Rescuing a leo girl today HELP

[stellascura420]

I found this lady on craigslist who is desperately trying to get rid of her leo. She's selling the leo, 20 gal long tank, heat pad, stand (worth $125 alone) and all the other supplies for $50. I saw a picture of the leo and her setup and it doesn't look all that great. She's on sand with a bright overhead light on her at all times and the lady told me she did have a UV light on her but it blew a few days ago so they've got a regular bright light over her. I told her yesterday I would come pick her up today but in the meantime to get her off the sand and turn the light off. When I told her why the sand wasn't a good idea, she said she knew that but figured since they live on sand in the wild it would be okay and they wanted the tank set up to a beach scene...
To me, the leo looks really thin and pitiful (one reason why I'm driving 2 hours to get her today). Given that what this lady is telling me is true, the leo is 3 years old and female (she wasn't sure but I explained to her how to check) and they got her as a juvenile from a chain pet store and nobody told them anything about how to care for it when she got it so she's been "winging it" so to speak. She eats about 5 dusted crickets every other day and the lady is "pretty sure" she poops regularly. But despite this, she says "she still just won't plump up for me." If she does eat and poop regularly, why do you think she would be so thin? Could it be from the UV light or a parasite? I'm going to watch her closely after I bring her home and if she poops, take it in to the vet for a fecal sample to check. Also, what morph does she look like to you guys? Any input would be greatly appreciated.

 

[ajveachster]

If it was only 5 small crickets, and not large ones every other day then I would say it is underfed. I think once you get it home in a proper setup and feeding schedule you might start to see a vast improvement. I do think you are making the right choice in taking a fecal to the vet as well. Also, you may want to make sure the heat pad is working. If it was getting old, and not heating up enough the leo may not have been able to digest properly. Good Luck, and keep us posted.

 

[chachasushi]

Poor little baby. Give her some big meals and she might fatten up for you! The fecal is a good idea too. You can never be too safe.

 

[Magic112]

I'm glad you are getting her. People like that need to research before they buy an animal. I hate hearing things like that but I'm glad that you came to the rescue .

I'm sure she will be fine once she comes home with you. She just needs the proper care to get better

 

[Riyo]

That picture looks really familiar. Is that lady in the Atlanta area by chance?

EDIT: Found it. Dallas, GA

http://atlanta.craigslist.org/pet/1224747322.html

 

[stellascura420]

Yep that's the one. Did you contact her before?

 

[Riyo]

No, I was thinking about it for a while but I have absolutely no extra room right now (for the tank and stand and everything. In the process of moving). She's had that gecko on there for probably about 5 months now..she at one point wanted about 200 for it.

 

[stellascura420]

Oh wow. Was that the same picture she's had the whole time? She told me it was a recent picture. I'd hate to get there and the little leo look worse now than it does in that picture.

 

[Riyo]

I remember that the first few postings just had the pics of the setup. I don't particularly remember when she started posting pics of the Leo itself..I think it was recent. Sorry I'm not more help, good luck with her.

 

[GeckoTrouble]

I would definitely get a fecal done. Parasites are almost a given in many store geckos.

I would not be suprised if that is an old pic.

 

[stellascura420]

Well I left this morning with a friend, and about half way there (50 miles) his truck broke down so after waiting on the side of the interstate in 99* heat for an hour, my boyfriend came to pick me up and took me the rest of the way. She is very pretty (I'm not sure what morph but I'll post pics later) but she is VERY skinny. When we got there the woman had her sitting in a cricket keeper outside (!!!) for who knows how long. She did poop today while she was in the cricket keeper but it's green. Is it normal for leos to have green poop??? I'm going to take in the next fresh poop to the vet to be tested. I just hope I wasn't too late in getting her so I can get her healthy again! She looks so pitiful, wish me luck guys.

 

[Pepper]

Sometimes poo can be green after a shed.
Good luck!

 

[stellascura420]

Well here's the pretty girl. The thermometer is temporary until I can get a right one and the newspaper is temporary until I can get my uncle to come trim some tiles for me, hopefully tomorrow. I don't think she can get much skinnier Hopefully she'll fatten up soon.

 

[stellascura420]

Quick update: After a stressful moving day for her and a 2 hour ride home, not even 30 minutes after being put in her new home, she ate 8 crickets! Poor little girl was starving But atleast her appetite is good, which makes me feel a whole lot better!

 

[LeapinLizards]

That is VERY good news Congrats, and I really hope you have no troubles getting her weight up!

 

[stellascura420]

Here's another pic of her showing how skinny she is :main_no:

 

[Riyo]

Poor baby..I'm glad you got her. Did the lady say anything about the condition she was in? Sheesh..

 

[stellascura420]

She just said "I don't know why she's so skinny". I didn't stay long to chat with her, we got the leo and her stuff loaded up and left asap.

 

[ajveachster]

I'm so glad she ate. If she already ate 8 large crickets even after all the stress of moving, I'm thinking she was probably underfed a lot. Let us know how the vet visit goes. So glad you are able to take her in. With the proper care I bet you'll be posting a fat, happy gecko pic soon.

 

[Krow]

With a few wax worms, supers & crickets she should fatten up nicely, good luck with her, glad you rescued her from them People should really WANT an animal before they buy it & to assume responsibility for an animal that cant gather food for itself. They should really WANT the animal & research on the right way to care for them :main_no: