iHerp Answers! mail us Problem? search Search       Create an Account, It's Free!
  Home > iHerp Answers > Possible Sand Impaction on Leopard Gecko?
Q: Possible Sand Impaction on Leopard Gecko?
Posted By:

Leiren

In Relation To:

Seven

Yikes,I'm feared that my new leopard gecko has sand impaction because of the sand substrate they were on at the petstore (I didn't know it was harmful until I read up on some stuff later when I got home).He is very skinny,still has not eaten since purchase and his stomach is very blue,but its also a light blue not purple/black like i've read up on other cases, and I do know they do have transparent skin as well so,again im not entirely sure this is the problem or not but I guess it doesn't hurt to ask,or be concerned a bit.

I mean is it supose to be blue even up into the side of him where his coloring begins and such?Also there is one tiny spot that is very bright blue/almost neonish.Basically though its a large amount of blue showing,width wise.


I've soaked him twice in warm water tonight,first time for maybe 6-9 minutes and another bath 3 hours later for about 20 minutes.I read that this was supose to help,in which I also read that olive oil will work as a laxative almost and help him pass some of it.If so,how much should I use and how should I give it to him?


lolz halp



p.s sorry my photo is not the best of quality,I tried outlining it to show you what areas I am talking about.If this is all just normal and maybe theres just some sort of other reason hes not eating,and that his organs are supose to be that blue,then please correct me.Like I said,i'm not completely sure and I just said "possible" in the title.I'm new to leopards.Thanks!


Points: 150
Topics: Digestive , Caging
Tags: Defecation, Impaction
Species: Lizards > Geckos > Eublepharis macularius
Administrative: Show/Hide

Author Comment 10/15/2008 4:54:56 AM

Leiren
Also,as seen in the pictures,my leopard gecko is extremly thin and very slow moving,and theres almost like holes in his armpits (no clue if thats normal or not). Could also parasites be likely as well?And if so,how would I treat them.Thanks again.
 
Member Comment 10/15/2008 1:51:47 PM

Riain
How long has it been since he's ate?

He does look rather thin in the pictures.

Being well aware of what leopard geckoes go through at petco, It does'nt sound too good.
 
Member Comment 10/15/2008 4:26:22 PM

JohnJohn
I have no experience with impaction, but have kept many Leos over the years.  I have kept mine on CalciSand and never had a problem.  Mine get gut loaded crickets twice a week, with calcium and vitamin dusting once a week.  They get meal worms every now and then and they gobble them up!  I think this gecko does look thin, especially his tail.  Sometimes they will not eat after being put into a new environment, or if they are stressed.  I usually recommend keep handling to an absolute minimum after moving into a new environment to minimize stress.  Keep the crickets coming, but make sure they are an appropriate size.

Sometimes it takes some time to bring guys like this back to health.  Just be diligent and keep your eyes on him.  But keep handling to a minimum as he settles in. 
 
Accepted Answer 10/15/2008 5:24:22 PM

Riain
Keep him off sand, Especially calci sand...

Calci sand poses both an impaction hazard and a Inhalation hazard, 

Here's a Material Safety Data Sheet on calcium carbonate, which is what calci sand is made up of.
http://www.jtbaker.com/msds/englishhtml/C0330.htm
 
Member Comment 10/15/2008 11:27:29 PM

slader2099
ok i have calci sand where if they eat it they wont get impaction i think but i would switch him on paper towels or get a reptile carpet. now gut load the crickets and put him on mealworms about once a week tht will fatten him up. dont handle him and let him get used to his enviroment. how old is he/she? or just feed him in a container although that might stress him out a little bit. just let him be and if hes hungry,hell go after and eat. it will eat if you do all these things, because i had trouble to.
 
Member Comment 10/15/2008 11:30:09 PM

TVR
I agree with the sand.  Newspaper or paper towels are best.  The blue spot is normal.
If he is new then it usually takes them a while to start eating.  He does look a little thin, but nothing too bad and the holes in the armpit are normal too.
 
Author Comment 10/16/2008 1:26:13 AM

Leiren
I have not had him on sand,however he was on sand at the petstore.As soon as I got him home I set him up in a 30 gallon,on paper towels.I have tried feeding him crickets as well,as he attempted to try to eat them,but it was almost like he was too slow,and missed everytime.I also put mealworms in a bowel for him,and he hasnt really noticed them or he just doesnt care for them.
 
