I got a male albino leo at a reptile show in nov of this past year(2010) he was fat and healthy thru december...then he started loosing weight. He is extreamly skinny and I have no clue what could be wrong. He is in a 20L with reptile carpet. not sure on temps. they have a heating pad on one side with a hide box in the middle of the tank...half on hot and half on cold. it had vermiculite in it but they kicked it out so i removed it. he has a female with him and she is fine. both are pooping normally both are eating normally. The nearest vet is 2 hrs away and I am without a car due to a patch of black ice and out of money due to said wreck. nothing unusual about the poop either. I am going to take her out tonight and see if anything changes.
skinny leo
- Thread starter herpmom
- Start date
GeckoDude31
Member
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- 545
Hello, and welcome to GF! If you fill out this form, it will help aid us with some ideas on what's wrong.:deal2:
http://geckoforums.net/showthread.php?t=70912
About your leo:
- Sex male
- Age & Weight unknown
- How long have you owned your leo 3 months
- Where was he/she obtained (ex. Pet store, breeder, wild caught, friend) reptile show
A) Health/History
- How often do you handle your leo every day or every other day
- Is your leo acting any different today? If so how does he/she normally act which differs from now. nothing different
- Has he/she had any problems in the past, if so please describe. none that ive noticed
B) Fecals
- Describe (look any different than normal) look the same
- When was the last time he/she went not sure yesterday i think
C) Problem
- Please briefly descrive the problem and how long it has been going on. leo is loosing weight, has been off an on a month
Housing:
A) Enclosure
- Size 20 gal l
- Type (ex. glass tank) glass
- Type of substrate reptile carpet
- Hides, how many, what kind 2 reptile caves
B) Heating
- Heat source heat pad under bottom
- Cage temps (hot side, cool side) unsure
- Method of regulating heat source
- What are you using to measure your temps
- Do you have any lights (describe)
C) Cage mates
- How many (males, females) 1 female
- Describe health, or previous problems none that i know of
Describe Diet:
A) Typical diet
- What you're feeding (how often, how much) crickets every few days
- How are you feeding (hand fed, left in dish, ect) drop in tank
B) Supplements (describe how often)
- What vitamin/minerals are you using (list brands) calcium powder not sure of brand
- What are you gut loading food with flukers cricket food
- Sex male
- Age & Weight unknown
- How long have you owned your leo 3 months
- Where was he/she obtained (ex. Pet store, breeder, wild caught, friend) reptile show
A) Health/History
- How often do you handle your leo every day or every other day
- Is your leo acting any different today? If so how does he/she normally act which differs from now. nothing different
- Has he/she had any problems in the past, if so please describe. none that ive noticed
B) Fecals
- Describe (look any different than normal) look the same
- When was the last time he/she went not sure yesterday i think
C) Problem
- Please briefly descrive the problem and how long it has been going on. leo is loosing weight, has been off an on a month
Housing:
A) Enclosure
- Size 20 gal l
- Type (ex. glass tank) glass
- Type of substrate reptile carpet
- Hides, how many, what kind 2 reptile caves
B) Heating
- Heat source heat pad under bottom
- Cage temps (hot side, cool side) unsure
- Method of regulating heat source
- What are you using to measure your temps
- Do you have any lights (describe)
C) Cage mates
- How many (males, females) 1 female
- Describe health, or previous problems none that i know of
Describe Diet:
A) Typical diet
- What you're feeding (how often, how much) crickets every few days
- How are you feeding (hand fed, left in dish, ect) drop in tank
B) Supplements (describe how often)
- What vitamin/minerals are you using (list brands) calcium powder not sure of brand
- What are you gut loading food with flukers cricket food
Dog Shrink
Lost in the Lizard World
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- 2,799
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- NW PA.
Thank you for filling out our care questionaire.
