Why is my leopard gecko bloated, not eating, and seems miserable?

Thanks for reaching out about Crystal. Unfortunately can not give you an answer, as a veterinary visit would be needed for a diagnosis. Try a shallow warm water bath for 5-10 minutes to see if this will stimulate defecation. If truly constipated, an enema might need to be performed at the vet, and at then a fecal sample can be checked for parasites. Good luck.

This may be due to liver/gall bladder infection, impaction/constipation or parasites. This gecko may be quite ill and should be examined by your veterinarian or a vet experienced in treating reptiles. Submit a stool sample ot diagnose intestinal parasites. Soak Flavio in a warm 50/50 solution of water and unflavored PediaLyte. This will warm him up and provide hydration. If he perks up, offer Fluker's Repta Boost. You can find it in the local Petco. Maintain proper environmental parameters and have him seen by your vet as soon as you can. Review leopard gecko care at the link below. http://www.reptilesmagazine.com/Care-Sheets/Lizards/Leopard-Gecko/

This could be his organs or an impaction/constipation. Without an exam, it is difficult to determine which it is. Soak Macko in a warm 50/50 solution of water and unflavored PediaLyte for 20-30 minutes. Massage his abdomen, front to back, during the soak to stimulate defecation. Do this every other day. In between, confirm proper environmental parameters in the enclosure. Low temps will affect appetite and digestion in reptiles. Offer appropriately sized prey, no bigger than the space between the eyes. You can feed a mic of crickets, mealworms, dubia roaches and phoenix worms. Gut load all prey for 24 hours prior to offering to maximize nutritional value. This can be done by feeding them high protein baby cereal, tropical fish flaked and fresh greens. Dust with a multivitamin and a calcium/D3 supplement. Pick up some Fluker's Repta Boost from the local Petco. Look in the reptiles section. You can use this to get some nutrition and calories into Macko. If he doesn't begin putting on weight though, you will need to have him examined by your veterinarian. Submit a stool sample to diagnose intestinal parasites or bacterial overgrowth. You can review leopard gecko care at this link: http://www.anapsid.org/leopardgek.html

Thanks for reaching out about Pinky but the picture is un-recognizable and out of focus. A distended stomach is a possible obstruction, maybe from the chewed paper towels. If distended for a month, a veterinary visit is highly recommended. Try offering a shallow warm water soak, which might encourage defecation. Still, see a veterianrian. Good luck.

I think that you are right to be concerned about Geo. With the previous lack of humidity and inappropriate husbandry, I would be worried that she may have an impaction. When impactions occur in the intestinal tract or colon, it does not allow additional food to pass through the intestines. This eventually will lead to regurgitation. This is a common finding in geckos that have not had appropriate husbandry. The regurgitation may also be due to her not feeling well - just like when we get sick, reptiles can become nauseous. This is less of a specific sign and can be due to numerous diseases. I would recommend taking Geo in for evaluation by a veterinarian. They can perform a thorough physical examination and see if they suspect an impaction based on palpation of the coelom (feeling the belly). Depending on what they find, they may recommend diagnostics or treatments for Geo. I know that you have already increased the humidity, but it may also be a good idea to soak Geo in 85-90 F water for 15-20 minutes twice daily. This may encourage her to drink (although many leopard geckos do not like to soak, even though it is good for them :) ) and hydrate. I hope this gives you a place to start, and I hope that Geo feels better soon!

He may have a retained eye cap which could be the cause of those symptoms. Check temps in the cage. Low temps may affect appetite and activity in reptiles. Soak him in a warm 50/50 solution of water and unflavored PediaLyte for 15-20 minutes. This will provide warmth and may treat or prevent minor dehydration. It may also help is he has any residual shed. You can also massage his abdomen, front to back, during the soak to stimulate defecation. I see you use sand as a substrate, so an impaction is always a concern. Pick up some Fluker's Repta Boost or Oxbow Carnivore Care from the local pet store. This is a better option than baby food. If he doesn't start eating in the next few days or if the eye does not improve, have him seen by your veterinarian or a vet experienced in treating reptiles.

These signs could be caused by a fecal impaction, which is a fairly common problem in leopard geckos. There are different ways to resolve it. You can try to increase the temperature inside the cage (up to 97F°) to increase metabolism or you can try to give her a luke warm water bath twice daily or give her 1-2 drops of mineral/olive oil once daily for 3 days to provide laxative effect and lubrication. If the signs do not resolve a check up would be then necessary. Please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further.