Assisted Answer 10/16/2008 2:50:00 AM

aaron
>> he attempted to try to eat them,but it was almost like he was too slow,and missed everytime.
You know, now that you mention that, I am certain I've seen that behavior before with my leopards (I haven't had them for years) ... I remember getting frustrated, like "Eat it already, ya jerk!" .. If you can, try to get something in him ... go the tong route or maybe remove some legs from the cricket? I dunno ... having seen this behavior before, and not having to deal with an impaction, I think the presumed impaction might not even be a worry, might be more hydration and getting some food in his belly. I'd focus on that... if there's something impacting his digestive system, probably not much you can do... but you can work on getting him some food. JM2c
 
Member Comment 10/16/2008 3:46:14 AM

Riain
"he attempted to try to eat them,but it was almost like he was too slow,and missed everytime."

I have a part time job at a petco, and were required to keep the leo's on calci sand, i hate it...

Every once and awihle we'll have a gecko that gets thin like that, and stops eating, It can be hard to notice who's eating much unless I have the time to pull them all out and feed seperately (which of couse gets me bi**hed at by "the managment")

Its usualy pretty bad by the time I get them out and into the backroom infirmiry/quarantine.  I've had a few taken into the store vet aswell, The prognosis is usualy pretty grim,  but those leos also never have any interest in food.
The fact that your leo is trying to eat is definitly good.

It would be a good idea to keep the handling to a minimum, I'd pull the hind legs off all of the crickets you offer him, and you could even try offering some small waxworms to him.  (careful though, waxworms can be addictive to these guys)
 
Member Comment 10/16/2008 8:32:58 AM

erikapi
You can throw the crickets (in a bag) in the freezer for about 30 seconds or so. It will stun them, but once they start to warm up they will start moving again. That way he can get them slower. Just make sure not to leave the crickets in the freezer for too long, since it will kill them.

Also, you can try doing soaks in luke-warm water that is just deep enough to go to his shoulder, sometimes that will encourage them to poo or at least help hydrate him. I wouldn't do it too often, but it may help.
 
Author Comment 10/16/2008 8:33:22 AM

Leiren
hahaha Aaron just getting the mental image of you pulling off the legs of a cricket is hilarious.It's really funny though right before they attack the cricket,because their tail like flickers violently,or at least mine does.Still misses though,everytime.

Yeah and wtf gives with the cali-sand deal at Petco.The guy I purchased the gecko from said that their manager MAKES them put their leopards on sand because it looks nice.Well if thats the case,then what happens when some random kid walks in,sees the geckos on display with sand and thinks its safe for his geckos at home?I honestly wouldn't use sand though even if it was safe to use,just because its a pain to deal with and gets everywhere.I just dont ever want to deal with it again.hatehatehate.

But anyways back on subject,I will try the rip-legs-off cricket thing,and now that I think of it hydration might be it too,cause I dont really remember even seeing a waterbowl in the leopards tank.But then again,the other leopard that was in the tank with him had a really plump tail,but they could of just recieved him in a shipment though or something as well.I just really want my leopard though to eat a mealworm,or really to even notice them,then maybe I wouldn't stress out so much and maybe the blue that shows up will go away.
 
Member Comment 10/16/2008 9:00:01 AM

JohnJohn
I know a lot of people don't like sand.  I keep all my snakes on newspaper and that works great.  As far as sand goes, I've kept my leos on sand for over 10 years and have never had a problem.  They're fat and healthy and eat like pigs.  My collared lizards are in a 75 gallon tank with a layer of clay tiles and a few inches of cheap, clean, "play" sand.  They seem to be doing well with this, but I'm keeping my eyes on them.  Many of the people I know with colloareds and related lizards use play sand.  Newspaper and paper towels are fine, but I don't think sand is so bad.  At least I've never had a problem with it.  What I do hate is the plastic reptile carpets.  Especially the ones that are like little pads of plastic bristles.  The mesh type ones maybe not so bad but I think the plastic bristles are like walking on broken glass.  I don't think these plastic carpets do anything good for reptiles, but only appeal to the humans because they are green like grass.....plastic bristley jagged grass.  Just my opinion. 
 
