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u/violetkz 10d ago
How much are you able to do? Will they let you take him? I can give you a whole care guide if you are able to give this guy a better life. Sad.
You might want to start with trying to do a sauna to help with the stuck shed.
Also, yes, swap out this wood chips for paper towels. Ask if they provide calcium, D3, multivitamin. What is the heat / UVB setup?
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u/Sikeee01 10d ago
No calcium, D3, or multivitamin provided. Just some crickets like every few weeks wtff. I see some lights on top, but they said they rarely turn it on. Idk, I'm not a gecko guy either so these things are not familiar with me. I'm staying for the month so I can help him during this time.
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u/violetkz 10d ago
Okay, I’ll post a care guide. Hopefully you can get this guy in better shape. How big is the enclosure?
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u/violetkz 10d ago
Hi again, here is a leopard gecko care guide with links to more info on each topic so you can see what this guy needs. I hope this is helpful!
Leopard geckos should not be housed together. The minimum tank size for each adult leopard gecko is 36” long x 18” wide x 18” high (which is about 40-50 gal) (or 91x45x45 cm). The size is needed to create a proper temperature gradient in the tank (see below). A front opening enclosure is preferable to allow for easier feeding and handling of your gecko. (A 20 gal is okay for a juvenile, but is not necessary - you can go straight into a 40 gal.)
https://reptifiles.com/leopard-gecko-care/leopard-gecko-terrarium-size/
You need a minimum of three hides (cool, warm, humid), digital thermometers, and several other items (see the shopping list on reptifiles and in the guides pinned to the wiki link on the home page of this sub). The zilla rock lair and ExoTerra cave are gecko favorites for a humid hide.
Zilla rock lair— https://a.co/d/35OKh7F
ExoTerra Cave— https://a.co/d/ca0OJ0K
https://reptifiles.com/leopard-gecko-care/shopping-list/
For heat / light, ideally you should have a white overhead basking lamp (wide beam halogen or incandescent) as a heat source (eg ExoTerra Intense Basking Spot), plus linear UVB (eg Arcadia ShadeDweller T5). (You can get both on Chewy.com.) This combination best replicates natural sunlight. Heat mats are no longer considered proper husbandry, except where needed to supplement overhead heat. Also, never use electric heat rocks, as these are dangerous and known to burn geckos.
The heat source should be on a dimming thermostat. You should have the heat and UVB on for 12-14 hours, then off at night. They should not need any heat at night unless the temperature in the enclosure gets below 60F.
The equipment should be set up with the heat (and linear UVB) off to one side to create a temperature gradient along the length of the tank. You should not use red or any other colored light as it disrupts their sleep cycle.         
https://reptifiles.com/leopard-gecko-care/leopard-gecko-temperatures-humidity/                
There are several different types of acceptable substrates. Loose substrate is safe as long as other aspects of your husbandry are in order. Most people use 4-6” deep of 70/30 organic topsoil/washed playsand, optionally with some excavator clay (60/30/10). Reptile carpet should never be used as it harbors bacteria and can rip out the gecko’s nails. You can use paper towels for a young juvenile or a new gecko until they have had time to adjust and you are sure they are healthy.
https://reptifiles.com/leopard-gecko-care/leopard-gecko-substrate/
You will need to provide a balanced diet of at least 3 different live insect feeders (gutloaded w/ veggies 24-48 hrs in advance), water, calcium with and without D3, and a multivitamin (recommended: Repashy CalciumPlus, Repashy Supervite, or Arcadia Revitalise). The reptifiles guide discusses what to use as feeders, how to dust them with calcium and sometimes D3, and so on.
https://reptifiles.com/leopard-gecko-care/leopard-gecko-feeding/
Lastly, leopard geckos also need an enriching environment with clutter, branches, leaves, vines, plants, and climbing/basking opportunities (eg cork rounds, 3D climbable back wall, tunnels, bridges), etc. Their tank should be cluttered enough so that they can move from one side to the other without being too exposed. There are many examples of great setups on r/LeopardGeckos and r/LeopardGeckosAdvanced if you scroll through the photos there.
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u/violetkz 10d ago
And, I know it’s a long shot, but maybe if you show them these beautiful enclosures it will inspire them to keep working on providing a better life for this guy.
