worms. It could be as simple as eating too many at once, or she is not getting sufficient belly heat, or she is sick. Before panicking, make sure all of her environmental needs are being met, especially an under-tank heater with floor surface temperatures of 90-94 degrees. Overhead heat/light is not optimum as this will raise the ambient air temperature and not necessarily the floor temperature.