Member Comment 10/16/2008 9:08:49 AM

JohnJohn
Lieren.  I noticed you said you put him in a 30 gallon tank.  That's pretty big for one little Leo.  Does he have good hide spots?  Moving to a new environment is stressful for any lizard until they adjust and settle in.  I think hide spots help them feel safe as they settle in.  I would think that he might adjust better and avoid stress if he has plenty of hide spots.  Also, make sure you have a good temperature gradient and have hides on both the warm and cool end of the tank.  Proper temps are important for eating and digesting their food.  I've seen some not eat well if the temps were off.  Either too hot or too cool can affect their behavior a lot.  Make sure you have a warm end and a cooler end.  All my Leos love their hide spots.  I have one that seems to really love those half-coconuts!  He sits inside sometimes and other times he sits right on top.  We call him "king of the coconut"!
 
Author Comment 10/16/2008 9:09:22 AM

Leiren
haha I dont like the reptile carpets,news papers or papertowels.Reptile carpets are rough feeling,news papers bleed when wet,and well papertowels dont look that great either but they're at least soft and absorb droppings and what not.Or something.Still not really a good point.Or something n stuff.
 
Author Comment 10/16/2008 9:14:22 AM

Leiren
Yes he has a cave,which he is in usually most of the day,and also some drift wood that I see him under every now and then.I have him under a 40 watt lamp,and I turn it off at night.I was planning on maybe getting another leopard,hence why I have the 30 gallon tank,but i'm not getting one anytime soon until I'm able to tell if hes a boy or girl,so I wont accidently get another male,and plus I'm not getting another leopard until his health has improved by like 100%.No need to stress him out even more.
 
Member Comment 10/16/2008 9:46:26 AM

JohnJohn
That all sounds good.  I would say just keep handling to a minimum, and keep the crickets coming.  And keep him hydrated.  I like frequent misting for dehydrated lizards.  Leos don't need a lot of humidity and you don't want to overdo that.  But he may be dehydrated as well.  And just be patient.  Sometimes it takes a while (like many months) for these guys when they've had a weak start.  Just have to be very patient and diligent.  It's always nice a year later to see them in better health.  I take in some rescues occasionally, and sometimes it's a long fight to get them back to health.  But always rewarding.  I'm not saying that pet store animals are always like "rescues".  I've seen some perfectly healthy snakes at some stores.  But the little Leos at Petsmart and Petco often look small  weak and dehydrated.  I've been tempted to take some of them home but have resisted.  The big chain pet stores are a tricky issue.  I've known some really decent people that work at some stores and also met many who are clueless or don't even care.  Good luck!  Let everyone know how it goes.
 
Member Comment 10/16/2008 9:48:47 AM

TVR
Was this one a Petco gecko?  That may explain why he is having problems.  I worked there for 3 months before I had to quit.  I pulled many dead leos. beardies and even cresteds, very surprising since cresteds are very simple to keep alive.  
They are known for having leos in very poor health, and since Chris is gone, their reptile knowledge at that store is very limited.

They do make the employees use sand.  It was recommended by their "company vet".  A lot of their care sheets need a major upgrade and better training for their "experts".  That's one big reason why I dont work there anymore.
 
Member Comment 10/16/2008 2:22:38 PM

Riain
"I dont like the reptile carpets,news papers or papertowels"

Regretably, even though you may not like those three have proven to be the safest available tank liners, that or shelf liner.

Though you have to be careful what type of reptile carpet you use, And I don't like them for snakes.

"I pulled many dead leos. beardies and even cresteds"

I'm slightly used to the dead leos and beardies, but have not had any problems with cresteds, (so far not a single one has died) granted, I also make a few minor concessions, I refuse to use that horrid reptibark.
the higher ups usualy don't notice. one of these days I'm seiriously considering going down to home depot and buying a fine grain washed playsand...


As for the cage setup, I'd add a second hide to the other side of the tank, and maybe even a moist hide in the middle, I probaly would'nt rely on spraying the leos, You don't want to add a RI or skin lesions to his list of problems.

One of the best natural substrates out there for leos is a mix of fine grain play sand, and loam, it firmens up, and the leos can't get a mouthfull of it when they go for crickets, it also does'nt get all over the crickets.

John John, Are you using calci sand for the leos? or Play sand?

