This article is tagged to be infromative to veterinarians too. The information is not a substitute for advice from your veterinarian.

Nutrition support in Leopard geckos is often required in the case of anorexia or inability to eat. It is often used as part of a medical treatment plan until such a time food consumption has returned to normal.

Introduction

Refusal to eat and weight loss are often seen in Leopard geckos due to ill health and other medical conditions. Correct nutrition during, and after, diagnostics and treatment can significantly shorten recovery times and even be life-saving. It will help to gain the weight that was lost, allow growth and to maintain hydration. Nutritional support is often instigated by the attending veterinarian, but can continue long after the patient has been discharged. Although nutritional support should only be instigated in hydrated patients, hydration requirements will often be met by feeding.

Important nutritional factors for Leopard geckos include the timing and duration, type of nutrition, energy composition (calories), feeding volume and frequency and method of administration (feeding methods).

Timing and duration

Nutritional support in Leopard geckos are indicated during times where there has been or will be, prolonged periods of starvation. It becomes life-saving in cases where there is weight loss. Depending on the reason for starvation, the duration of nutritional support might be anything from temporary (i.e. days in the case of clinical helminth/worm infestations) to life long (e.g. force-feeding of poor eating Cryptosporidium infected Leopard geckos). Stomach and assist feeding (see later) might have to be continued after discharge. Nutritional support is usually ceased when the patient starts to eat voluntarily.

In a clinical situation where there the patient is severely emaciated and dehydrated, hydration needs to be corrected before feeding is started.

Type of nutrition

Leopard geckos are considered insectivorous, but carnivorous diets can also be used. Some authors prefer to start enteral feeding severely emaciated patients with electrolyte solutions such as half-strength Pedialyte (74 kcal/200ml) or Gatorade (80 kcal/350ml)⁽³⁸⁾. This is done for several days⁽³⁸⁾, given at 20 – 30 ml/kg/per day⁽²³⁾. These solutions can also be used to dilute food. After enteral feeding, Leopard geckos can be fed blenderized insects (e.g. as fed ‘gut-loaded’ crickets[1 375 kcal/kg ]⁽⁸⁾), or Emeraid Intensive Care Carnivore (5.14 kcal/g dry weight), Clinicare Feline (1 kcal/ml) or Carnivore Care (24 kcal/Tbsp).^(23)(38) With limited resources, Hill’s Prescription Diet a/d (183 kcal/156 g can) at a 50% dilution was used with success (author’s experience).

Energy composition (calories)

The energy required for maintenance (aka “standard metabolic rate” or SMR) in reptiles is calculated as 10 x (BW[kg])^0.75) per day. For example, a 50 g Leopard gecko has a SMR of 1 kcal/day. The SMR also needs to be adapted for additional energy requirements (illness, growth, etc.). This is done by multiplying the SMR by an estimated illness factor of between 0.2 and 4.0⁽³⁸⁾. The starting point for total energy requirements (TER) will be at 20 – 25% (see below).

Feeding volume

When it comes to the volume of nutrition, guidelines include ~15 – 30 ml/kg/day (1.5 – 3% BW). It is preferable that the total energy requirements (see TER above) is appropriately diluted, initially using electrolytes and later water, to meet the volume criteria. The daily volumes are best divided into several small meals spaced evenly over 24 hours⁽³⁸⁾. The starting point for volume will be at

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Leopard gecko quarantine introduction

Quarantine is defined as a state or place of isolation or keeping separate from others. Its function is to prevent diseases from being transmitted from one Leopard gecko to another, or to humans.

The health status of newly acquired Leopard geckos is usually unknown. It is often difficult to diagnose certain diseases before clinical signs are present. Some diseases are subclinical, meaning that there might be no visible or measurable signs of ill health. This means that chances are that even a healthy-looking Leopard gecko might have a contagious disease at the time of purchase. To prevent exposing other reptiles, and even humans, to potential diseases, newly acquired Leopard geckos can be quarantined.

Quarantine principles can also apply for the isolation of Leopard geckos that are known to be sick or injured.

When a Leopard gecko or an enclosure mate has been diagnosed with a contagious disease, chances are that that disease will spread. By separating healthy and sick Leopard geckos from each other, disease transmission is reduced. If done early enough, transmission can even be prevented. Even if the disease has been transmitted already, its further spread can be prevented by quarantine. While in isolation, treatment, management and monitoring protocols can be applied.

Injured Leopard geckos are isolated to allow for rest during the recovery period.

