The Worst Has Happened

[thinlizzy]

Hello, my gecko friends.

The night before last I was handling my leo (Tico)

He was on my shoulder, as usual...but I dozed off! I fell asleep.

Needless to say, when I woke up he was gone. I'm concerned for a lot of reasons:

1. I worry that he's hungry or thirsty.
2. I think he's not warm enough.
3. I miss him.

I set his light out in my living-room in hopes of him coming to it but to no avail. This coming January would've made six years he's been under my care.

I've searched everywhere but cannot find him.

Does anyone have an idea of what I can do to possibly find him?

I live in a three bdrm, 2 bath home by myself. My foyer, kitchen, bathrooms and hallway is tiled....everywhere else is carpeted. My common sense tells me he's in a carpeted area.

Does anyone have an idea for how I can find him?

Thanks in advance for all replies.

:main_thumbsup:

 

[Dimidiata]

Start by searching EVERYWHERE, be sure to check in areas where its warm and possibly dark, try to leave a bowl of mealworms out in the area of the tank.

 

[geckogirl3]

look under anything you slept with

 

[Dimidiata]

look under anything you slept with

?

 

[geckogirl3]

my gecko ran way once and hid under my pillow

 

[Desdemona]

Put is tank on the floor sideways (assuming you have a simple one) or find some container that will suffice. Put all of his cage bits in there and if its safe (floor probably) put on the heat. If there is food and water in it he will most likely show up in it, under his fav hide.

The other trick is to close off a room (put a towel under the crack) and to very slowly/carefully look under everything. Every bit of furniture he could possibly slide under, any items that might be on the floor, etc. A good flashlight is a huge help. If you talk to your gecko then talk in the same voice while doing so. If he hasn't found a warm spot yet he may come seeking heat. I had a hamster quite a few years ago that would actually come if I called. It was pretty surprising. Maybe your gecko would.

The towel under the door is to make sure they don't get by you and run into another room. For the living area (do last) close all doors to other rooms then search and after you finish a room block under the door in case they are on the living area.

I have had a lot of sneaky little pets. Sometimes they will just show up when you least expect it. My sister had a hamster that got loose when I was in highschool and was missing for a couple of weeks. We thought for sure it was dead. Then one day I saw her just trotting through the kitchen, in the middle of the floor, like she owned the place. It was kind of funny and of course great to find her alive.

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[philly4ya]

Hello, my gecko friends.

The night before last I was handling my leo (Tico)

He was on my shoulder, as usual...but I dozed off! I fell asleep.

Needless to say, when I woke up he was gone. I'm concerned for a lot of reasons:

1. I worry that he's hungry or thirsty.
2. I think he's not warm enough.
3. I miss him.

I set his light out in my living-room in hopes of him coming to it but to no avail. This coming January would've made six years he's been under my care.

I've searched everywhere but cannot find him.

Does anyone have an idea of what I can do to possibly find him?

I live in a three bdrm, 2 bath home by myself. My foyer, kitchen, bathrooms and hallway is tiled....everywhere else is carpeted. My common sense tells me he's in a carpeted area.

Does anyone have an idea for how I can find him?

Thanks in advance for all replies.

:main_thumbsup:

I have never experienced such a tragedy but I have seen a few helpful hints in other post.

Check under the refrigerator, shoes, all tight dark places.
Dust the floor with flour for print tracking.
Leave a dish of water and one of worms (count the amount) will help with location.
Try to keep your home warm.
Sit in the dark quietly late night and listen for movement.
Be careful what you sit or walk on.

Good Luck and let us know if you find him.

 

[thinlizzy]

Thank you so much, everyone, for the thoughtful advice.

Today I took every thing out of my home including closets and all accumilation of stuff I've gathered over the years. My house has been scoured in hopes of finding the sneaky reptile. Sadly, I've still not found him.

I thought perhaps that through extensive searching and cleaning that I might see his feces. But I didn't find that either. I'm certain he didn't get outdoors because my entries are well sealed.

I'll keep searching and listen to the wonderful advice I have been given.

Thanks again for trying to help me to resolve this heartbreaking matter, everyone!

Take care.

 

[fl_orchidslave]

Sometimes they climb up in things, squeeze into boxes of stuff and burrow, looking for warmth and security. At night, if you can leave all your lights off and navigate around with a flashlight, you might spot the little sneak. Hope he turns up!

