Question
Mr Gecko
Hi my son has a fat tailked gecko who is app 3 yrs old... For the past 2 weeks he hasn't been eating. For the first week he wasn't shedding properly so I purchased Shed-Ease and bathed him in it twice a day.... I was able to remove the skin off his head but on his front feet it doesn't seem to want to come off no matter how much I soak him.... I have his tank at 80 and well sprayed twice a day.... I have given him banana baby food in which he was starting to eat but now isn't eating any at all. I have also tried Gatorade and have now switched to Gastrolyte.....He continues to lose weight and I have noticed that he won't open his eyes. If you could help me save this little guy for my son it would be greatfully appreciated..... He was a birthday gift for my young son. Thanks
AnswerHi Pam,
Mr. Gecko does indeed look unwell in the photo you attached. My first suggestion would be to raise his temperature a bit. If the 80F you mentioned is the warmest part of the tank then it is a bit on the low side, try to get it up into the 85 - 90 F range if you can. This will boost his immune system, potentially trigger his appetite and allow him to fully metabolize the nutrients that you are getting into him.
Retained skin on the feet usually has to be physically removed. Soaking it will soften it but you will almost certainly need to then roll it off his feet with your fingers or gently pull it away with tweezers after you have soaked it. In addition to being uncomfortable and likely even painful, retained skin on the feet can actually result in tissue death. Getting it off will certainly make the little guy a bit more comfortable at least.
His legs look a bit weak and somewhat folded under his body in the photo. Has his diet included supplemental calcium which would be a powder dusted onto his crickets? Calcium deficiencies result in reptiles becoming gradually weak and unable to feed as their bones become too soft to withstand the stress.
I also noticed what I assume are pieces of his substrate in the photo. It looked like wood chips and a couple of the pieces looked a bit red, I hope it is not cedar! The phenols produced by cedar are toxic to reptiles. There is always a a risk of accidental ingestion leading to intestinal impaction when a loose particle substrate like wood chips is used.Keeping him well hydrated (as it sounds like you are), with appropriate temperatures and calcium supplements ( which affects intestinal contractions) are your best options, outside of veterinary care. A couple drops of mineral oil added to his food can also help if impaction is suspected.
Fat tails are still frequently imported as wild caughts but even being captive bred does not eliminate the possibility if intestinal parasites. It is an extremely common problem with reptiles but would need a veterinary diagnosis and treatment. If you can acquire a stool sample and have a vet that will agree to examine it without the full medical exam on the gecko then the costs should be minimal.
I would continue with the fluid therapy and baby food, perhaps including some chicken based food as well. I'm sorry that I couldn't be more helpful or more specific. Closed eyes and lack of appetite are unfortunately very general symptoms displayed by reptiles when they don't feel well and doesn't reflect any particular condition.
I am hoping that Mr. Gecko can rally and pull through this.
I've included a link that can help you find a vet in your area that takes reptile clients.
http://www.herpvetconnection.com/
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