| When you have a leopard gecko it can be very | | | | pick it up, but it has now become very still and flops |
| difficult to even realize that there is anything wrong | | | | over in your hand, then something is not at all right. |
| with it, especially if you're not used to working very | | | | What do you do when your leopard gecko becomes |
| closely with it. However, there are some subtle signs | | | | ill? You could take it to a veterinarian who specializes |
| that you need to watch out for, especially during the | | | | in reptiles, but these are very difficult to find and |
| first twenty-four months of its life. This is a time | | | | may not be available in your area. Before you even |
| when geckos are at their most vulnerable, being | | | | purchase your gecko, you should check for one. If |
| young and not quite fully developed. | | | | you are fortunate enough to have such a vet in your |
| The biggest indicator of a problem is when your | | | | area, be sure to call them up and ask if they are |
| gecko stops eating. If you find that it isn't touching | | | | willing to accept new patients. |
| its insects, you will need to act promptly. Don't worry | | | | Most of the problems that affect geckos are |
| if it doesn't eat for one or two days; geckos aren't | | | | brought about by malnutrition, impaction, stress or |
| supposed to eat every single day. Start to worry if | | | | parasites. Prevention is the best cure, but if your |
| they refuse to eat for a full week. Left too long, you | | | | leopard gecko does happen to become infected with |
| will eventually notice that its tail seems to shrink in, it | | | | parasites, he can still be treated, although it will cost |
| starts dropping weight and appears to be very | | | | you a trip to the veterinarian. Otherwise, check the |
| skinny. A sick gecko is also a lethargic gecko. If your | | | | enclosure to make sure the temperature is set right, |
| animal was once feisty and moved a great deal | | | | make sure it's not being stressed by other animals, |
| about its cage, or if it moved a lot when you tried to | | | | and make sure that it's not eating loose substrate. |