 

[M_surinamensis]

Minnow traps.

It's all about the shape and placement. Baiting is pointless. The "leave a heat lamp aimed at it" stuff is pointless. The phrase "favorite ______ (anything)" shows a marked ignorance of why they behave the way they do.

Understand the instincts. Anticipate and manipulate the behaviors accordingly. Make as many minnow traps as is reasonable and place them in appropriate areas.

... also dismantle whatever you were sleeping on. Between the cushions is not uncommon. And quit carrying your lizard around on your shoulder, it doesn't benefit from it in the least and the act introduces risk factors.

 

[wyldechyld]

Check between the couch cushions. He coud be stuck. Check the back of the couch. Shut all the doors in hopes of isolating him. Leave food and water in every room. Put out some things from his cage that he used often. He may be scared and look for something farmiliar. If you have caats, dogs, or anything else that might see a leo as a tasty fast food snack, shut them up in the area the leo is least likely to be hiding in. Go around with a flashlight and shine it into every nook and cranny. Move things aroud to try and shake him out of hiding. Don't stop at the most likely places he could be. Things have a way of finding their way into the last place you'ld think to look. Get down on your hands and knees to see the world from your leos veiw, so you can find places that you can't see from 5+ feet from the ground. Look hard, but don't concentrate on the object and look very closely, otherwise, you could miss him.:main_robin:

 

[gecko007]

My fat tail gecko went missing for over three weeks! He escaped his enclosure due to a faulty screen door and I thought for sure I would never see him again! I have five dogs and thought he was def a goner but couldn't really fathom them eating him whole with no evidence. I thought at worst they would play with him or squash him like the outside lizards. I searched every day and was worried sick until one night real late I was walking out my backdoor from our game room onto the back porch and there he was climbing up the little step over the threshold! I literally could t believe what I was seeing! He was fine although a bit hungry and thirsty He had travelled far across our entire house from the kitchen without ever being seen and he was big for a fat tail....a good 95 grams! The back porch is the warmest room hands down in the house since it has no air-conditioning. I have no doubt he saw me and made a dash for the door since I had left it open and when I saw him he just sat there and didn't try to get away at all...climbed in my hand like oh thank god
HINT
Find warmest room!
Good Luck!

 

[Rainy Dayz]

If your pet has become familiar with the cricket container like mine has this may be helpful in finding the critter. Hope you find the gecko!!! Mine tries to hide in the couch cushions....

 

[brillobee]

i read somewhere about putting a cricket in on of those clear eggs thing that toys from gumball machines come in. That way the gecko can see the cricket, but the cricket can't escape. Maybe it will come out try and eat the cricket.

 

[Desdemona]

That is a good idea brillobee! You could also buy some small bells, like the cat collar types, and put it in with the cricket. Put a bunch of them about the house then when your gecko goes for it you will know because you will hear it.

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[grboxa]

you can thank DierdreDreamwalker626 for giving the idea. he stated he baught can o' worms, can o' pilars etc. and left it out in the open and becuase of the strong his leos that were lost went right to it.

 

[Desdemona]

Oh, that is a good idea too. I am now in the same boat since I forgot to put the lid on my one gecko who likes to get out and gave her a way to get out (the tank divider I posted about elsewhere). I felt like such a dolt when I found her tank empty when I came back from work. So, today, I will be combing the house and if she dosen't pop up I'll probably go with the can o'stink since I dont' feed crickets.

*hits head on desk*

 

[PaladinGirl]

Toon got out once. She hid in the closet closest to her tank. She was only lost for maybe an hour, and eventually came to me when I called her.

 

[Desdemona]

If you haven't found your gecko look under the fridge. Found mine there. Moisture will collect and is a way for them to hydrate. The plastic plate/grill by the floor will most likely pull off so you can clean the drip tray.

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[thinlizzy]

Thanks

Hi guys and gals

I wish I had good news to tell but there is none.

My gecko now, I believe is similar to someone that doesn't know what to do.

I think maybe, possibly, he's going by his instinct of burrowing. But guys, my home has a gazillion places for burrowing. I walk on my hands and knees through late hours of the night with a weak flashlight. But still, no result.

Of this current writing; it's too long!!!

I will be sure to inform my finding of the sneaky reptile. Thanks again :

~thinlizzy



Post script:

We need a "geckosmiley"-emoticon!