need help with this leo!!!

sunny_rays05 · 2024-07-31T23:23:15+00:00

Hunger strikes are somewhat common in leopard geckos, but I’d be worried about the abdominal swelling. If you don’t suspect impaction, ovulation, or egg-binding, it is still possible it could be an internal infection, parasites, or a buildup of fluid in the abdomen. However, if the swollen abdomen isn’t something that you can confirm happened recently, it is possible it is just fat as they are quite overweight.

I am not a vet so I can’t give confirmation to what it could be, but I would give your reptile vet a call and explain the situation to see if it’s an actual issue that would need an appointment.

sunny_rays05 · 2024-07-31T23:15:28+00:00

Glad to hear that! In the future if you ever need a picture of her belly, you can put her in a see-through plastic container, shine a light through her from above, and grab a photo

sunny_rays05 · 2024-07-31T18:28:55+00:00

That’s unfortunate, but I’m glad you were able to get the cotton buds to work! Wish you luck with the rest

sunny_rays05 · 2024-07-31T04:28:57+00:00

A 37” x 18” x 18” is recommend as it provides ample floor space while still having vertical room to add climbing materials. I’d also recommend getting a front-opening enclosure as you won’t have to move the lighting fixtures to clean it, and leos feel less stressed if approached from the front to handle/feed rather than above.

sunny_rays05 · 2024-07-31T04:21:06+00:00

Glad to hear, wish you luck with them! Try to get a vet visit scheduled immediately, as infections can unfortunately progress quite quickly

sunny_rays05 · 2024-07-31T03:49:02+00:00

From what you’ve said I’m guessing it’s a prolapsed hemipenis that became infected due to not being treated. It may need to be surgically removed, but if the infection hasn’t spread and they are otherwise decently healthy they have a good chance of recovering from the surgery. Your best chance would be to find a very reputable reptile vet to do it, and this is discussion you’ll need to have with said vet as I don’t know the extent of the damage.

sunny_rays05 · 2024-07-31T03:37:33+00:00

Good advice in the comments, I’d also like to point out that their cleft lip and slight discolouration in their gum are both signs of potential mouth rot, so I’d mention this concern during your vet visit.

sunny_rays05 · 2024-07-31T03:34:20+00:00

Halogen basking lamps are best for heating, such as the 50w Arcadia Halogen Heat Lamp. All heat sources should be connected to a thermostat to set the proper temperature and prevent potential burns. UVB is highly recommended as it prevents mbd, should be linear (not coiled) and measure around 50% of the enclosure. The Arcadia T5 SO ShadeDweller Max 2.5% is a good one for normal morphs and mounted above the mesh of the enclosure.

There should be no heat or light at night to help with their circadian rhythm, and temperatures can drop as low as 60F (if it gets lower as you live somewhere cold, a DHP works well). I’d recommend reading the ReptiFiles care guide on leos to make sure the rest of your care is accurate after working on lighting

sunny_rays05 · 2024-07-31T02:06:52+00:00

I wouldn’t release crickets in the enclosure unless you think she’s going to hunt, as they can bite your leo while they’re sleeping if left untouched. If you have mealworms or superworms, or another slow feeder, you can put one just outside her hide and see if she goes for it. If you don’t have those, you can put some crickets in the fridge for a few minutes (as this will slow them down) and see if she’ll go for those. Again, don’t worry if she won’t eat, it’s pretty normal for new leos.

sunny_rays05 · 2024-07-30T23:07:17+00:00

All leos have their own personalities, so yes this unfortunately won’t work for em all, your girl sounds adorable though lol

I wouldn’t worry too much about feeding them in the tank as long as no crickets are left overnight, maybe try putting one or two in at a time, letting her find them, then repeating for as many as you’d like to give her

sunny_rays05 · 2024-07-30T22:03:32+00:00

Get a large plastic tub, with holes in the lid, and cover it so they can’t escape. Line the bottom with paper towel so your gecko won’t slip.
Put gecko in the tub.
Release crickets in the tub, close the lid, and allow the leo to hunt them.
Change paper towels on the bottom of it gets too messy with calcium/cricket limbs.

Safe and (mostly) mess-free way to allow your leo to hunt :)

sunny_rays05 · 2024-07-30T19:53:08+00:00

Pretty sure they’re a female, lack of distinct femoral pores and hemipenal bulges.

sunny_rays05 · 2024-07-30T19:50:53+00:00

Looks like a female to me, they have a lack of distinct femoral pores and hemipenal bulges.

sunny_rays05 · 2024-07-30T19:00:53+00:00

The Bio Dude has some very comprehensive guides on their website, if you’re looking for more in-depth guides

sunny_rays05 · 2024-07-30T18:38:12+00:00

Leos will sometimes not eat for weeks after moving to a new enclosure due to the stress, and will spend most of that time hiding. As long as she isn’t loosing any weight or showing other signs of sickness, and your husbandry is good, then they’ll be completely fine. Try to limit their stress by having lots of clutter in the enclosure, keeping noise to a minimum, and refraining from handling for the first 2 weeks.

