we have a male and 2 female leopard geckos. recently our male geckos abdomen has become slightly swollen and he has become reclusive and scampers away from the 2 females. he is still eating and the other 2 are very healthy and lively. we have been keeping an eye on them and there doesn't seem to be any bullying going on, any ideas?

Hi, what are you using for the substrate? If you use sand it can cause impaction (special repitle sand is ment to be ok), We had it in one gecko we rescused and he had a swollen abdomen, Also he wanted notting to do with his female

We were told by the pet shop that'd be fine, and our two females are fine. But I think you may be right. Looks like a trip to the vet....
Thanx for the advice, hope your gecko friends are all duin' fine.

Pet shops will encourage you to buy inappropriate products, never listen to their advise as pet shops too often sell sick reptiles and treat them inappropriately as they know very little about their care. I've also heard of too many reptiles dieing due to bad advise from pet shops, I'd only advise buying from reputable breeders.

Leopard Geckos are adapted to living on solid clay ground, not on sand so are prone to complications when housed on sand or other loose substrates. Switch immediately to kitchen towel, you could also use newspaper or reptile cage carpet.

By the discription given of the geckos behaviour I'd definately say impaction, make sure the gecko gets plently of fluids, daily warm baths may also help and very light massaging of the stomach to help shift the substrate from his system. You may also give him a drop of olive oil to help lubricate the GI tract, but only a drop.

A trip to the vets would be wise to help establish how bad his condition is. Hope he gets better, good luck!

__________________

If people read up on the reptiles they were purchasing then half the reptile owners in this country wouldn't be having as many problems. There is a BIG difference between a bog standard pet shop that sell reptiles and an actual reptile specialist.

I go to the best reptile shop and would highly recommend the trip if you can get to Leeds in West Yorkshire. Its called Tyrannosaurus Pets. The staff in there are fantastic. They would never sell an animal to somebody that hadn't done proper research, they always make sure their animals are in the best health possible before they are rehomed. Their knowledge is perfect...very very good reptile shop.

I personally would use either newspaper, lino tiles or beach chipping. I have two leos and they are both very fit and healthy. If you keep your leo in a R.U.B I would use newspaper but if you keep the little fellow in a viv I would defo go for the lino tiles.


Lottie