Also see
Tail injuries in Leopard geckos
Leopard gecko bite wounds

Quarantine can also refer to the period the isolation is enforced. Because some diseases in Leopard geckos might take weeks to months to show clinical signs, the quarantine period is often enforced for up to six months.

Common diseases and conditions that can be prevented by enforcing quarantine include:

• Adenovirus infections
• Cryptosporidiosis
• Mite infestations
• Helminths

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Infectious vs. contagious diseases

Many Leopard gecko diseases are infectious and/or contagious in nature. Infectious diseases are those that infect the body. They are caused by micro-organisms such as bacteria, viruses and protozoans. Not all infectious diseases are known to spread or to be transferred between individuals, but if they can, they are called contagious. The correct quarantine protocols will prevent the spread of contagious diseases.

In Leopard geckos, one of the more important infectious diseases is cryptosporidiosis (Cryptosporidium spp.). This disease is also highly contagious and can spread between many reptile species. Cryptosporidium can be transferred to humans and between Leopard geckos through infected faeces.

Adenovirus infection in Leopard geckos is rare but is also highly contagious. It is believed to spread through infected faeces and respiratory droplets and readily transferred between Leopard geckos.

Salmonellosis is an infectious disease in humans that can be transmitted from reptiles. Although strictly not infectious, helminths (worms) and mites (Ophionyssus & Hirstiella spp.) can also spread from one Leopard gecko to another.

Also see
Cryptosporidiosis in Leopard geckos
Mite infestations in Leopard geckos

While some diseases are ‘visible’, others might be ‘silent’. Clinical signs are signs that indicate disease. Common clinical signs include weight loss, anorexia (a refusal to eat) and regurgitation. There are many others. Most diseases will be associated with clinical signs, which can be used by, for example, a veterinarian, to make a diagnosis.

Some diseases will show no clinical signs — called subclinical diseases. Some subclinical diseases are still contagious.

More commonly, some diseases will take time to show clinical signs. Although many of these diseases can already be transferred to other individuals, the individual shows no signs of ill health, yet.

Some diseases are transferred from asymptomatic carriers. Salmonella, for example, can be transferred from reptiles to humans, although reptiles will not get sick (or show any clinical signs) from it. Adenovirus and Cryptosporidium infections can also be spread from asymptomatic and subclinical carriers.

Also see
What to look for in a healthy baby Lepard gecko

The quarantine period

Now that it has been established that all newly acquired and disease-exposed Leopard geckos should be quarantined, it is time to look at how long the quarantine period should be.

As mentioned earlier, some conditions and diseases will take time to become apparent and show clinical signs. This is often called the incubation period. Each disease/condition will have its own incubation period. The recommended quarantine period for a Leopard gecko is determined by the diseases that would take the longest to show signs (i.e. has the longest incubation period). When an animal is free of disease after the quarantine period (i.e. didn’t show any signs of disease during the quarantine period), it can be released from isolation.

The quarantine period is also often used as the period the animal needs to be disease-free (e.g. mite-free). When a Leopard gecko has been diagnosed with a disease or condition, it needs to be quarantined/isolated until the disease has been treated and/or it cannot be transmitted anymore. In these cases, the quarantine period will also refer to (or extended with) the minimum period where no more signs were visible.

Although some established breeders will quarantine newly acquired Leopard geckos for up to a year, most literature suggests between one to six months. Three months seems to be recommended frequently and will allow the identification of clinical signs for Adenovirus infections.

If, for example, a mite infestation is the only concern then a short 6 week quarantine period will be enough to be able to identify them. This is also the time a Leopard gecko needs to be mite-free after treatment before it should be released from isolation.

The author typically recommends a quarantine period for Leopard geckos and other reptiles of at least 6 months.

When certain diseases were diagnosed, it will be advisable that quarantine (or isolation) is applied life long. Some of these diseases in Leopard geckos include Cryptosporidium and Adenovirus infections.

In the case of injuries and tail loss, the affected Leopard gecko should be isolated as long as it takes for the injury to heal. In the case of autotomy (“tail drop”) this period can be between five to eight weeks⁽³²⁾.

The quarantine enclosure

Although the most important quarantine principles are isolation and its period, the quarantine enclosure should also be considered.

Each Leopard gecko should be isolated separately in its own ‘quarantine enclosure’. This enclosure should contain all the basic housing requirements for Leopard geckos, but preference should be given to hygiene. Enclosure furniture, food and water bowls should not be shared between Leopard geckos before it has been properly disinfected or sterilised. Items should not be moved from the room where isolation takes place.

