We're new to reptile keeping, and have had a pair of leopard geckos for about a month. One of them has stopped eating for over a week now and has got really thin, especially the tail.

The only cause I can think of is it might be that we switched to mealworms right before she stopped eating, whereas she has only had crickets or locusts before then. She ate three in one go that evening, but nothing since. The faeces looked very odd right after: white and very soft, not brown at all. but since then it's got progressively drier and now stopped all together.

The pair have been separated the past few days, and she has been to the vet today (who is not a reptile specialist and couldn't really say what was wrong). He's prescribed us some antibiotics and suggested force feeding with a syringe. I managed to get about 80mls of crushed fresh cricket mixed with water down her just now, but she's definitely not happy.

Can anyone help or suggest anything else to try?

Thanks.

Well, it's barely 2 hours after we got the fluid into her, and already some news: didn't see it happen, but a green poo and two sticky looking undigested corpses have appeared. Think one is a mealworm and the other a cricket possibly. Can't imagine that was comfortable.

What does this mean? Could it have been an impaction which we've shifted with all the handling today? Is there a reason why she's not digesting her food? Not sure when she might have eaten the cricket, but the worm must have been inside her for quite a while.

Thanks for any advice, Neil

Give us some background...ie substrate, temps etc...This will help us better determine or try and help with and answer.

Welcome to Herp Center.

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MARSHA

:D I'm smiling because I have no idea whats going on!

Well, we got her first, about a month ago. She's about eight months old now. We added a male leopard gecko about two and a half weeks ago. He was about the same size (got quite a bit fatter since), but is only four months old. We were told it was okay to keep a mixed pair like this up until they are a year old.

The tank is moderately sized, about 24" in length and I'd guess 15 gallons or so. The substrate is plain fine sand which we bought in the reptile shop, and the temperature is around 80F to 90F at the hot end, with a heat pad and a thermostat.

We also have a plastic box with damp moss in there which both seem to prefer to hide in instead of the plastic rock thing they also have.

First off, please dump the sand. It will cause impaction to the Leopard Geckos. Try using newspaper, paper towel or shelf liner...second, never listen to petstores, they are only out to make money. That possibly could be part of your Leopard Geckos problems. You can try feeding her wax worms to fatten her up a bit. If she is stress by the male (dominance) you will need to sepereate them until they are bigger. Try bumping the temps up to betwen 90-95 this will help her digest her food better as well.

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MARSHA

:D I'm smiling because I have no idea whats going on!

Thanks for the suggestions Martha. We actually got some repti carpet just recently. Is that okay to use? We'll take the sand out tomorrow.

The vet suggested feeding her a protein formula thru the syringe. We haven't got any yet, but would you recommend this, or stick to the waxworms? Have turned up the temperature. It feels really warm in there now. We've separated them at the moment by putting her in a box within the tank, so they both get heat from the mat, but he can't get to her. He's literally twice her size now she's got so thin.

Thanks again, Neil

Hello,

That leo has gone without food for longer than a week or was ill when you purchased it. (You stated you bought it a month ago.) I keep and breed Leopard Geckos. For a leo to get that emaciated, it has been depriving itself for a while.

My immediate reaction to a leo that emaciated is impaction or parasite. Initially, I would seek attention for parasites. Most Leopard Geckos with an impaction will still attempt to eat. Those with parasites or an infection of some sort will often refuse food completely, like yours has.

If you brought that leo to the vet, the vet must have done some blood work or a fecal? What medication is the leo on and what is the dose? I am guessing you got a broad spectrum antibiotic. Needless to say, blood work and a fecal WILL tell ANY vet what is wrong. lol

The Leopard Geckos are going to require seperate housing. The box is not adequate. You will need to keep the ill leo in quarantine for at least 30 days AFTER she starts eating again. This means that the leo needs at least a ten gallon of her own, heated, and with adequate hides. She should be moved in there asap!

I would not force feed her anything just yet. (Except the antibiotic. (What is it called?) Try offering the waxworms. If she will eat them on her own, she will be better off. Force feeding is very stressful. If you are forcefeeding an already ill leo, its even more stressful. Save that for a last resort.

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Hi Rich,

The antibiotic is 2.5% Baytril, 1ml per day (diluted 10:1 by the vet). The vet didn't want to take blood due to her size and the fecal sample we had was too dried up to be of any use. We have bagged the latest one, so will be able to take that back to him.

Now you mention it, she always was pretty small. Guess the fact that she was only the same size as anther leo half her age sort of demonstrates that. She did have a healthy appetite for the first three weeks we had her.

Thanks for the advice, Neil

Hello,

Baytril is a broad spectrum antibiotic. That is great if the leo has an infection of some sort. If the problem is parasitic though, you may find that the Baytril is not effective as a treatment. (It will help destroy some bacterias though, which is great!)

Panacur, which can be pretty rough on anything that consumes it, is much more suited for attacking parasitic infestations.

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as for getting weight back up I just dealt with the same thing with my male I let him mate too soon and it took alot outta him I started feeding him pinkies
once a week he didnt want it at first so I sliced a leg to get some juices running and wiped it accross his nose. i almost lost my fingers once he realized it was yummy you might want to try that

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