Something is wrong with my gecko!

[Phon1cx]

I've had my juvenile Leopard Gecko, Elvis, for two months now and he's starting to show very weird behavior. When I first got him he did not want to eat, but he eventually started. Now he's been on hunger strike for a week now, and it is very worrisome. He seems to not like crickets so I've had him on a diet of mealworms and waxworms to try and fatten him up, for he is very skinny. Now he refuses to eat anything, and he's starting to drop weight rapidly. He is also making a clicking sound when awake, where he inflates his neck and tenses the back of his throat then opens his mouth with a pop.

He is in a 20 gallon tank, with a dry and cool hide, water box, and calcium dish where the worms are. The substrate is Repticarpet, and the temperatures are sadly only at 80 on a good day. He has an under-tank heater and red light above, as well as aluminum foil on the top, but nothing is working to raise the temperature.

I'm thought he may be in a hibernation state, but he is too active to at night to be. I'm very worried for my Gecko and I need help.

 

[DrCarrotTail]

Sounds like a respiratory infection to me. Your gecko needs vet attention ASAP for diagnosis and treatment.

 

[DrCarrotTail]

Arav.org is a great site for finding a qualified reptile vet near you.

 

[cstone]

Along with visiting a qualified vet, you need to get the temps in order. The vet can do everything in the world to get him healthy again, but if he is not kept at the proper temperatures he will not stay healthy.

If the room is very cold you may need a space heater for the room. Another option (which I am using) is a second light placed near the middle. I use a moonlight (blacklight) bulb because I already had it, but a ceramic bulb (no light just heat) or a second red bulb could also work.

What size UTH and what wattage bulb are you using? Maybe they are not powerful enough?

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[Phon1cx]

Thank you so much. I'll check right away to find a vet.

 

[Phon1cx]

I was thinking the heat may be the main issue. I've thought about getting the ceramic heater, but will it be enough to raise the tanks temperature?

I'm not sure fire either other than the uth was specified for a 20 gallon tank.

 

[tb144050]

I've had my juvenile Leopard Gecko, Elvis, for two months now and he's starting to show very weird behavior. When I first got him he did not want to eat, but he eventually started. Now he's been on hunger strike for a week now, and it is very worrisome. He seems to not like crickets so I've had him on a diet of mealworms and waxworms to try and fatten him up, for he is very skinny. Now he refuses to eat anything, and he's starting to drop weight rapidly. He is also making a clicking sound when awake, where he inflates his neck and tenses the back of his throat then opens his mouth with a pop.

He is in a 20 gallon tank, with a dry and cool hide, water box, and calcium dish where the worms are. The substrate is Repticarpet, and the temperatures are sadly only at 80 on a good day. He has an under-tank heater and red light above, as well as aluminum foil on the top, but nothing is working to raise the temperature.

I'm thought he may be in a hibernation state, but he is too active to at night to be. I'm very worried for my Gecko and I need help.

Let's take a look at your original post and make sure you aren't missing some important information. You really should fill out the questionaire at the top of this "Health & Medications" section (copy & paste it, then fill it out).
------------------------------------

1) You have had your Leo for "2 months":
--didn't eat
--would eat mealworms and waxworms (waxworms are cheating...lol)
--stopped eating again during Week8.

There is an obvious appetite issue...possible illness, parasites, stress, or STRESSFUL HABITAT...etc etc.



2) What and how are you measuring temps? Your UTH should be designed to put out roughly 90F of SURFACE TEMP (not ambient air temp). Ambient air temp of 70-80F is very nice for their casual comfort. Surface temp of 90F on the warmside is necessary for digestion.



3) How old and how much does your gecko weigh? (post a pic if you can)

4) Where did you get it?

5) Supplements?? (all these are relevant questions in the questionaire)

.....

And last (but not least), I think DrCarrottail has already made a suggestion about your Leo possibly having a Respiratory infection.....probably because of the "throat popping noise". This alone probably requires a vet visit for antibiotics.

Sounds like a respiratory infection to me. Your gecko needs vet attention ASAP for diagnosis and treatment.

 

[cstone]

I was thinking the heat may be the main issue. I've thought about getting the ceramic heater, but will it be enough to raise the tanks temperature?

I'm not sure fire either other than the uth was specified for a 20 gallon tank.

I haven't used the ceramic heaters myself but from what I've heard they work very well. Depending on the wattage, any type of bulb can put out ALOT of heat. Someone else is probably more qualified than me to recommend a wattage to you, but in your position I would probably go with something like a 50-60watt bulb connected to a thermostat. That way it has the capability of raising the temps a significant amount if needed, but the thermostat will make sure it isn't too much when it isn't needed.

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[tb144050]

I haven't used the ceramic heaters myself but from what I've heard they work very well. Depending on the wattage, any type of bulb can put out ALOT of heat. Someone else is probably more qualified than me to recommend a wattage to you, but in your position I would probably go with something like a 50-60watt bulb connected to a thermostat. That way it has the capability of raising the temps a significant amount if needed, but the thermostat will make sure it isn't too much when it isn't needed.

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^^ I agree that thermostats and small bulbs are good ideas if you live in a place where room-AIR-temp drops below 65 degrees F.

However, Phon1cx,....please read my last post above this one (the LONG post)!! What is 80F?.......room airtemp or floor surface temp?? If you are trying to increase the air temp to 90F, then you are going to kill your gecko with all the extra heat.

Please fill out the entire questionaire, and it will tell us 1) what temp you are taking; 2) what tool you are measuring with; etc etc