I would'nt use calci sand with any living creature:
http://www.reptileguides.herpcenter.com/showthread.php?t=143
 
Member Comment 10/16/2008 3:24:31 PM

LokisKafka

Just putting this out there about carpet. I bought the zoomed carpet 2pack and put it in a heavy cycle in my washing machine with no detergent and only some vinegar. It came out really super soft and it doesnt irritate or pic my snakes scales. Its machine washable and made from recycled plastics blended with fibers. Plastics arent optimum but I worry about my snakes on wood substrates.  I see snakes on aspen all the time and they seem to do just fine but to me it isnt worth the risk. I dont want to be that one time it isnt fine.Im thinking there is just no perfect substrate. Simply someone needs to come up with a better substrate for reptiles. I guess since there isnt a real demand for this there isnt a development. i know my local newspaper uses vegtable based inks so im considering running it through my shredder and using that. so now all we need is an iherper to create the perfect substrate!

 
Member Comment 10/16/2008 4:39:11 PM

JohnJohn
I use plain old newspaper for all my snakes.  I don't shred it or anything, I just lay it down in about 4 layers.  This has always worked great for my snakes, it's cheap, it's easy to clean, it's recycling, and my snakes are healthy.  When they want to hide, they often just crawl under the newspapers.  I think newspaper would be fine for any lizards too, just like papertowels would be.  For my Leos I've always used sand...just my habit.  Sand is fairly easy in a little Leo enclosure, but would be a mess in a big snake tank.

If the economy gets a lot worse, I guess I'd start putting my lizards on newspaper so I can save money on sand. 
 
Member Comment 10/16/2008 5:51:23 PM

Joseph Jenkins
Ahh Riain i can see your anger that is why i enjoy working at a non-chain reptile shop.

If you use oil, you can give it 1-2 small small drops using an eyedroper.
If I were you, I would try stunning the cricket by pinching the head, so that your gecko has a slower target.
Also, if that doesn't work, it really needs hydration and nourishment, even though it isn't recommended by many, i would try feeding it some baby food.

Also, I wouldn't use carpets or news papers, the carpets can entangle toes, and you never know what a newspaper is made of.
 
Author Comment 10/16/2008 8:24:20 PM

Leiren
I dont have a eyedropper or anything,could I put the olive oil on his lip or something and maybe he would lick it off?
 
Member Comment 10/16/2008 11:14:18 PM

Riain
Like joseph pointed out, you have to be very careful about what types of carpets you use, I can't remember which type it is, but so far the best one i've found has been the type we sell at petco, its soft (as long as the right side is up) won't catch toes, and can be washed very easily.

As for newspaper, The best way in my opinion of that is to buy unprinted newspaper, this stuff is usualy pretty cheap (think about how much is used in a 35 cent newspaper)
Newsprint itself is very safe, but the ink could pose certain risks in certain rare cases. (and I would'nt use it for amphibians)

"Ahh Riain i can see your anger that is why i enjoy working at a non-chain reptile shop"

I would'nt call it anger, I actualy like what I do ,when I get to do what I was hired for  (I'm supposed to be the reptile CAS) 
I think there are some great independantly owned petstores out there, but i've also witnessed first hand how bad they can get aswell, While I do have alot of problems with the store, It can be nice to not have the person who really makes the profit off of the sales around (and hence why I still have my job, because I'm sure I'd have been fired by now otherwise)

Petco also has minimum standards for there reptiles, And if the managers enforce them, other then the overcrowding, the leos and beardies on sand, and the tropical geckoes on reptibark, they really are not that bad.

Leiren, for the eye dropper, Go to a CVS, or Walgreens, or any other pharmacy or even a vet office, and ask if you can have one of the syringes without the needle they use for feeding small animals and whatever other people use them for (it looks just like a needle without a syringe, and usualy has cc's printed on the side)

I've probaly had over 15 of these things Given to me at some point or another.
 
Member Comment 10/17/2008 12:02:05 AM

TVR
How long have you had him?  The best thing to do may be to return it and get one somewhere else.  There are leo breeders everywhere and they are usually a lot cheaper than Petco for a normal.
 
Member Comment 10/17/2008 12:36:13 AM

Joseph Jenkins
"I think there are some great independantly owned petstores out there, but i've also witnessed first hand how bad they can get aswell"

I don't know how any independant reptile shop can get "bad."   
Working at one, i know first hand how much we relly on the care and health for our animals.  