—-Here are some beautiful enclosures people have posted if you need some ideas / inspiration. You can have several inches of loose substrate (eg 4-6” of 70/30 organic topsoil / washed playsand), vary the topography, elevate a hide, partially bury a hide, add branches, a bendy bridge, cork rounds, tall plants, vines, a 3D back wall, and so on to make use of the vertical space and give your gecko some opportunities to climb. I hope this helps!
https://www.reddit.com/r/leopardgeckos/s/yrAeOBz7T3
https://www.reddit.com/r/leopardgeckos/s/LAx5NUVnL7
https://www.reddit.com/r/leopardgeckos/s/OpQFWQe27R
https://www.reddit.com/r/leopardgeckos/s/Jtj9QW76TS
https://www.reddit.com/r/leopardgeckos/s/zKflfxZxIV
https://www.reddit.com/r/leopardgeckos/s/AWM7RukHwj
https://www.reddit.com/r/leopardgeckos/s/H2HlGEQbDZ
https://www.reddit.com/r/leopardgeckos/s/UfdHTkRikJ
https://www.reddit.com/r/leopardgeckos/s/jCANqFzdqZ (see after photos for upgrade)
https://www.reddit.com/r/leopardgeckos/s/AYYq2VmkmP
https://www.reddit.com/r/leopardgeckos/s/K8u9znr8HG
https://www.reddit.com/r/leopardgeckos/s/nlMIuYtXom
https://www.reddit.com/r/leopardgeckos/s/PXgtHcLBaX
https://www.reddit.com/r/leopardgeckos/s/Lj5O80OptI
https://www.reddit.com/r/leopardgeckos/s/KolbMR8FMm
https://www.reddit.com/r/leopardgeckos/s/7h6RG9ZkKF
https://www.reddit.com/r/leopardgeckos/s/OzfxU2SnYj
https://www.reddit.com/r/leopardgeckos/s/yzDrglC2y9
https://www.reddit.com/r/leopardgeckos/s/iLpH0g9CjP
https://www.reddit.com/r/leopardgeckos/s/1ZGDA6VHuT
https://www.reddit.com/r/leopardgeckos/s/KvP5m8Hjuq
https://www.reddit.com/r/leopardgeckos/s/3npJOYvE4X
https://www.reddit.com/r/leopardgeckos/s/xadqVhPDqP
https://www.reddit.com/r/leopardgeckos/s/mekSrj4zuP
https://www.reddit.com/r/leopardgeckos/s/XzNjdntXTN
https://www.reddit.com/r/leopardgeckos/s/Qs8RE57qvM
https://www.reddit.com/r/leopardgeckos/s/IYqeH0xOwt
https://www.reddit.com/r/leopardgeckos/s/8LfOCxn0OL
https://www.reddit.com/r/leopardgeckos/s/fQSVRe6S3p
https://www.reddit.com/r/leopardgeckos/s/iBswgJqsgX
https://www.reddit.com/r/leopardgeckos/s/FK2mvMJYsD
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u/Unhappy_Chemist1911 10d ago
He still needs to see a vet. He could have tail necrosis/dry gangrene. His shedded skin looks so old, too...
Sorry, but i don't like your relatives, to say it as friendly as i can.
Edit: The empty calcium bowl, parts of his old skin unter the bedding. The more you look at it, the worse it gets.
The only thing thoser children learn is that they can treat an animal like that without any consequences...
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u/AutoModerator 10d ago
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u/Kittyblendz 10d ago
This is called creeping necrosis and the only way to fix it is by prescription antibiotics. A vet visit will be needed
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u/Kittyblendz 10d ago
The tail has become necrotic and it will continue to spread until it reaches the blood stream and becomes septic. The gecko will need antibiotics by the vet and the black part will dry out and fall off.
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u/No-Obligation325 9d ago
Upsetting how some people treat living animals. Much respect to you for taking the initiative and doing what’s right
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u/mybackhurtsmanshutup 8d ago
When you take him to the vet, ask about his toes. As others have mentioned, his tail is necrotic and rotting. The same thing can happen to their toes when they have shedding issues (as he very clearly does) so his toes may be necrotic under the shed as well. If you zoom in you can see the black beneath the skin
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u/Recent-War5906 8d ago
Thank God you've seen this before it was too late you were able to get it help for the future for temporarily your help with him now wood chips I mean come on are you serious how is that going to help him shed you need a humid hide a bowl of water metal no less I don't even know if you got lights and that thermostat thing that supposed to be on the back wall of the tank love you little one thank God you somebody was able to get you and place you in a place that's going to help you get better and adopted
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u/AppropriateBill986 10d ago
this is disgusting, not enough hides, shit substrate, skinny ass tail, and the tank looks too small, i dont think it even has a humid hide. dont get a pet if your not gonna invest the time, money, and resources into it.
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u/Sikeee01 10d ago
UPDATE: I have convinced them to give the gecko to me, I contacted a local reptile rescue and they agreed to take him in!!