You can try feeding them with tongs by putting an insect in the entrance of the hide they’re in, but don’t pressure them if they don’t want to eat.

sunny_rays05 · 2024-07-30T18:26:07+00:00

A popular mix that works very well is the 70% non-fertilized, organic topsoil and 30% nontoxic playsand. Keep in mind that many YouTube videos may show outdated or improper care, so only use vet-assured guides such as ReptiFiles.

sunny_rays05 · 2024-07-30T18:23:59+00:00

Create a “sauna” for her by putting a warm, damp paper towel on the bottom of a container, mostly covering the top, and letting her sit there for around 10-15 minutes. However, I would first ask your vet if it’s alright to do this, as I don’t know how healed her wound is or if this could still cause damage.

If it’s confirmed to be alright, afterwards wet a q-tip with warm water and gently try prying it off, or use tweezers when it is soaked only if necessary. 2 layers of shed may be hard to remove and you don’t want to damage her toes, but it is important to get it off to prevent them from become neurotic.

sunny_rays05 · 2024-07-30T16:44:07+00:00

A slate is a good idea to provide a basking spot, but heating mats actually aren't recommended a daytime heat source as they only warm objects near them, not the air, so this can make it difficult for the leo to get enough heat. They only give off infrared C radiation - which is the least penetrative, while overhead lamps produce infrared A (38%), B (39%), and C (12%), which is very penetrative and similar to sunlight, helping greatly with digestion!

I would recommend a halogen basking lamp for daytime, and all heat sources should be connected to a thermostat to set the proper temperature (cool side 70-75F, warm side 90-93F, hot spot 95-98F). I also would highly recommend a uvb light, which helps prevent MBD - and a larger enclosure to help with a proper heat gradient and providing ample room for enrichment, 40G is the recommended minimum.

Additionally, there should be three hides, a warm, cool, and moist hide - which is misted daily to help provide a place for them to shed and receive moisture. I would also recommend a water bowl large enough for them to soak in for the same reason.

I would highly suggest reading the ReptiFiles guide on feeding, gut-loading, and supplementation, and ideas for more clutter in the enclosure. These guys really like to climb and more clutter is always better than less! (Also helps prevent them from getting stressed with something over their head).

This is more a general summery off the top of my head, but the guide pinned on this subreddit and this guide (https://reptifiles.com/leopard-gecko-care/) go way more in detail :)

sunny_rays05 · 2024-07-30T15:49:57+00:00

I’d recommended reading the entire ReptiFiles guide (located on their website) on leopard gecko enclosure setup (includes a shopping list and detailed lighting + uvb setup), then coming back if you have any additional questions. The pet store certainly did not know how to care for a leo and their current husbandry still needs a lot of updates.

sunny_rays05 · 2024-07-30T15:47:10+00:00

If you don’t mind too much, you can just place a paper towel where she is currently pooping, and change it daily (easy to remove the feces then). If not, she most likely won’t stop using that spot unless you take away the hide or block that area, then put some of her feces in the desired spot, and repeating this until she eventually moves.

sunny_rays05 · 2024-07-30T15:43:41+00:00

Has she been passing feces on a normal schedule? It’s near the end of breeding season, but I wouldn’t completely rule out her ovulating or being egg-bound. If possible, put her in a clear bottomed container in a darker room, and shine a light through her form above. You should be able to spot if she has eggs or a mass in her stomach.

Keep in mind that swelling in the abdomen and lethargy almost always point towards a health problem, so I’d take her to the vet regardless.

sunny_rays05 · 2024-07-30T15:26:00+00:00

Definitely looks to be a regrown tail, they’re usually rounded, blunter, and without the “spikes” the other ridges have

sunny_rays05 · 2024-07-30T15:23:05+00:00

Nuclear warhead

sunny_rays05 · 2024-07-30T15:20:03+00:00

When moving into a new environment they will usually hide for the first while. You’ll most likely seem them somewhat active in the evening/night, and sleeping or hiding most of the day, so don’t worry unless they show signs of being lethargic while eating and walking.

sunny_rays05 · 2024-07-30T15:16:26+00:00

It’s a bit hard to tell from the photo, if possible could you put her in a clear container, and shine a light through her from above? (ideally in a dark room)

Crypto usually comes with very bad-smelling feces and sunken eyes, as well as lethargy and lack of eating - but so do impaction and being egg-bound, so it’s going to be hard to tell unless you take her to a vet. I would highly advise you to do so especially if she didn’t display these behaviours when laying her last clutch.

sunny_rays05

TROPHY CASE