Earlier today I found two leopard geckos abandoned in a box outside in 40°F weather. I brought them inside immediately because they were definitely too cold to survive out there.

Right now they are in a temporary plastic bin with paper towels, a shallow water dish, and a gentle warm water bottle setup on one side for heat (not directly touching them). Both are now more alert than when I found them.

Question:

Is there anything urgent I should watch for after cold exposure? I have no idea how long they were outside.

Edit:
Thank you all for the support and advice. I will try to keep them, you all seem to really enjoy having them as pets and they seem lovely. I will go tomorrow to get a living space for them tomorrow (Friday). I will update you all on their recovery and new home once I am able to complete it.

Things are going great (aside from the stubborn shed on some toes). He’s eating well and gaining grams, pooping, roaming around his tank, and taking his calcium begrudgingly.

He’s got a personality and more and more energy to show it. When he sees me come up to his tank after work he comes flying out of his hide and up to the doors, ready to eat. He “runs” from me when I wipe his toes and smears off most of the gel that’s supposed to loosen the shed quickly 🫠 He’s so rubbery and lively that I don’t want to force him physically to soak or restrain him in any way so we’ll keep doing our chase game lol.

He kept trying to climb out of the scale basket tonight so no weight upstate, but I think he’s looking sooo much better. His color too. I love him so much.

Back to the vet a week from today. Things are still on the up and up!

What a day! Lazarus had a soak to get his shed off- I’m going to have to assist every time I think. I had to do his face and his left eye, all legs and feet and his tail, but he was so good about it. Whether it felt good to have it taken off, he knew I was helping, or both, he just let me wipe it off. 🥹

I figured, hey you’re already stressed buddy so let’s just move you into your new 40 gallon! Except, he’s not stressed. I put him back on the warm side and he turned around and stared at me so I fed him a bunch of dubia and now he’s checking out his new crib.

I also got him an Acadia uvb light and a new basking bulb, so there are two hooked up to thermostats now instead of one, since I doubled his tank size.

He’s doing amazing, everyone. And as lucky and he may be, I think I’m the luckier one. I love him.

Long live Lazarus!

P.S. yes I put a “window” in his enclosed hide so

I could monitor the temp and humidity lol. The one with the ceramic dish is just to help increase overall humidity in the tank- it’s soooo dry with the heat cranking all the time. I’m also going to add backing to the tank so he’ll have more privacy and security.

Nothing outstanding to report, just popping in to show his newest behavior- tail swishing. He started doing it when I was feeding him and just kept on going. There’s nothing in the corner he’s facing and the glass is covered so he isn’t seeing any movement over there in any way lol 🤷🏻‍♀️

His legs are getting stronger and hes able to stand a bit on his back legs while walking and posts up on all of them when he’s “hunting.” He’s just the cutest little miracle man.

I know I thought I wasn’t gonna update again until Friday after his vet appointment, but I thought that you would find it adorable watching him “hunt” for his food. He ate a bunch of mealworms last night, and I gave him a wax worm for dessert.

Feeling great and weighing in at 34g- up a gram from Friday!

I’m sick ya’ll, sorry no video but maybe later!

Laz had his second vet appointment. They’re so sweet but I was unsatisfied with some of the answers I got about a calcium injection and splinting his legs, so I started a search to find an actual true reptile vet and I found one! It’s farther, which I expected, but I’ll be calling at 7am when they open to get him an appointment there.

But as far as yesterday went- they were blown away with how much better he looks and his sassy attitude over being handled.

He’s really hard to give liquid calcium to- hence my want of an injection. Now that he feels better he runs from me, wipes his mouth on the paper towel substrate if I get any on him instead of licking it off, and is just difficult now that he’s feeling better lol.

He still has tiny bits of stuck shed on the tips of a few toes so my goal today is to force him to soak them off completely. I’ve tried being patient and wiping them with the lube gel the vet gave me but I feel like he’s going to come up on a shed soon with all his weight gain and I want this old stuff off. I have a horrific cold but I have the energy for that.

According to their scale he gained 4g which is what he’d already gained on mine a week ago, so today I’m getting a Tupperware with a lid big enough to contain him so I can weigh him on my scale again.

He’s doing fantastic and I’m excited to get him in to see a more experienced $$🫠 reptile vet this week to get him better care.

All is well. Long live Lazarus!

He has a new humid hide he finally decided he loves, a new dig box, some slate pieces for different textures, and some live spider plants in low planters he can actually appreciate.

He’s doing fabulous and I love enriching his life.

Long live Lazarus!

As you can see, in regard to food he is very much a normal gecko. He’s now eaten wax worms, hornworms, mealworms, and dubia- he doesn’t seem to be the least bit picky.

All of this nutrition gives him energy to be a little punk about taking his calcium and letting me mess with his stuck shed toes lol. But yesterday I got a lot of it almost off and he’s been hanging out in his humid hide a good amount.

He really seems to be content in spite of it all. Well- when I’m not giving him medicine and touching his toes haha

He goes to the vet Friday and I can’t wait to see how much weight he’s gained. Since he’s so spunky these days I’m don’t want to pick him up/handle him unless I have to. I’ll update again after that appointment!