Ok a couple things. First go to wal mart or lowes and get a good prober thermometer, it shouldn't cost more than $10. Temps and knowing your temps are mucho important because temps too low and your leo can't digest food properly resulting in impaction or constipation, too high and they could get overly stressed. Also you're in the winter slow down which most leos tend to eat less during the winter regardless of how properly kept his habitat is, some could care less and act unaffected. Monitoring your temps are very crucial to proper leo care. Also you need to provide a water bowl and make sure your leos are drinking if you dont have one. Sometimes misting once a week to make sure they're getting properly hydrated could help. Keeping 2 leos together esp. male and female is not a good idea unless you're an experienced keeper and know the ins and outs of breeding leos. You could lose both your leos to fighting, pregnancy troubles or more. I'd seperate esp if you suspect your male might be ill. Some leos will go off food when they want to breed. Also feeding a diet exclusively of crickets isn't recommended. You should vary the diet so 1. you provide the maximum nutritional values for your leo and 2. it keeps them interested in food. Try alternating between crickets and superworms. Also crickets can carry parasites if they wern't kept in the cleanest of conditions. Most franchise petstores I see keep their crickets in a frass filled mess. You should have a fecal exam done by your vet to rule out parasites. You also need to add a moist humid hide. Usually a tupperware dish with a hole cut in it and some wet/moist paper towels is all they need and my leo loves his moist hide a couple days before shedding, you can't get him out of it, but he won't touch the moist hide with the sphagnum moss. Guess it's 'cause he was tub raised. So that's where I'd start. Please feel free to ask any other questions you mght have.
Ok a couple things. First go to wal mart or lowes and get a good prober thermometer, it shouldn't cost more than $10. Temps and knowing your temps are mucho important because temps too low and your leo can't digest food properly resulting in impaction or constipation, too high and they could get overly stressed. Also you're in the winter slow down which most leos tend to eat less during the winter regardless of how properly kept his habitat is, some could care less and act unaffected. Monitoring your temps are very crucial to proper leo care. Also you need to provide a water bowl and make sure your leos are drinking if you dont have one. Sometimes misting once a week to make sure they're getting properly hydrated could help. Keeping 2 leos together esp. male and female is not a good idea unless you're an experienced keeper and know the ins and outs of breeding leos. You could lose both your leos to fighting, pregnancy troubles or more. I'd seperate esp if you suspect your male might be ill. Some leos will go off food when they want to breed. Also feeding a diet exclusively of crickets isn't recommended. You should vary the diet so 1. you provide the maximum nutritional values for your leo and 2. it keeps them interested in food. Try alternating between crickets and superworms. Also crickets can carry parasites if they wern't kept in the cleanest of conditions. Most franchise petstores I see keep their crickets in a frass filled mess. You should have a fecal exam done by your vet to rule out parasites. You also need to add a moist humid hide. Usually a tupperware dish with a hole cut in it and some wet/moist paper towels is all they need and my leo loves his moist hide a couple days before shedding, you can't get him out of it, but he won't touch the moist hide with the sphagnum moss. Guess it's 'cause he was tub raised. So that's where I'd start. Please feel free to ask any other questions you mght have.
ok i already said i cant go to the vet. No money and no transportation. They have a hide box and a moist box. hes in it a lot. Also have a water bowl. the crikets are not the problem other wise all my other lizards would be sick too. I have been getting crickets from the same place for the past few years with no problems. i will go get the thermometor tho when i can get a ride to walmart
Dog Shrink
Lost in the Lizard World
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- NW PA.
That is not always true. Some herps have a stronger immune system or their gi flora isn't imbalanced like a leo who is mroe succeptable to having worms in active development versus just being a carrier of the cysts. They need the proper environment to flourish. After a while even a healthy animal will succum but not likely until the parasite load is high. If you can get a parasite test done, if a friend is willing to drop off a sample for you or drive you to have one done it should be pretty inexpensive (under $40) and would rule that out as a possibility of what's wrong with your leo.
Also if he is healthy he may just be disintersted in the same feeder every time he's fed. Changing up is feeders can renew interest in food.
