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Posts: 4 Joined: 16-April 08 Member No.: 26,786 |
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#1
Apr 16 2008, 11:12 AM
Help. I have a few questions for my new White Lined Gecko I got 3 weeks ago. It is getting skinnier everyday. I have not see him eat one cricket or waxie. I tried hand feeding him waxies (I wont touch a cricket), and nothing. He likes to lick pineapple slices when I hold it for him. I have tried different sized crickets, his tank is warm (92ish degrees). Any suggestions
Another big problem is that the bottom of his feet are damaged. He was fine when we got him, but now he can't climb walls, windows, etc. I can even see then bottom of his feet are turning darker and one toe is brownish now and I see him putting it in his mouth. Will they eventually heal if we leave him alone? He likes to be handled and doesn't like to go back to his cage when I am holding him. |
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Posts: 502 Joined: 15-September 06 From: rural Oklahoma Member No.: 18,083 |
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#2
Apr 16 2008, 07:23 PM
Too hot! The range sound be closer to 82-85F with only a small area actually getting up to 92F.
You need to have a digital thermometer with a probe, or preferably one with a hygrometer too. The problem with the feet sounds like it could be stuck skin/shedding problem -you need to know the humidity and correct any problems with it. I believe humidity should be around 65-75%(?), mist the cage in the evening. How are you providing heat? Depending on how it's provided.. the gecko could have burnt it's feet. Stop handling it. These are typically not a very handleable gecko and that this one lets you means it's either ill, weak, or very stressed. You can try taming it some later after you've had it for a few months, by then it should have probably figured out that you = food to some extent. What size is the cage and how is it set up? It should have a fair amount of space, at least a 20 tall or preferably larger. Lots of fake foliage and branches so it can hide, try covering the sides and back if using a normal aquarium or if it's mesh toss a piece of dark cloth over part of it. This makes flighty geckos feel a lot less exposed. Moving it to a quiet room where other pets (if you have any) and people will leave it alone could be helpful. You could try getting some crested gecko diet and mixing it with baby food (peaches and apricot seems to be gecko favorites) and offering a little bit of that in a milkcap daily along with one or two crickets - until it starts eating better. My guess is that if you get the temp and care fixed ASAP, and give it a break from handling that your gecko should start eating. |
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Posts: 4 Joined: 16-April 08 Member No.: 26,786 |
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#3
Apr 17 2008, 05:41 PM
Well now I'm sad. I have moved the light to one side of the cage. I have a 10 gallon tank with bark, climbling thingie, half of hollow tree duhickie and fake folage. I have it set up just as the pet store did. I have the overhead lights that sit on a mesh top. one red and one white. I alternate for day and night. Can I totally turn off the lights at night of my house is at 72 degrees?
One good thing is I saw him stuck to the side of the glass. Now I hope he can recover. My kids and I would be CRUSHED if he died! |
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Posts: 502 Joined: 15-September 06 From: rural Oklahoma Member No.: 18,083 |
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#4
Apr 17 2008, 07:49 PM
A 10gal really isn't large enough. Start shopping around, maybe you can find a deal on something larger soon. Using a bigger cage will let you make a better temperature gradient as well. The cage setup doesn't sound bad, but don't always go by what you see in a pet store, their goal is to sell their animals as quickly as possible - not keep it in a healthy proper environment for the next 10-15 years.
72F is within the suggested night time range of 70-75F, so the temp drop should be fine. |
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Posts: 4 Joined: 16-April 08 Member No.: 26,786 |
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#5
Apr 17 2008, 08:36 PM
I love that my thirty dollar gecko along with it's accesories costs more than my second car. LOL. I welcome all the input and suggestions I get. Hey, if "Spidy" dies, what is a reptile that doesn't get too big that likes to be handled?
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Posts: 2,744 Joined: 18-March 06 From: Wisconsin Member No.: 15,061 |
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#6
Apr 18 2008, 04:30 PM
Let's not jump to conclusions yet about his death. You need to try different stuff to get him eating. Try fruit and chicken babyfoods mixed together. Just to get something into him, you know? And yes, that's the problem people usually have is that they get a reptile thinking it's going to be cheap, but the setup is quite expensive. Very normal.
I'd check craigslist.org or your local classifieds to find a bigger tank for cheap. And about the setup... just because the petstore had it set up that way doesn't mean it's right. Believe me. Most petstores don't know a darn thing, they just want you to buy their products. But we know lots of ways to save money. So, get those temps down to a better range. Leave the lights off at night and get that humidity up for now. Then leave the dishes in there for him to eat. If you can get a poop sample out of him, I'd suggest getting at least that to the vet to get checked for parasites. -------------------- ![]() |
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Lo-Fi Version | Time is now: 5th July 2008 - 07:16 AM |







Apr 16 2008, 11:12 AM




The cage setup doesn't sound bad, but don't always go by what you see in a pet store, their goal is to sell their animals as quickly as possible - not keep it in a healthy proper environment for the next 10-15 years.


