Urgent Weight Problems!

[9AC5]

On the 18th March this year, an egg hatched. The hatchling looked very healthy. But, and its a big but... 6 months on, after feeding 2 times a day, with calcium dusted crickets, sometimes a wax worm to try and boost weight. Even vary the diet with meal worms and hoppers sometimes. It has been almost six months, so she should be at least 35g, but she only weighs 9g! Now forgive me for thinking this, but that seems shockingly low! Her tail is still fat, and she hasn't got wasting legs, she just hasn't got any bigger. She has grown in size by an inch maximum, and other than that she's been putting on weight very slowly. She hasn't got parasites, and she seems fine. Her viv isn't restricting her growth, it is the right temperature. Have I bred a genetic freak that's going to remain a dwarf for the rest of its life? Or is something massively wrong?

 

[marauderhex]

Tell us about her setup. What size, what type of heat you use, what kind of supplements, what kind of feeders, what substrate, everything about it down to how much traffic the room that she's in gets.

 

[9AC5]

Vivexotic 24, with a zoo med uth heat mat generating about 90 degrees on the hot side. Enough contrast on the cool side. Hot side has a humid and dry hide to assist shedding. Sheds regularly. Cool side has a small dish of water, and also a dish of Vetark Calci dust which is also used to dust every feed bar 2 a week which are done with calci dust containing DH3. Using crickets which length ways are as long as the width of her head, same with the hoppers. Sometimes a wax worm and maelies. All food is live and gut loaded 24h previous to feeding. Kitchen roll substrate, not much traffic at all .

 

[marauderhex]

Do you have access to something like Blaptica dubia roaches? Crickets are to a gecko what popcorn is to a human. It will fill you up, but it takes a while, and its not the best thing out there.

 

[9AC5]

Well she has crickets for morning feed, and mealies in the evening. Eating until she's full at both times. I don't have access to dubias, neither do I want any running around the house. Crickets have been keeping my others going for their whole lives, along with the other variety in the diet. I just don't see what is going wrong with her. That's why I'm almost convinced that she is a dwarf or at least very slow developer because there doesn't seem to be anything massively wrong at all.

 

[DrCarrotTail]

Sounds like you're doing everything right and she could just be small. She also could have a physical defect that's preventing her from metabolizing food efficiently. I've seen puppies and kittens with liver shunts that seem seem healthy and happy but don't grow quickly. It tends not to be an issue while their small but can become a larger issue as they increase in size. I'm not 100% sure but assume something similar could happen in a gecko.

 

[9AC5]

Ahhh, ok ill look into it. Thank you. I just didn't understand what was different. Sane procedure as every other successful gecko I've had and no joy for some reason! oh well, looks like I'm keeping this little one. Who knows, could have a big problem. Or I may even have a cute little midget gecko.

 

[DrCarrotTail]

I hope you've discovered the mysterious recessive midget gene! Let us know how she continues to do and if we can expect "het midget" geckos around here someday soon

 

[Karah]

Can I see a picture of her?

 

[Ozy]

Try using Repashy Calcium Plus with every feeding? Maybe she's not getting enough nutrients because she's just getting calcium and calcium w/DH3? I'm just throwing it out there. PLEASE don't take offense. Just trying to toss out some ideas. She could just be "het Midget" as stated above. lol

 

[9AC5]

I'll try and get a photo for you tonight. I'm just about to leave the house. I suppose I can try the calcium plus idea. Hopefully its just a midget haha. You never know

 

[sausage]

Iv had a few runts hatch out over the years. they look dwarfed compared to their siblings but they alwatys catch up sooner or later i pic would be nice

 

[9AC5]

This is a photo of her, fire away with questions.

 

[sausage]

her front end looks a little strange to me the front left or is it just me?. any chance we could get a side shot too? sorry to be a pain

 

[SC Geckos]

her front end looks a little strange to me the front left or is it just me?. any chance we could get a side shot too? sorry to be a pain

I agree. The front left leg/shoulder looks odd IMO. A closer picture as well would help.

 

[Ozy]

Agreed. The front left does look weird.. Does she walk ok? Maybe it's just the way she's standing.

 

[9AC5]

She doesn't walk very well. She is weak, but I don't know what's wrong. Today I watched her for about 10 minutes after eating, and for the first time she showed signs of having no balance. It was almost like watching a gecko with enigma syndrome, she was almost rolling over, (if she had the strength she may have managed to), and swinging her head all over the place. It was very odd. Especially seen as there is no enigma gene in the parents. Parents are tremper albino eclipse and mack snow. Hope someone can tell me what is going on.

 

[sausage]

That gecko has advanced MBD

What are you dusting its food with and how often?
you need to go to a vet asap.

 

[9AC5]

Oh dear, exactly what I didn't want to hear :/ ok so I'm dusting every single meal she has using non dh3 calcium every time, bar 2 days a week when I use calcium with dh3. And that is for both daily feeds.

what will a vet do for a gecko with advanced MBD? Just so I know what to expect, and know if I'm being given the right advice by the vet.

 

[katie_]

She looks very ill.
At this point I think your only option are euthanasia, or you could possibly try to save her with intense vet care but no guarantees on success.