Leopard Gecko Beans: Very malnourished & injured....

[Peanutshark]

Recently I rescued a very sick leopard gecko. This case is very troubling and more advanced than I've done before. He is a male diablo blanco which I saved from someone who had no idea how to take care of a juvenile. This person put him in a cage with 3 adult leopard gecko when he was in between baby and juvenile stages. He's apparently 2 years old and still the size of a juvenile. This is because the owner could never get him to keep his weight up. His tail recently got bitten off by another leopard gecko and has yet to show any reggrowth (probably due to the extreme malnourishment). Hes just skin and bone.

So what I've been doing for the last couple days is feeding him an emergency liquid feed by flukers. I wasn't able to get him to eat anything else so I'm at last resort basically. I feed him .1cc of this daily like the package says. I've had success with this before, but not this extreme of a case.

My question is, is it even possible for this gecko to get to an adult size (or close to one) at this point? If he's two years old and still tiny, I just can't imagine it. And is there anything else I can do on top of what I'm already doing?

 

[panthergecko]

Sounds serious you should get him looked at by a professional exotic vet. pictures can help us see his condition and if he is 2 years old and smaller he's likely suffering from stunted growth

 

[SamanthaLovely]

Recently I rescued a very sick leopard gecko. This case is very troubling and more advanced than I've done before. He is a male diablo blanco which I saved from someone who had no idea how to take care of a juvenile. This person put him in a cage with 3 adult leopard gecko when he was in between baby and juvenile stages. He's apparently 2 years old and still the size of a juvenile. This is because the owner could never get him to keep his weight up. His tail recently got bitten off by another leopard gecko and has yet to show any reggrowth (probably due to the extreme malnourishment). Hes just skin and bone.

So what I've been doing for the last couple days is feeding him an emergency liquid feed by flukers. I wasn't able to get him to eat anything else so I'm at last resort basically. I feed him .1cc of this daily like the package says. I've had success with this before, but not this extreme of a case.

My question is, is it even possible for this gecko to get to an adult size (or close to one) at this point? If he's two years old and still tiny, I just can't imagine it. And is there anything else I can do on top of what I'm already doing?

I don't think he would have survived at that rate to be two years old. We've had a few rescues here one is perfectly healthy now and the other didn't make it, partially due to the stress of being so thin. My opinion would be that he couldn't be that small and be two years old. Our baby is the size of my finger and nowhere near the size of any of our 50g adults. Pictures would help alot.

You're definitely going to want to get him in to see a reptile vet as mentioned above. Keep Him HYDRATED! You don't want his kidneys to get stressed from dehydration.

Temps? Tank size? Heat source? Substrate? Moist hide? Humidity?

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

Sounds as if you are feeding Fluker's Repta+Boost ! Are you feeding small amounts say twice daily? How is he accepting that?

Please check the Leo Guidelines for complete care info, recommended temps, an all. Would not let any of the temps get lower than 80 F in his fragile condition.

 

[Peanutshark]

In the past, the vet told me i was doing the right thing by using the Flukers Repta-aid. If he doesnt start putting on weight, then I'll go back to the vet. I'm just not sure if the vet can really do anything more at this point. I'm so sad about this He has been moving around more, though, and hes drinking on his own, which is good news for me. I've been feeding him 0.2cc (oz) once a day. I'm going to do this for the next few days and up the dosage to 2 times a day.

I have him in a "hospital tank" for the time being. Its a 20 gallon tank with paper towl on the bottom. I try to keep his temp at about 85-90. He has a small moist hide along with a normal hide and an under tank heater. I add a heat lamp when the temp drops.

The owner did tell me he was almost 2. I had a very hard time believing it until he told me what pet store he got him from which closed a year and a half ago. That still doesnt prove anything, but I dont see why he would tell me any different. If anything, i'm surprised he didnt tell me he was younger to make it seem less serious.

here's a picture of him. I've affectionately named him beans

 

[panthergecko]

Oh that gecko is in need of serious food and vet care.
When he poops take it put it in a ziploc bag and next day go to the vet for a fecal float exam. This will probably run you about 30-50 dollars.
But based on his size and appearance I suspect this gecko has parasites.

You should only take a vets advice for the time it was given, the same advice may work out differently for this gecko, but KEEP providing Flukers Repta-boost.

Try to entice him with:
calci-worms
crickets 1/2-3/4 of an inch size
silkworms-read these can get the pickiest geckos to eat

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

In the past, the vet told me i was doing the right thing by using the Flukers Repta-aid. If he doesnt start putting on weight, then I'll go back to the vet. I'm just not sure if the vet can really do anything more at this point. I'm so sad about this He has been moving around more, though, and hes drinking on his own, which is good news for me. I've been feeding him 0.2cc (oz) once a day. I'm going to do this for the next few days and up the dosage to 2 times a day.

I have him in a "hospital tank" for the time being. Its a 20 gallon tank with paper towl on the bottom. I try to keep his temp at about 85-90. He has a small moist hide along with a normal hide and an under tank heater. I add a heat lamp when the temp drops.

How about leaving the heat lamp on during the day for 12 hours and leaving the heat mat on 24/7? That will provide your leo with better air temps to increase his digesting and all around comfort.

The owner did tell me he was almost 2. I had a very hard time believing it until he told me what pet store he got him from which closed a year and a half ago. That still doesnt prove anything, but I dont see why he would tell me any different. If anything, i'm surprised he didnt tell me he was younger to make it seem less serious.

here's a picture of him. I've affectionately named him beans

Sounds as if you are feeding Fluker's Repta+Boost ! Are you feeding small amounts say twice daily? How is he accepting that?

