Sick Baby Leo

[Kimberly]

- Please briefly describe the problem and how long it has been going on :
We went away on vacation for a week and when we returned his/her tail was really small even though we had our oldest daughter feeding them . Since I have been home I cant get her/him to eat anything ..we tried wax worms which is her/his favorite also crickets and meal worms. I have ordered some phoenix worms hoping that might help? Yesterday I noticed a little swelling in the vent area I gave him/her a warm bath and tried some repti aid. She /he took 1/2cc last night but that was forced on her... Today she/he wont have any of that wont lick it off her nose She/he acts like it's not even there ...I am afraid I am going to clog her nose up or something it would just dry there if i did not wipe it off her nose. She falls asleep with it on there She /he is laying on his paper towel potty but nothing (no poop) it's been at least 4 days without poop that I know of. (vacation) I gave another bath just a few minutes ago with some peroxide in there and noticed a dark spot on the tummy as well her/his tail is really thin . I have inclosed pic 's but cant see them? If you look at my profile they are there? I will try to get them on here this is my first time posting sorry... If anyone can tell me what else i can do?
There is no herp vet in my area to take her/him too ?? trust me I've looked they are all about 2 hours drive from me and I think the stress of diving her there would not be good for her plus worried about the temps also . looked up slurry i think I will try that tonight. Any help would be greatly appreciated this is our first time raising gecko's (we have another one doing great in his own cage) These little guys stole our hearts and we want to take care of them right and do the right thing for them. I did all the research before we bought them what would be best for them .. I just never thought if we done it all right that we would be in this situation now I am so scared that she/he wont make it.. Please if any one knows how to help ?? I don't want to lose this little girl or guy any help would be greatly appreciated thank you in advance !!

- Sex Not Sure ? morph : not sure ?
- Age & Weight :5 mo old
- How long have you owned your leo : 2 mo
- Where was he/she obtained Bought at petsmart
Health/History : Has been a very good eater until this week when we went on vacation
- How often do you handle your leo : 2 -3 times a week
- Is your leo acting any different today? : yes , she/ he ? is not laying in any of its hides like normal during the day...she is laying on top of her half log (moist hide)or on her/his potty towel.
If so how does he/she normally act which differs from now:
normally in moist hide during the day and at night she/he was very active and hungry.
- Has he/she had any problems in the past, if so please describe.
Fecals: No problems since we got her/him until now
- Describe (look any different than normal) the vent area is swelled
Not eating anything ,very weak no fight in her/him :main_no:
- When was the last time he/she went : has not went potty in 4 days that I know of (vacation)


Housing:
Enclosure : exo terra
- Size 20 gal tall
- Type (ex. glass tank) Glass tank
- Type of substrate : Tile with reptile carpet on half the tank
- Hides, how many, what kind ! 1 moist ,1 cool , 1 warm
Heating :
- Heat source : UTH
- Cage temps: hot side 88 -92 cool side 78 - 88
- Method of regulating heat source : rheostat
- What are you using to measure your temps: digital probe , and I have a laser temp gun
- Do you have any lights : I have a 10 watt UVB light and a blue 70 watt night light on a dimmer on low at night
Cage mates : lives alone


Describe Diet:

- What you're feeding: 4-6 crickets per night / or every other night , mealworms in dish always about 2-4 , wax worms once a week 2-3...when she/he was eating
Reptocal in lid in tank at all times.
- How are you feeding : meal worms and wax worms in dish crickets by tongs
Supplements: dusted with calcium every feeding vitamins 1 per week
- What vitamin/minerals are you using : Reptolife plus, Reptocal with d3
- What are you gut loading food with: Flukers cricket diet / Flukers cricket quencher / Flukers orange cubes , oatmeal

 

[fl_orchidslave]

I would suggest a trip to the vet for a fecal test. Temps could be higher, especially for a sick gecko, should be in the 93-95 range. A 20 tall exoterra is nice, but not very well suited for a leopard gecko, nor conducive for a good temperature gradient. They need floor space, not arboreal space. The lights you are using are not needed.

 

[Kimberly]

Thank you fl_orchidslave
I only bought the exo terra cages at $ 199 that is what the pet store recommended they said that they love to climb the glass? Plus they would never grow out of it.
Guess I should not have listened to them
I thought putting them on the tile would be a good heat conductor?
The petsmart said to put them on reptile carpet with sand under it . Everything I read here say's to never use sand ! So once again should not have listened to them !!
So I should not use any lights ? Once again recommended by you guessed it !
I thought the blue night light helped with the temperature gradient at night ? Since it was such a tall cage in all. The floor space is pretty big for them now as they are babies.
(18" I think) bigger than a ten gallon which I do have in case you think it might be better for them ? but might be a bit difficult to get all the hides in a 10 gallon as they are pretty big as well. (the store said they would out grow a 10 gallon fast???) They will tell you anything just to make a sale !!!!!! This makes me mad as hell I actually bought 4 babies that day and took two back when I started reading on here that they should not be housed together. I think I might just go give that lady a piece of my mind tomorrow !!!
by the way the "Store" has a vet there but not so sure I could trust them not to rip me off or if they even know what the hell the are doing/selling there ! Chance's are he would tell me there is nothing wrong with my baby. I know something is very wrong and I am scared I wont be able to help her now ... thanks for the advice I will turn up her heat tonight and turn off the lights ... the two tanks I have are on the same rheostat would it be ok to keep the other tank on the warmer side also ?

 

[fl_orchidslave]

All mine are at 90-95.

No, leopard geckos do not climb glass, although they dance with it a bit. Crested geckos and a few other species like to have tall climbing areas. Your heat mat should be the primary constant heat source, but some folks use a light in the cold of winter for additional heat if needed.

I would continue the warm soaking until the vent looks normal. There won't be much if any poop if its' not eating, but it wouldn't hurt to smear a drop of pharmacy grade mineral oil on the little lizard lips to help clean out its' digestive tract. That little bulge makes me think of a possible impaction.

Hopefully now that you're home and able to give the little one plenty of TLC, thing will turn around for you

 

[Kimberly]

Update : Rex pooped tonight mostly white but the bulge in the vent is gone !!!
now if I can just get her/him to eat something ! Anything would be great at this point.
I do have phoenix worms coming any day now so hopefully Rex will take to them.
I will try the mineral oil tomorrow even though the vent looks better. It's possible it was impaction but from what ? no sand in there. Maybe the moss in the moist hide ? I will do away with it and use only paper towels from now on.
Thank You so much for all your help!!
By the way I live in Ohio it's COLD here most of the time, wish I lived in Florida
I have a few friends who live there.:main_thumbsup:

 

[sausage]

my geckos have the black spot to. vet says its nothing to worrie bout.
good to hear he/shes pooped dont give up not yet, use a slurry mix just so you are getting somthing inside it.

 

[fl_orchidslave]

Kimbery, moss can be ingested, and will eventually come out one end or the other. When their tummy is upset, they won't eat. Now that Rex has gone potty, hopefully he will be back on track and eating like a champ within a few days.