Leopard gecko ill

Question
My daughter purchased two leopard geckos 7 days ago. Last Sunday from a pet store. The one was unlike the others with very nice markings but he was a little smaller than the rest. We got him as we felt bad for him. He seemed to be what you would call, "the runt of the litter".
They are pretty small being just babies. The smaller one has eaten crickets but not as much as the bigger guy. He is also drinking water regularly as well. He seemed to loose a little weight since we got him and we are now really worried as his tail looks smaller too. We are waiting to hear back from our vet as it is Sunday so we could only email him.
I think he has a bit of a cold because I thought I saw a bubble of fluid in his nostril the day after we brought him home. We have owned a very happy and healthy bearded dragon for almost two years now so we are caring for the gecko properly and their tank is nice and warm. I added a heat light the other day when I noticed the nostril bubble to increase the temperature in their tank. He has been staying near the heat source a lot as if he finds it soothing and likes the extra heat.
We have some chlor palm antibiodic that was prescribed for our pet rat and I thought our gecko would benefit from a little of that as well. I asked our vet in the email about that but we are still waiting to hear back.
Do you recommend giving him a little of the chlor palm? With the temperature increase in his tank and the medication I think he would benefit from it as it seems to be a cold.
Thank you

Answer
Hi Eileen,

I rarely hear of chloramphenicol being used anymore either in veterinary medicine or in my work in human medicine, due to its toxicity. It can be affective against mycoplasma which is likely why it was prescribed for your rat. Mycoplasma pneumonia is extremely common with them.

I would not try myself nor would I suggest trying to dose such a young animal with chloramphenicol but rather wait for your vet's response which hopefully will come today. There are several far safer antibiotics to use. It does sound like a respiratory problem and you have done exactly the right thing by increasing the heat. That will boost his immune system which in some cases can be sufficient on its own to turn the situation around.

The fact that he has been eating is a good sign. That and your prompt response with the added heat and veterinary care all bode well for his recovery.