Example of a quarantine/isolation container for Leopard geckos. Plastic containers and simple substrates are easy to clean and inspect. Image Korean Gardener (CC BY YouTube)

The quarantine enclosure should have easy access and be easy to clean and disinfect efficiently and regularly. Glass and plastic containers and furniture are often the best to use. To be able to identify visible conditions such as ticks and mites and to visualise faeces better, paper towel, non-printed paper, newspaper or brown butcher paper are the substrates of choice.

Also see
Suitable substrates for Leopard geckos
Good hygiene practices for Leopard geckos
Leopard gecko housing guidelines

Quarantine inspections

Quarantine is not only about disease prevention but also about monitoring. Leopard geckos should be inspected before, during and after the quarantine period. Veterinary examinations should be performed in the case where abnormal signs are observed.

Visual inspections can be done by keepers, but an experienced reptile-friendly veterinarian will be able to assist with more advanced ways to diagnose difficult-to-see diseases. Treatment of Leopard gecko diseases should be done under the guidance of a veterinarian.

During the quarantine period, handling should be kept to a minimum. Leopard geckos should be handled with disposable medical latex gloves to prevent the transmission of potential zoonotic diseases (diseases that can be transmitted from animals to humans).

As a summary, these are good hygiene principles for Leopard gecko owners:

• Do not touch your face while, or directly after, handling a Leopard gecko, the enclosure furniture, the inside of their enclosure, feeder insects or their substrate.
• Protect any open sores or wounds you might have on your hands before touching or handling a Leopard gecko.
• Wash and disinfect your hands (or in-contact skin) before and after handling a Leopard gecko.
• Wash and disinfect your hands (or in-contact skin) after handling enclosure furniture, the inside of the enclosure, the substrate and/or feeder insects.
• Do not kiss a Leopard gecko or bring it close to your face.
• Do not eat while in the proximity of Leopard geckos or feeder insects.
• Use safe, but proven disinfectants to wash, wipe or spray your hands.
• Use disposable medical latex gloves if possible.

For more information, also see our Leopard gecko owner hygiene article.

Hand washing

1. Wet your hands with clean running water and apply soap. Use warm water if it is available.
2. Rub hands together to make a lather and scrub all surfaces, including under the fingernails.
3. Continue rubbing hands for 20 seconds.
4. Rinse hands well under running water.
5. Dry your hands using a disposable paper towel or a hand dryer.

It is also recommended to wash your hands before and after using protective gloves.

Note: These measures should be routine but are especially important while working with quarantined Leopard geckos.

Diseases that are known to be able to transmit from Leopard geckos to humans include:

• Cryptosporidium spp.
• Salmonella
• Mites

Leopard geckos should be inspected for overall health, appetite, the appearance of droppings and external parasites (e.g. ticks and mites). Routine stool inspections will monitor the presence of internal parasites such as cryptosporidiosis, roundworms, pinworms, and other protozoal infections.

The diagnosis of cryptosporidium in Leopard geckos has proved to be difficult during quarantine periods. Due to their intermitted shedding stool testing should be done on 5 to 7 consecutive stool samples⁽²⁰⁾. Obtaining weekly weights are also recommended.

Before a Leopard gecko is to be released from quarantine it should be visibly healthy, in good condition, eating well, defaecating and shed ists skin normally. The weight of growing Leopard geckos should increase steadily or at least stay the same for healthy-looking adults. Stool samples should be free from any parasites.

Also see
Good hygiene practices for Leopard geckos
General Leopard gecko care
What to look for in a healthy baby Leopard gecko
Leopard gecko soaking — warning signs
Leopard gecko eating behaviour

Conclusion

This article points out the importance of quarantining new Leopard geckos before they are introduced to other reptiles. Most transmissible diseases can be prevented by having a quarantine period between 3 and 6 months. Leopard geckos that were healthy during, or after, this period can be assumed safe from most preventible diseases and conditions. Sick and injured Leopard geckos can also be isolated during their recovery period.

References

Cited references

URL links

The post Leopard gecko quarantine: Why, how long? appeared first on Leopard Gecko.

To keep pet Leopard geckos healthy, it is important to practice good hygiene. Best hygiene practices for Leopard geckos include keeping the environment clean, regular disinfection, supplying fresh food and water and keeping your hands clean.