Also if he is healthy he may just be disintersted in the same feeder every time he's fed. Changing up is feeders can renew interest in food.
Need to have a hide box ON the hot side and one ON the cold...not in the middle...having it in the middle I can almost guarentee you aren't getting proper temps for digestion. Get rid of the carpet I recently found that the heat doesn't penetrate very well through some substrates..I switched to papertowel and my temps are finally holding at 92-94 on the hot side.
I also second the temperature prob SUPER IMPORTANT...Zoo Med make a temp probe that you can find under $10. the probe tip needs to be directly on the floor of the tank on the hot side. I'll attach a pic of how I have my probe positioned to get a accurate temp.
Also you said you are using a generic calcium...are you just dusting your feeders or do you have a dish in the tank?
Also if he is losing so much weight why are you not offering food daily. You wrote that you feed him crickets every couple of days. Also I agree switch up your feeders..and even maybe add some waxworms in if he is losing that much weight.
And seperating the two leos is necessary! not just because your male is sick but also the fact that you male is very much in danger of getting seriously injured...he is skinny and in a weakened state and the female may decide to take advantage of that. Its a dog eat dog world
:main_thumbsup: +1 on DogShrinks post!
Good luck!
What i said was I have a hide box on each side and a shedding box in the middle...i only offer cricket every other day cuz thats how long it takes them to eat what i give them. never said i was using generic calckium just said i cant remember what brand it is. they have a small bowl with calcium in it and i dust the crickets as well. Nearest pet store is 45 min away. nearest walmart is 30 min away. i am expecting some money soon so i will be getting what i need then. called the closet vet to me and they said they wont do the fecal without an exam. exam for exotics cost 50 i forget how much the fecal would be. Ive seen the temp thing before, i had one in my crested gecko tank before my cat chewed through the cord... but they arent that expensive. I hope to be going to a walmart soon..have already separated them. All together i have 4 leos and the 3 i rescued who had previous health problems are fine, the one that i got from the reptile show is sick..i think im going to stop buying at the show cuz most of the animals i usually get have something wrong with them...this one looked find when i got him. I will try to find some waxworms..i had some meal worms but im not sure if i still have any. thanks
fl_orchidslave
New Member
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- 4,074
- Location
- St. Augustine, FL
If you leave crickets in for two days- that's a problem. Not only do they carry parasites from eating poop, but they will also nibble on your gecko. An infection can occur from this type wound. Any feeders can do this that roam the enclosure. Worms left in an escape proof dish are safe. If you don't feel you can swing the vet bill, perhaps offer it for adoption to someone who can properly care for it. There's an adoption section on this forum main page or there's always craigslist.
got a lucky break somewhat. One of my relatives sent me a late xmas present...gift card to walmart. got a temp gun ordered, been wanting one anyway...ignoring comment about giving him up...all advice is appriciated and taken with a grain of salt. getting a ride to the pet store tomorow so i will hopefully find some waxworms or meal worms.
we all can only offer advice on the accuracy of the information given to us. Maybe instead of ordering a more expensive temp gun you could purchase a few cheaper temp probes and have probably extra for other supplies. I have to :main_thumbsup:+1 to fl_orchidslave..if you can't afford the basics of care maybe downsizing your crew would benefit all the animals. Rescuing is amerible but taking in so many that you are depleted of funds defeats the purpose. Especially because we all hit these hard times in life.
good luck
ok first of all, I am not in a hard time. I normally have money set aside for vet visits however I had to use it to get my truck fixed...as for the temp gun, it wasnt that expensive i couldnt find the probes. i did manage to get to the pet store and get some super worms...he is all by himself in the tank and i left some mealworms in a bowl for him...i didnt get a chance to stay and hand feed them to him as i was already running late and i just got home. he wasnt a rescue, I bought him from the expo. I have pleanty of money for food so i can buy crickets or whatever for a while. I do appriciate everyone's help but I have just been reminded...again...why I hate forums. the question originally asked gets answered and then blown out of proportion. dang, i cant please u people..you gripe cuz i dont have a temp gage and when i do get one you gripe at how much i spent without even knowin how much i spent. this will more then likely be my last post..its easier then getting madder then im already getting and cursing people out...have a nice life being perfect pet owners telling people what to do
prettyinpink
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- 1,838
- Location
- Austin, Texas
Hi! I'm sorry to hear that your leo isn't doing so well. I didn't read all the posts, but I read all yours.
