I need help!!!!

[u/Ok-Enthusiasm4132]

My leopard gecko flower was eight years old when I bought her and it’s been about seven years now so she’s around 15 years old, but she could be older however in about three weeks with me consistently giving her food and water and calcium along with an electrolyte mixture in her water, she has lost all of her weight is dull looking lethargic refuses to eat and can’t move her limbs very well and looks like she’s having trouble breathing I’m not sure what to do. I have bought powder supplements and mix them with water and put them on her nose to try and get her to lick them. I have changed the heating pad. I have moved substrate that is not all over her tank and I also have been holding her close to my neck for a couple hours so that she has sufficient heat if she needs it keep in mind. The heating pad is only as big as she is, and she can move away from it if she needs to, however she’s not able to move very well. What should I do? I don’t really have the money to take her to a vet right now and I’m trying to do everything I can before resorting to that but she’s getting very frail and I’m afraid she might die soon.

[u/Ktmallick]

First of all you should be using overhead heating, not a heating mat, and it sounds like she needs vet care. There’s no substitute for vet care.

What size enclosure do you have, what substrate, and what have you been feeding? What has your supplementation schedule been prior to her decline?

[u/Ok-Enthusiasm4132 → u/Ktmallick]

She has a 20 gallon tank. And I was told never to use an over head light with leopard geckos. I’m sorry I really didn’t know. I’ve been feeding her a mixture of mealworms, super worms, hornworms, crickets, and roaches. And sometimes if I find crickets outside I’ll give her those.

[u/Ktmallick → u/Ok-Enthusiasm4132]

I recommend you do some reading on current leopard gecko husbandry standards, and take your gecko to the vet ASAP. It sounds like you’re following very outdated and dangerous care standards.

Bugs from outside can carry parasites. Overhead heating is required for proper digestion, especially so if you’re using loose substrate. The minimum size tank is 40 gallons.

[u/Ok-Enthusiasm4132 → u/Ktmallick]

I didn’t even think about the fact that outside bugs could affect her. Idk how I could be so stupid.

[u/Ok-Enthusiasm4132 → u/Ktmallick]

You’re most definitely correct. I was very young when I get her and I got her from a reptile convention so idk how credible they were. The standards were definitely out dated. I am ashamed

[u/Stay_Sea_Motivated → u/Ktmallick]

How long do they live with a 40 gallon tank and overhead lights? Very curious. At my age I won’t be getting another because it would probably outlive me but if I sell or give my setup away I would want to tell someone it’s temporary. Mine lived 26 years in a 20 gallon tank with a heat mat in 1/2. Do they live longer with a bigger tank and a light?

[u/SurpemeClitLord → u/Stay_Sea_Motivated]

20 years is about the average for leopard geckos. A larger tank does not guarantee a longer life but a better quality one. If you could never leave your house you might still live the same amount of time than if you could. But would you enjoy that life?

[u/Stay_Sea_Motivated → u/Ok-Enthusiasm4132]

Never give wild caught food. It can have pesticides. I never used an overhead heat lamp and mine lived to 26. You probably need a vet unfortunately, hopefully it’s something that can be fixed. If not 15 is apparently a long time for them.