Small herp shops are great for the trade, many do outreach programs and raise the awareness of people about reptiles which in turn boosts the trade.  They also carry the great selections of herps that many chain stores aren't allowed.  Don't get me wrong, I'm not ratting on PetCo or PetSmart, I'm just saying their strongest point isn't exactly reptiles, and small shops fill that gap.

If u don't have any, i would try just puting a drop of oil on its nose before i try to hunt down eyedropers.
 
Member Comment 10/17/2008 12:59:56 AM

Riain
"don't know how any independant reptile shop can get bad. "

Trust me it's not a great sight, Disgusting cages, Little enough heat, dead animals, crowding, horrible living conditions.

The smaller mom and pop shops can can away with more (out in the open) then the "big guys".   
granted, some of the Best stores I've been in are Independently owned, but So have alot of the worst.

One store I was in (a reptile specific store), had a large Red tegu inside a 20 gallon long, the lizard had just enough space to switch which side of the tank its head was, they also had 3 sulcata tortises with horrible pyramiding also, incrediably cramped, The items in all the snake tanks consisted of a heat rock, a cheap hide, and a small dog bowl, nothing else.
I also managed to find at least 6 dead animals (2 anoles, 2 house geckoes, 1 baby leo, and a dead green tree frog, still in there tanks.  They had uncompatiable species together,
and to boot, The "specialists" were not very educated, and argued with me when I pointed out the flaws, I could keep going on...

Like I said there are alot of great independent herp stores out there, but there are definitly some downright horrible ones aswell.

Petstores exist to make a profit, and most, if not all, will take shortcuts to save money.

Most owners, no matter how much they do care, have to make concessions, and I doubt I'd get away with the things I do (switching out substrate, posting articles about the dangers of calcisand, reptibark, hotrocks.. sending people to home depot for most of there supplies, sending them to breeders for some animals, and all sorts of other things I can get away with at petco.

To be honest, most petco's and petsmarts, really should'nt bother with anything but cats and dogs, but money talks...
 
Author Comment 10/17/2008 3:20:39 AM

Leiren

Alright so,I found a dropper and washed it out,and gave Seven a drop of olive oil.Hopefully if there is something plugged up in him,that will flush it out.I guess all I can do now is wait,and see what happens tomorrow morning.I'm ordering some Rep Cal for him this weekend as well.I'm kinda confident now for some reason that he might be okay if I can get him to gain some weight in his tail and get him to eat at least one thing.If he doesn't at least improve or gets worst by next Weds i'll then have to consider taking him back to Petco,since I have a 2 week guarentee from what the guy told me,and I purchased him last Monday.Then again I may or may not,cause I really don't want to see him go back and be neglected again,or end up dying when he might of actually been recovering.I only paid 17 dollars for him btw.Which isn't really alot,but if it was like $79 or something,I would be going batshit crazy on the people.


Also since we're talking about independant petstores,ugh,all the ones here are horrid.There's this one petstore here called Troy Pets,and not only are her prices extremly high,she doesnt take care of anything at ALL.She basically just sells dead fish in bowls with  free diseases included,yay what a deal!Everytime I go in there she always has a "volunteer" standing around,ignoring all the customers,talking on a cellphone.Her baby iguanas are 40 bucks,and her baby beardies are $79.I never go there anymore,thank god.Everything I have purchased from her has died within 3 days,including a plant (wtf?).But then again,our Petsmart here is great.I just never really get a chance to go to it anymore cause its a bit of a drive,but i've never had a problem with them so far.

Also most independant petstores have snobbed me when i've asked them about something or if they could order me a certain type of animal,but then again others ive made the most awesome friends with,so it really just depends.I just don't like the independant pestores who think since they own the store that their customers should suck up to them,when isn't it supose to be the other way around?Don't people know how to run a business?haha

 
Member Comment 10/17/2008 11:00:15 AM

LokisKafka
I went to petsmart ( we dont have petco here) yesterday to get some general care items. My local small petshop doesnt even carry these things beccause he knows he cant compete with petsmart so he just focuses on other stuff. I took a look at the relativly small reptiles for sale there. The only have one endcap display full of reptiles. They had some gekos, some beardies, a couple ball pythons, some banana anoles a chinese water dragon. No body was on sand. The enclosures werent as big as Id like to see but again this isnt a lifetime display. The worst crowding i saw was 4 beardies in one enclosure. Most of the bedding was carpet, cypress, and aspen. The balls were in one of the foam inserts that looks like a tunnel and is flush with the glass for viewing wich seemed like not much of a hide but they didnt seem stressed either. The temps in the enclosures and humiditys were prominitly displayed and all looked like reccomended temps. I wouldnt give them an a+ but it was better than I expected to see. They all looked clean and cared for. So I have to say Im glad to know my local petsmart isnt that bad. I hate to think of animals suffering.
 