Introduction to hood hygiene practices for Leopard geckos

In its simplest form, hygiene refers to keeping things clean. Dirtiness can be in the form of dust, soil, moisture, organic material and faeces. As with humans, or keeping any other pet, hygiene is just as important for keeping Leopard geckos.

Why Leopard gecko hygiene is important

There are a couple of good reasons why it is important to practice good hygiene when it comes to keeping pet Leopard geckos. They all boil down to keeping your Leopard gecko healthy and looking after your own health.

Preventing diseases

Good hygiene reduces the chance for Leopard geckos to get sick. Unhygienic environments have the tendency to serve as a breeding ground for micro-organisms and acts as a hiding place for worms. Leopard gecko diseases that are common in unhygienic environments include cryptosporidiosis, intestinal worm infections, pneumonia and gastroenteritis.

The most important hygiene principles to prevent diseases are to keep the Leopard gecko environment clean and sterilisation.

Also see
Cryptosporidiosis: killer of Leopard geckos

Some contagious diseases can spread from one Leopard gecko to another. This can either happen directly, e.g. when Leopard geckos share the same hide box, or indirectly. Indirect transmission of diseases can take place through human hands and feeder insects. Common Leopard gecko diseases that can potentially spread indirectly are salmonellosis.

The most important hygiene principles to prevent the spread of diseases between Leopard geckos are disinfecting your hands and discarding uneaten feeder insects (especially crickets). Although not hygiene-related, the spreading of diseases between Leopard geckos can also be prevented by quarantine.

Also see
Leopard gecko quarantine: Why, how long?
How Leopard geckos pick up diseases (and how to prevent it)

Preventing humans from getting diseases from Leopard geckos

Some disease, e.g. salmonellosis and campylobacteriosis, can be transmitted from reptiles to humans. These diseases are called zoonoses. Zoonotic salmonellosis is mostly reported to be from pet turtles, but Leopard gecko owners are also at risk. Campylobacter, which is also a bacteria found in the faeces of reptiles, has been reported to be a significant cause of gastrointestinal disease in humans. There are also studies that say that mycobacteriosis, chlamydophilosis, Aeromonas and Pseudomonas infections may also be of reptile origin.

It is also possible for humans to contract diseases from feeder insects.

The most important hygiene principles to prevent the spread of diseases from Leopard geckos to humans are by washing your hands and by applying a proper disinfectant after each time you handle one. You should also be washing and disinfecting your hands after touching anything inside the Leopard gecko enclosure (e.g. the enclosure furniture) or feeder insects.

Also see
Handling a Leopard gecko

Leopard gecko hygiene practices

Good Leopard gecko hygiene practices include cleaning and disinfecting of food and water bowls, removing soiled substrates, cleaning and disinfecting enclosure furniture and only supplying fresh food and water.

Daily removal of stool or droppings is very important. Where granular substrates are used, the affected area can be removed, but where non-granular substrates are used (e.g. carpets or butcher paper) the entire substrate sheet needs to be removed. One can use an inverted plastic bag over your hand or disposable medical grade gloves instead of bare hands to prevent direct contact with faeces. Food and water containers should also be cleaned once a day.

It is also recommended to remove, clean, disinfect or even sterilise cleanable enclosure furniture and substrates at least once a week.

Also see
Suitable substrates for Leopard geckos

Cleaning, disinfecting and sterilisation

Cleaning refers to either removal, wiping or washing with water/soap after which it is dried. Sterilisation refers to the removal of all micro-organisms from objects (as suppose to live tissue), whereas disinfection refers to the cleaning of live tissues e.g. your hands, and hard surfaces.

There are various sterilants and disinfectants on the market and can be in the form of soaps, sprays, wipes and gels. Some products are sold as ready to use (RTU) while others are in a concentrated form that needs controlled dilution before it can be used. Note that not all sterilants and disinfectants are safe to be used with Leopard geckos, reptiles and other animals. Safe sterilisation and disinfection (e.g. for enclosure furniture and non-disposable substrates) can also be achieved by using the sun.

Health & Hygiene’s F10 has a wide range of products including wipes, hand soaps, sprays and contact cleaners and is safe and effective to use with Leopard geckos. F10 products are available from veterinarians and good pet shops.

