Question about Leopard Gecko's

[BigHerps]

I have 3 leopards that seem to be loosing their tail size.  I've kept their enclosure clean, kept their critters area clean, water changed every day.  What am i doing wrong.  Any suggestion's would be great.

Thanks,
          Jim Polacheck

[Monte]

Well, here's a couple things;
1) Temp - spam_temp plays an important part in digestion. spam_Hot side no more than 88 to 90 degrees - and obviously a cool side.

2) Have a fecal done. spam_If they are eating and still losing weight - they could have a parasite. Gather a fecal and spam_bring it to the vet to find out. spam_They might be able to prescribe the correct medication.

3) How much are you feeding them and are they eating? spam_I feed juvis every day and subs and adult every other day. spam_They eat crix and/or mealworms.

Let me know if there is anything you left out. spam_And good luck, bud! <img src="http://www.faunaclassifieds.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':D'>

[BigHerps]

Thanks for the reply Monte. &nbsp;I will check that out. &nbsp;They eat every other day. &nbsp;I keep the leopards at temps from 77 to 90 degrees. &nbsp;We had a really cold spell and the room i have them in might have got to 68/70. &nbsp;I'll change my heating arrangement and see if that helps. &nbsp;They have been eating good though. &nbsp;I appreciate the advise because i've never experienced this with the leopards before.

Thanks again, Jim

[Monte]

No problem. &nbsp;They can be maddening with this some time. &nbsp;

I wouldn't get too worried about the low temp - as long as it was temporary. &nbsp;They need to warm temp to digest, obviously - but a drop like that shouldn't hurt. &nbsp;

I have my leos in my basement - and let them drop to the low 70's frequently - they are fine.

Good luck and keep in touch.

[k2skaterguy]

another problem could be this... DID YOU BUY THE GECKOS FROM A PETCO OR PETS MART ? &nbsp; &nbsp;

Petco gets wild caught geckos most times. you can tell cause the color is extremly dark. &nbsp;l

eopards in the wild are very dark in color. &nbsp;You can't find a hypo tang. leopard walking aruond in the saudi arabia desert. &nbsp;If the geckos you got are dark and drabby in color then you just bought wild caughts from the middle east and have been in captivity for only about a week. &nbsp;give it some time for the wild caughts to adjust. &nbsp;and take a fecal sample to teh vet for a check up on parasites. &nbsp;parasites are a popular reason for a gecko not being able to store fat in their tail in captivity.

good luck,

justin <img src="http://www.faunaclassifieds.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':D'>

[franklinedwards60]

Justin,

You need to do more research on Petco. Thier Leopard geckos aren't wild caught. They may take bad care of them and sell hatchlings that haven't even had thier first shed, but they aren't WC. Yes some of thier animals are WC. But not thier Leos. As for your other post get off your high horse. Telling others to never get a WC animal is stupid. Where the heck did you think all the CB animals came from in the first place. That's right they were all once WC. Any reptile in captivity is better off then it was in the wild. 99.9% of the animals don't have external paracites like the ones in the wild. I need to stop before I rant forever. People like you get on my nerves. We all need to educate people not tell them not to get Herps. Frank

[CLG]

My personal opinion on wild caught animals is this. The wild populations of animals in there natural habitat should remain unmolested, if your purpose of buying wild caught versus captive bred is to just save afew bucks then you have a screw loose, I would like to know the percentage of animals that perish while in the hands of the collectors, importers, exporters. Im sure it has gotten better over the years but its still a travisty to kill an undetermined amount of animals just &nbsp;to get afew into captivity. The only time i think that animals should be taken out of the wild is to 1. establish a species in captivity. and 2. to diversify the captive gene pool. Thats it, personally i NEVER buy wild caught, I choose not to rape mother nature! Like i said these are just some of my personal beliefs.

Corey Greene

[CLG]

Whoops i got alittle off track there, sry, I agree you should have a fecal sample tested. A good way to fatten them up is to supplement their diet with afew wax worms every few meals. But go easy on them, that would be like us eating a big chuck of lard.

Corey Greene