Member Comment 10/17/2008 12:02:52 PM

JohnJohn
Hey Leiren.  This has been a good thread.  Great to see al this discussion and great that you are being very diligent.  I would say deon't over do it with olive oil, or baby food, or force feeding, etc.  It is very possible that this lizard is just not eating well because he's  stressed from all his past and from moving to a new environment.  It might take some time before he settles in and feels comfortable.  I've had some that were not impressive eaters at first, and some stressed out ones that wouldn't eat at all, and eventually settled in and ate like pigs.  Be diligent and watchful, but be patient.  Sometimes the best thing to do is just leave them alone and wait.  (I know that can be frustrating because you feel like you really want to do something).  Be patient.  He'll probably come around and do just fine, but it always takes time.  Keep us all informed.  And thanks for the nice informative thread. 
 
Member Comment 10/17/2008 10:04:07 PM

Joseph Jenkins
Well i guess just like with reptile owners, there are good stores and bad ones.  But, the one i work at is amazing, we actually have people who work at petco and petsmart coming in because even with their employee discounts are prices are lower.  If your ever in the Huntsville/Madison Alabama area, stop by Animal Trax.
 
Author Comment 10/17/2008 11:11:20 PM

Leiren

Okay so I went to check on my leopard a minute ago,and I think he threw up what was ever in his stomach.He seems extremly alert now and doesnt appear to have a sleepy look on him.I put some more meal worms in his food bowl,but he doesnt seem to really care for them at the moment (I guess I wouldn't want to eat either if I threw up).Hopefully now maybe we can fatten this little guy up within a few weeks,and get him going :) Thanks everyone.

 
Member Comment 10/18/2008 12:58:53 AM

Riain
I Hope it was just something simple, Watch him closely and see how he does.

I Don't want to make it sound bad or anything, but keep an eye out for both:

Xanthomatosis.   
a disease believed caused by excess fat intake.  cholesterol forms in the abdomen and internal organs. possibly causing organ damage and usualy produceing a swollen abdomen, Though it's supposed to also cause pale masses in the abdomen area.  afflicted lizardwill lose their appetite and body weight (thinning tail) but will keep a large abdomen.

and

Cryptosporidium
 A type of protozoan parasite, transmitable to other animals (avian, herps, and mammals)  Geckos with this parasite are usually found with skinny tails and usually have diarrhea. Occasionally, the may also vomit.  There is no effective treatment for it.


It may be worth having a fecal done for his at a Reptile Specific Vet, You can usualy find a good one around you by using either http://www.herpvetconnection.com/ or http://www.arav.org/ECOMARAV/timssnet/common/tnt_frontpage.cfm


Hope it neither of those, And he gets better, but thought it would be better for you to know about both of them...
 
Author Comment 10/18/2008 1:23:09 AM

Leiren
Okay thanks,I will keep a eye on him still.
 
Member Comment 10/18/2008 8:01:07 PM

Joseph Jenkins
Good, keep us posted
 
Member Comment 10/5/2009 9:03:39 PM

bwaffa

This question has had no activity for 14 days and will be closed by an administrator unless the original poster takes action.

Recommended Action: Points awarded

An administrator will select responses and assign points at their discretion.

Original poster, please close this question out and assign points. If you have any further information in the resolution of your problem, please post it here so that others may learn from it.

 
Member Comment 9/28/2010 8:12:42 PM

aaron

The Sequel to the story. :(

You are not logged in. If you would like to participate (it's free!), you must log in, or Become a Member!
  

Member Login
Forgot My Password
Copyright ©2008, All Rights Reserved. iHerp, LLC | Terms of Use 5/2/2026 4:33:12 AM | 0.0.0.0