Leopard gecko owner hygiene practices

As a summary, these are good hygiene principles for Leopard gecko owners:

• Do not touch your face while, or directly after, handling a Leopard gecko, the enclosure furniture, the inside of their enclosure, feeder insects or their substrate.
• Protect any open sores or wounds you might have on your hands before touching or handling a Leopard gecko.
• Wash and disinfect your hands (or in-contact skin) before and after handling a Leopard gecko.
• Wash and disinfect your hands (or in-contact skin) after handling enclosure furniture, the inside of the enclosure, the substrate and/or feeder insects.
• Do not kiss a Leopard gecko or bring it close to your face.
• Do not eat while in the proximity of Leopard geckos or feeder insects.
• Use safe, but proven disinfectants to wash, wipe or spray your hands.
• Use disposable medical latex gloves if possible.

For more information, also see our Leopard gecko owner hygiene article.

Hand washing

1. Wet your hands with clean running water and apply soap. Use warm water if it is available.
2. Rub hands together to make a lather and scrub all surfaces, including under the fingernails.
3. Continue rubbing hands for 20 seconds.
4. Rinse hands well under running water.
5. Dry your hands using a disposable paper towel or a hand dryer.

It is also recommended to wash your hands before and after using protective gloves.

Note: These measures should be routine but are especially important while working with Leopard geckos.

The post Hygiene practices for Leopard geckos appeared first on Leopard Gecko.

Nutritional support for Leopard geckos

Nutrition support in Leopard geckos is often required in the case of anorexia or inability to eat. Read article

The post Leopard Gecko Health appeared first on Leopard Gecko.

Leopard gecko quarantine: Why, how long?

Quarantine is applied for new arrivals or in case of exposure to diseases. Owners should familiarise themselves with the Leopard gecko quarantine process. Read article

The post Leopard Gecko disinfection appeared first on Leopard Gecko.

From time-to-time owners will found one, or all, Leopard geckos soaking in their water dish. Naturally, soaking is a great way to help loosen dry skin and aid in the process of skin shedding. Soaking behaviour in Leopard geckos might also be an indication that something is wrong, or at least that something can be improved upon. Excessive soaking behaviour in Leopard geckos can also be an indication of the following:

Leopard gecko skin shedding problems

Incomplete or difficult shedding in Leopard geckos will also be evident by spending a lot of time in the water dish. A healthy Leopard gecko usually sheds its skin in one complete piece or at least a few large pieces. The main reason for skin shedding problems in Leopard geckos is mite infections (see below) and not enough moisture in the hiding box.

The most important thing that will aid in normal skin shedding in Leopard geckos is the supply of a hide box containing a moist substrate. A correctly set up hide box will most often be enough to supply all the required humidity and will also serve as a place to hide during this fragile period. Popular hide box substrates include peat moss and vermiculite that is wetted with an equal amount of water. The substrate should not be soggy wet, but feel moist by touching it. Also see suitable substrates for Leopard geckos for more information.

Mite infections

Skin mites in Leopard geckos are small, tiny tick-like parasites that inhabit the outside skin layers. These parasites tend to get stuck and loosen the outer layers of the skin, leading to excessive skin shedding. By soaking a Leopard gecko knows that shedding will go faster, leading to less irritation and itches. Also see mite infections in Leopard geckos for more information.

A juvenile Leopard gecko being soaked in a bowl of water. Image by adyn02llee.

Overheating and dehydration

Soaking behaviour in Leopard geckos is often an indication that the environmental temperatures are too high. If overheating this is the case, a Leopard gecko is prone to become overheated and dehydrated which can be life-threatening on its own. Leopard geckos will thrive in temperatures of 25 – 32 ºC / 77 – 90 ºF with a drop to room temperature during the evenings. Anything higher than this is dangerous. The environmental temperature can be measured using a thermometer.

Soaking in water helps with cooling down and absorb water through the skin. In addition to soaking behaviour, a Leopard gecko might also try to escape the enclosure and/or breath with its mouth open. In these cases, the first thing to do is to remove all heating equipment from the enclosure and re-evaluate the temperature. Also see glass climbing behaviour in Leopard geckos for more information.

Impactions and/or obstructions

Very often dehydration is also a result of not enough moisture being absorbed through the intestines – e.g. in the case of intestinal obstruction. An intestinal obstruction will also be highly suspicious if a Leopard gecko has a swollen abdomen and/or is not eating and defaecating. If this is the case, the best thing to do is to get your Leopard gecko to a reptile friendly veterinarian as soon as possible.

The bottom line

When soaking behaviour seems excessive and there are other abnormal behaviour or signs, it is very often it is a good idea to consult an experienced herpetologist or a reptile friendly veterinarian for a consultation with the pet.

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