Please check the Leo Guidelines for complete care info, recommended temps, an all. Would not let any of the temps get lower than 80 F in his fragile condition.

Let GU know how 2x daily Repta+Boost feeding goes.

Would you happen to know whether Beans' former owner had experience keeping other leos?

 

[Peanutshark]

Oh that gecko is in need of serious food and vet care.
When he poops take it put it in a ziploc bag and next day go to the vet for a fecal float exam. This will probably run you about 30-50 dollars.
But based on his size and appearance I suspect this gecko has parasites.

You should only take a vets advice for the time it was given, the same advice may work out differently for this gecko, but KEEP providing Flukers Repta-boost.

Try to entice him with:
calci-worms
crickets 1/2-3/4 of an inch size
silkworms-read these can get the pickiest geckos to eat

I've already been looking into a vet for tomorrow. I thought the same thing about the parasites. Especially since he was in an aquarium with 3 other geckos. I've been trying to find a place with silk worms but I only end up finding wax worms. I only feed those as a treat or getting weight up on a gecko. Do you get silk worms at a speciality store or a chain (ie petsmart). I know of a speciality store I could try

 

[panthergecko]

Most people order silkworms online.
I have never tried them but I can look some sites up for you.
Are you on the East Coast or West Coast?

Petco/Petsmart sell usually only
mealworms
superworms
crickets
wax worms
calciworms

I used to live a reptile specialty store which sold the above ones and
hornworms
silkworms
roaches

You need to get that gecko to eat asap!

 

[Peanutshark]

Most people order silkworms online.
I have never tried them but I can look some sites up for you.
Are you on the East Coast or West Coast?

Petco/Petsmart sell usually only
mealworms
superworms
crickets
wax worms
calciworms

I used to live a reptile specialty store which sold the above ones and
hornworms
silkworms
roaches

You need to get that gecko to eat asap!

I'll try the reptile speciality store near me. I just moved to Denver, co so I haven't had the chance to go yet. Luckily, he's been eating the repta-aid. I put it in a plastic surynge and he laps it up. It's only been a few days but he's definitely more active.

Do you think he's probably stunted in growth? I can't imagine he's going to get to his adult size

 

[panthergecko]

He might plump up. But he won't grow from the pic MBD does not look present but I'm not a vet and can't diagnose through a picture your vet needs to look at this gecko and give you options.
Be warned sometimes they suggest putting the down in extreme cases but you can IMO get this gecko on the right track,

 

[cricket4u]

I think this gecko has a good chance of improving and he will grow. Feces appear normal?

 

[Peanutshark]

I think this gecko has a good chance of improving and he will grow. Feces appear normal?

I think I want to try to nurse him back to health. I just don't want him to suffer. If he's got a shot at being healthy then I'd like to do everything I can to do that. His feces are liquidy at the moment. I think this is because of the liquid diet I have him on and the fact he hasnt properly eaten for a long time it looks like

 

[cricket4u]

I think I want to try to nurse him back to health. I just don't want him to suffer. If he's got a shot at being healthy then I'd like to do everything I can to do that. His feces are liquidy at the moment. I think this is because of the liquid diet I have him on and the fact he hasnt properly eaten for a long time it looks like

I meant once he is seen by a vet and treated for for any parasites or infection if present. He does need to be seen by a vet asap. If he has parasites, they will continue to steal all the nutrients, cause diarrhea leading to dehydration. Then there is no hope, so time is of the essence.

 

[Peanutshark]

I meant once he is seen by a vet and treated for for any parasites or infection if present. He does need to be seen by a vet asap.

I agree. I bringing him into a vet today. The offices aren't open on weekends so
I've had to wait a bit. I hope they don't tell me to put him down

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

Oh that gecko is in need of serious food and vet care.
When he poops take it put it in a ziploc bag and next day go to the vet for a fecal float exam. This will probably run you about 30-50 dollars.
But based on his size and appearance I suspect this gecko has parasites.

You should only take a vets advice for the time it was given, the same advice may work out differently for this gecko, but KEEP providing Flukers Repta-boost.

Try to entice him with:
calci-worms
crickets 1/2-3/4 of an inch size
silkworms-read these can get the pickiest geckos to eat

Please read the posts attached to my Leo Guidelines for full instructions about collecting fecal sample! It is extremely important to refrigerate the sample and take it to the vet's within 24 hours. Do NOT freeze the feces sample.

 

[panthergecko]

oops forgot to say refigerate the sample. I believe he went to the vet today hopefully he tells us what his vet reommeneded.

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

oops forgot to say refigerate the sample. I believe he went to the vet today hopefully he tells us what his vet reommeneded.

Edwin (?) ~

It is very important for us to be as thorough as we can when making recommendations on Geckos Unlimited. What we leave out can be crucial.

 

[panthergecko]

Yep, lol I figured it was known and that I HAD typed it. Guess after saying refigerate so much I forget.

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

Yep, lol I figured it was known and that I HAD typed it. Guess after saying refigerate so much I forget.

WE cannot forget . Almost need to be over-inclusive. Many people only read the latest posts on some thread.

FYI: When a person collects a fecal sample, but does not properly store that sample, then the sample is no good. "Direct smear" tests & "fecal float" tests are both recommended on the same sample.