For the temp probe you can get one for $7 at walmart...mine looks like this http://geckoforums.net/showthread.php?p=615241#post615241 all wal-marts are different but it was by where the paint is, a couple aisles from there. If you ask they should be able to point you where if you ask where the temp guages are. This will at least get you something while you wait for your temp gun
Not sure if you got food yet...But I'd suggest some Super worms! They're fattening but not as fattening and addicting as waxworms. You can find them at Petco/Smart they'll fatten him up easier then mealies. I use these, all my guys love them. I hate crickets
As for your leo loosing weight. I didn't happen to catch how much he lost. Sounds good that he's pooping and acting normal though.
Hope this helps!!!
For the temp probe you can get one for $7 at walmart...mine looks like this http://geckoforums.net/showthread.php?p=615241#post615241 all wal-marts are different but it was by where the paint is, a couple aisles from there. If you ask they should be able to point you where if you ask where the temp guages are. This will at least get you something while you wait for your temp gun
Not sure if you got food yet...But I'd suggest some Super worms! They're fattening but not as fattening and addicting as waxworms. You can find them at Petco/Smart they'll fatten him up easier then mealies. I use these, all my guys love them. I hate crickets
As for your leo loosing weight. I didn't happen to catch how much he lost. Sounds good that he's pooping and acting normal though.
Hope this helps!!!
prettyinpink
New Member
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- 1,838
- Location
- Austin, Texas
There's also temp guages at the petstores but I don't like them as much because you can't measure the hot side and the cool side. So I think you'll like the walmart one better.
Also, it'll tell you what the hottest temp was for the day...so if your UTH isn't working while you're gone you'll know. I love that. But I worry a lot.
I just reread the posts and noticed you have reptile carpet. I used to use it, but I took it out...Wasn't getting their belly temp hot enough and their toes kept getting stuck it in. Also little chunks come off. I switched to paper towels, but now I use tile. When you touch the floor does it feel like and warm? Could just be the temps that's upsetting him.
Hopefully we'll get it figured out.
OH! Also could be feeders, one of my guys went on food strike, I switched her feeders and she went back.
Also, it'll tell you what the hottest temp was for the day...so if your UTH isn't working while you're gone you'll know. I love that. But I worry a lot.
I just reread the posts and noticed you have reptile carpet. I used to use it, but I took it out...Wasn't getting their belly temp hot enough and their toes kept getting stuck it in. Also little chunks come off. I switched to paper towels, but now I use tile. When you touch the floor does it feel like and warm? Could just be the temps that's upsetting him.
Hopefully we'll get it figured out.
OH! Also could be feeders, one of my guys went on food strike, I switched her feeders and she went back.
prettyinpink
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- Austin, Texas
One last post
Not sure how you're doing your supplements but if you take a look at some caresheets they'll explain supplementation (if you need help on that )
http://geckoforums.net/articles.php?c=115
I use
One a week -calcium w/d3 (dust feeders)
multi-vitamin once a week (dust feeders)
Then the last one you can just find PURE calcium NO D3, and just put it in a bottle cap in the cage. They'll actually lick up what they need.
That's my method. Hope that helped ya!
Not sure how you're doing your supplements but if you take a look at some caresheets they'll explain supplementation (if you need help on that
) http://geckoforums.net/articles.php?c=115
I use
Then the last one you can just find PURE calcium NO D3, and just put it in a bottle cap in the cage. They'll actually lick up what they need.
That's my method. Hope that helped ya!
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