Starved leopard gecko

kellymack515 · #1 (**permalink**) 01-06-2009, 11:24 PM

Okay so on Saturday at work we were looking for a ball python that had gotten loose and not only did we find the python, but we also found an albino leopard gecko that had escaped a few weeks back. They say she only disappeared two and a half weeks ago (I've only been here for 2 weeks) but her state says otherwise. I've asked if I can take her home to rehabilitate her because to be honest I don't trust everyone to be as attentive with her as we need to be considering her state. As far as I know, she's eaten ONE cricket since we found her. She just opened her eyes today and I'm really worried about her. They flat out refuse to let me bring her home, even if I promise to return her when she's well and even though she's not in our inventory (she was written off as dead the day after she escaped). Can anyone offer any advice on getting her to eat? I have some Repashy CGD - could I feed her that? I've got to be honest, I'm incredibly tempted to simply take her and darn the consequences. She's a sweetheart and it truly pains me to see her like this... ANY help at all would be greatly appreciated.

Icicle · #2 (**permalink**) 01-06-2009, 11:49 PM

Ahh poor thing, I simpley to them if they have written her off as dead and no longer in the system, and since you found her, she is yours for the taking.
and of coarse you were off duty when you found her Right.

kellymack515 · #3 (**permalink**) 01-06-2009, 11:52 PM

Unfortunately it was not I who found her. I wish it had been. I'd have stuck her in my pocket and been on my merry way.

Icicle · #4 (**permalink**) 01-07-2009, 12:01 AM

Oh, take her out and turn her on her back, and show the manenger that she died, then take her out back and stick her in your pocket.

XxPython_ChicxX · #5 (**permalink**) 01-07-2009, 12:03 AM

Buy her? I mean she cant be that much right?

kellymack515 · #6 (**permalink**) 01-07-2009, 12:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by XxPython_ChicxX

Buy her? I mean she cant be that much right?

$90... And they won't sell a sick animal... "It's against policy." UGH. I want to throw policy out the window!!

Icicle · #7 (**permalink**) 01-07-2009, 12:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kellymack515

$90...

Dang, Petco sells them for $24.99 for norn's

XxPython_ChicxX · #8 (**permalink**) 01-07-2009, 12:04 AM

=( If i had the money id buy her ...and if i lived close

XxPython_ChicxX · #9 (**permalink**) 01-07-2009, 12:05 AM

That really sucks.....well i hope she gets better

kellymack515 · #10 (**permalink**) 01-07-2009, 12:05 AM

Regular leopard geckos go for $29.99. Albinos go for $89.99...

kellymack515 · #11 (**permalink**) 01-07-2009, 04:03 AM

Anybody have any hints?

KentLowe93 · #12 (**permalink**) 01-07-2009, 04:40 AM

How much do you care about this gecko? what is more important to you your job or this gecko? because it would be taking a chance to try and get it. I cant tell you what to do because it is your personal choice but another dead animal just makes pet stores worse and breeders better. It is really a shame that the pet store wont give it to you (a great pet owner) when they will let it die for sure

LukaTisus · #13 (**permalink**) 01-07-2009, 05:18 AM

I would suggest some sort of protein mash, some people use chicken baby-food, but use a syringe and very gently feed it to her bit by bit with it, just small bits at first, get her used to eating and get at least something in her. Mix a bit of calcium and perhaps some probiotics if you have it handy..

Try plucking the legs off of the crickets so she'll be able to catch 'em easier, too. This is all I've got off the top of my head for now, hopefully you can help the little one.

Good luck!

BlackLava · #14 (**permalink**) 01-07-2009, 05:23 AM

if it were me, i would syringe feed it some warm baby food :/ then once it perks up some, he should be able to eat more on his own. poor thing....im glad i dont work at your place LOL, they would drive me nuts

kellymack515 · #15 (**permalink**) 01-07-2009, 12:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KentLowe93

How much do you care about this gecko? what is more important to you your job or this gecko? because it would be taking a chance to try and get it. I cant tell you what to do because it is your personal choice but another dead animal just makes pet stores worse and breeders better. It is really a shame that the pet store wont give it to you (a great pet owner) when they will let it die for sure

I care about that gecko a lot. But losing my job would mean losing a source of income to care for my own animals and that's not something I can risk.

Quote:

Originally Posted by LukaTisus

I would suggest some sort of protein mash, some people use chicken baby-food, but use a syringe and very gently feed it to her bit by bit with it, just small bits at first, get her used to eating and get at least something in her. Mix a bit of calcium and perhaps some probiotics if you have it handy..

Try plucking the legs off of the crickets so she'll be able to catch 'em easier, too. This is all I've got off the top of my head for now, hopefully you can help the little one.

Good luck!

Awesome idea on the baby food! I think we might have probiotics too. I've tried the cricket thing... Just doesn't work.

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlackLava

if it were me, i would syringe feed it some warm baby food :/ then once it perks up some, he should be able to eat more on his own. poor thing....im glad i dont work at your place LOL, they would drive me nuts

Oh yeah. You'd go nuts lol. EVERYTHING is "by the books." They won't let me feed her anything but crickets and worms so I'll have to sneak the baby food in to her. Ugh.

fuglyfarmhand · #16 (**permalink**) 01-07-2009, 08:37 PM

Ok be a sneak and open the cage. Put said geko in pocket and leave. By the time they notice it'll be gone. Next if it does come to hey you got it deny it all the way. All ya have to do is not be there when the place opens or closes. Not tellin ya to do it but that's what I'd do. Bring the geko home and get it better.

Sakara · #17 (**permalink**) 01-07-2009, 08:47 PM

go in on one of your days off... wear a hoodie... play with gecko... put gecko in hoodie pouch... go play with a snake or something... leave... take care of gecko

haha

Sakara · #18 (**permalink**) 01-07-2009, 08:50 PM

and it makes me mad that they don't even care about one of their animals being in that kind of condition... if they wrote it off as dead then they shouldn't even care if u take it... That's sad that they would rather let it die then have someone take it home who is willing to take care of it and get get it back to health...

kellymack515 · #19 (**permalink**) 01-07-2009, 09:25 PM

The problem with just taking it is the gecko is kept in our sick room which is locked. That and she's in a critter keeper, inside a 20 gallon tank, with a heat lamp on top of it. There's NO WAY she'd ever be able to get out of that in her current condition. On a more positive note, they're taking her to a vet today. I hope he'll be able to help... What really sucks is I'm off the next three days... I talked to my manager again and told her what kind of care the gecko would require and said I'd be more than happy to bring her home and get her better. She said she'd talk to the store director about it. *crosses fingers*

John_White · #20 (**permalink**) 01-07-2009, 09:26 PM

This product has worked wonders for me:
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