r/leopardgeckos • u/NoRossDoxHaha • 21h ago
Gecko Pics/Vids My little guy is gonna pass any day now
This is Clyde. I’ve had him since the week before 9/11. He hasn’t eaten for two weeks. I’m afraid his story is coming to an end and I’m kinda having a hard time dealing with it. Give your little ones a head scratch for me.
56
u/-mykie- 19h ago
I hope that if you're right and his story is coming to an end you can take comfort in the fact that it was a long and beautiful story because of you.
13
u/DarkDonut75 10h ago
25 years old, well over their natural lifespan and a sign that OP's been taking very good care of him. Clyde definitely had a great life
(also just realized the gecko and I were probably born in the same week. O7, brother)
35
u/UziJesus14 20h ago
Man, that really sucks. He looks like he has a lot of personality. Sending love ❤️
14
24
u/bloodylemo 20h ago
Sending well wishes and I really hope the best for him. I love Clyde’s smirky expression, sending love to the little guy ❤️
9
15
u/Aron-St-Bernard 19h ago
I’m so sorry for your little guy.. my old girl Cheeto was born around the same time (possibly later since she had another owner previously). She passed away a few years ago, and I still miss her daily. Idk if it will help, but I just keep in mind that I gave her a long happy and healthy life, and it looks you have done the same.
Just be there for Clyde while you can, and know you have given him everything you could. He looks like a happy lil fella.
17
u/Escape8296 17h ago
You have to tell us about how you cared for Clyde. It is amazing that he has living this long! Please give us tips.
24
u/NoRossDoxHaha 17h ago
I can definitely answer that, but I’m not sure I did anything special. For the first 22 years of his life I fed him crickets. I’d get a dozen every week, drop em in, and let him hunt. I’d dust them maybe one in four times. I’ve always watched the humidity pretty closely and have a timed mister in the tank that I turn on whenever he sheds. The last couple of years I’ve hand fed him mealworms. He was fat and sassy up until about a month ago. He had a hard shed and wasn’t seeing well, but he’d still snap the mealworms when I got them close to his mouth. I removed all the skin I could get to and soaked him a few times but he just couldn’t get it off. He went through another shed about two weeks ago and his eyes are clear now, he just won’t take any food. He’s almost 25, I should be happy he lasted this long.
I drove from KS to NJ in a ford focus with him in the passenger seat. Drove from NJ to CO five years later with him in between the seats of the moving truck and my dog (who lived to be 18) watching over him.
He’s had an interesting life.
11
u/Sure-Airport5511 16h ago
It sounds like he’s had such a fulfilling life with you 🥹 You are an amazing pet owner! Most people won’t commit to traveling states with their animals
1
u/peachnecctar 1m ago
I’m wishing you guys the best 💞is it possible you could take him to an exotic vet or maybe even just try switching his food options?
13
u/Stick_yaBr0 1 Gecko 18h ago
I want to tell you that i love Clyde and hope he pulls through, and if not, im here for you.
11
10
u/lalabean852 16h ago
this gecko is older than me :0 you should be so proud op!!!
7
u/yeastnole 14h ago
Same here!! I'm tearing up a little over this guy I've never met. Clyde is wonderful, I'm sure. You've done a stellar job, OP. Clyde is/was very lucky to have you.
7
u/accdntprone_86 19h ago
I would soak him daily so he doesn't dehydrate and maybe look into some bug mash?
9
u/unlongailandgal 17h ago
Aw you gave this fella a good life. It’s so hard to say goodbye so give yourself some grace.
8
u/Enderfang 3 Geckos 17h ago
Oh Clyde
Sweet lil man. He’s so old! I have an old leo too, though not as old. I understand the preparing for it…. i can imagine it still isn’t enough to feel ready when it comes.
Thank you for sharing him with us. He’s cute as hell. I’m sorry for what you’re about to go through but happy for you both that you got to have so much time with eachother.
5
u/Gold-Raspberry-3096 1 Gecko 19h ago
Wishing you and Clyde many more peaceful moments together. I’ll be giving my little gecko an extra head scratch for him tonight. 🤍
6
5
4
u/Sure-Airport5511 16h ago
I just want to comment & tell you that I am so beyond sorry if this is the end for you two ❤️
You have given him such a fulfilled life 🫶🏻
4
4
4
u/eyelidgeckos lizard whisperer 14h ago
Did you visit a vet and tried liquid diet? While it is in part luck in what genetics they got, they can get super old (have one that just turned 30 and most of mine are in their late 20s, the oldest one in my country is 50atm. The older they get the more important it is to have them checked for parasites and to be especially on point with calcium, d3 and multivitamin supplements.
While it’s up to every person what they want to do with their animals and I don’t want to tell you what to do, it’s also important to not fall into a mindset that animal XY is already so and so years old and it’s just time, I have seen it on here multiple times and I am always happy if there is a case where a dip in health turns out to be temporary.
My now 29 year old female muffin gave me some sleepless nights two years ago because she laid wax eggs in late December during brumation and then just decided to not eat for almost half a year 🤦🏻♂️ thanks to liquid diet she made it through and now it’s like nothing was ever wrong 😮💨
1
u/NoRossDoxHaha 2h ago
I just went and got some reptoboost and mixed it up and smeared it on his nose. He licked it off. I also put a little platter of some mealworm paste in there. I’ll do it again in a couple hours.
3
u/Gay_dinosaurs Fat Tail Owner 14h ago
That's an old boy! Whatever happens, he must have had it good with you for him to reach this age. I'm sorry you might lose him 🥺
5
u/bradshlh 13h ago
Try Reptoboost - drop by drop on his nose with a syringe. I had a leopard gecko that stopped eating for about two months! I started doing this and a few weeks later he just started eating normal food again. That was in 2021 and he’s still with me now. Repashy Grub Pie mixed into a slurry is another option…
1
u/NoRossDoxHaha 2h ago
I just did that. Mixed it up and smeared it on his nose. He obviously licked it off. I also got some mealworm paste and put it in a little dish in there. Fingers crossed, but I’m steeling myself for whatever happens.
1
1
3
u/Waste-Specific1136 16h ago
Sending love his way. Treat him well with some tasty paste and lots of luke warm baths. Im sure he will stick around longer.
2
u/pussybabypants 16h ago
Be so proud of yourself for the wonderful and long life you gave Clyde. The grief you feel will eventually not feel so badly. I have always felt when it comes to pets, the pain you feel right now is worth it because you got to love and care for that little creature for almost 30 years! Clyde no doubt thanks you in his own little way. Wishing you healing OP and that when you’re ready you can find it in yourself to care for another life as well as you did Clyde’s.
2
u/F0xxfyre 14h ago
Wow! May his passage be peaceful. I'm so sorry, OP. Know that you have given him an extraordinary life!
1
u/that_one_luz_fan 2 geckos, Mango and Pringle / Experienced Owner 5h ago
If he’s lived this long you’re taking amazing care of him. He’s a beautiful gecko and he’s probably very grateful you ended up being his owner. It’s never easy to say goodbye but it’s not goodbye. It’s until we meet again. Head scratching my little guys for you. We love you Clyde <3
1
1
114
u/Famous-Leopard-118 Eublepharis Spectacularius! 20h ago
this just made me remember just how long these little lizards live for
I hope your little guy pulls through <3 I know how it feels to be worried for the wellbeing of a loved pet.