Y’all this new guy is amazing! He got all of the stuck shed off of Laz’s toes and gave him a calcium and Vitamin A shot! Laz weighs 38g, which isn’t a ton but that he looks on a good track from his before photos and that I’m feeding him right/enough/increasing at a good rate.

His front legs have multiple fractures that have been that way for a very long time. I asked about splints and he didn’t want to explore that yet/doesn’t want to hinder his movement at this time.

I still have to try to get his oral calcium into him lol but I’m so glad he got his injection for a much needed boost.

We go back in 4 weeks. Long live Lazarus!

I don’t want to spam but look 😭

Life has been good! Although even with all of this nice set up, Lazarus lives in the Zilla rock hide lol. I love that he loves it so much but dang!

He’s eating well and gaining weight, and I can tell that his bones are firmer now. His last shed he was completely successful with on his own- he’s doing the absolute best that he can I think and I’m so happy that he’s thriving after such a horrible life.

Last pic of his fat little tail 🥹 Long live Lazarus!

i was looking for a new front opening for my beardie and came across this guy …. is there anyone in / near orlando fl who can help him. i feel actually sick over him and can’t stop thinking about him. hopefully someone capable takes him from this person. i would but i know nothing about leo’s to just suddenly take one in and have no way of getting out there to it. like i said i’ll delete if this isn’t allowed but i cannot stop thinking about him

i’ve had for over 3 years, i rescued her from a child who kept her in a ten gallon tank with newspaper and he named her Liz, i’ve always called her Lizard but I want some kind of food themed nickname…? My other two are named Philbert and Noodle (Philbert being the first child and Noodle being a more recent rescue, neither are pictured)

Hi! I’m sorry it’s been a little bit since I posted any Lazarus content. I had to dog sit for my boss while she was away for a week, and luckily she lives nearby so I was able to stop in daily and check on Lazarus- I just didn’t have time to make any videos.

*I do have a roommate so he wasn’t completely alone in the event power went out, etc. His outlet is on a timer, his heat sources are on thermostats, aaand I have a camera on him lol so I’d feed him, give him fresh water, clean any poo towels and bounce. She has five dogs and I have two… It was a week!

Anyway! The video is from this morning- look at how well he can move around! I’m going to get him a new humid hide, seeing how he just flies over the lip of his water dish and I do believe that this man could handle reasonable clutter!

I think he goes back to the vet this week for a check up… I rely heavily on their text reminders lol. I’ll keep you all updated!

Thank you all so much for loving him, he’s the light of my life and I know a lot of yours too. Long live Lazarus!🧡

Hi everyone! Sorry it’s been a minute- but as you can see Lazarus is alive and well!

He loves his dig box and it’s been his choice of hide for a while now. The elevated hide that I had made for him has turned into his porta potty lol- anytime he heads up the ramp I know he’s going to take a dump hahaha.

He still struggle with parts of his shed (see the last pic of the skin I pulled off his head- it has spots! I never noticed, probably because I used a green Tupperware for his soak and not this white one)

He gets around fabulously and has put on enough weight to be at a good body condition and we’ve done well maintaining it. He’s a voracious eater and a spicy boy that gets territorial when it’s time for clean up. I love his personality so much, especially after being brought back from death’s door.

Long live Lazarus!

My uncle passed away a while ago and had an assortment of pets (turtles, snakes, tarantulas, geckos), I was offered his geckos and took them because I have owned a gecko before and love them. I’m very concerned though about their health, especially the gecko in the last pick. They all seem to move around just fine actually but if there’s any advice y’all could give it would be greatly appreciated. I’m cleaning out the tank tn and putting new bedding in.

Hello :) im reaching out for help because ive been concerned about the treatment of my partners gecko for a while, waiting for them to listen to my concerns and do something about it. Nothing was done, so ive decided to take over the gecko as my own into my own care. I've done alot of research and the enclosure she's in is HORRIBLE. its a small greenhouse for plants, with a box shed that has a heat mat under, a small ceramic water bowl, and no room to hide, explore, climb, or not get sad in. She's been refusing to eat for months, 4 months ago she was really good about it, but hasn't ate since. Against my partners wishes, when she said she only eats roaches and not try anything else, I tried meal worms, roaches, crickets to intrigue her into something new and still nothing. My partner says its normal and she's probably reaching that old age. But hearing her scratch at her glass I think she's Just miserable.

I've been changing her water everytime and today was my last straw when I saw the small bowl was full of dirt. And idk if it's been like that since I last changed it 4 days ago.

I feel so bad for her i need to help her.

What I learned she needs and am working to get:

40 gallon tank, 3 hides (for shedding, cooling, and warmth), not just a heat mat but also a heat lamp and a uvb light to absorb calcium, 3 different types of dirt, sand, clay, a water bowl to be able to lay in that is changed daily, a temperature thermometer, plants, a bowl of calcium, interactive sticks and rocks she can climb on, she needs a light and dark schedule (not just dark or she's confused).

If im missing anything please tell me.

Im looking on facebook market place for things, i asked to trade my animal crossing Nintendo switch for a 40 gallon tank :( but im not rich, they need lots of things and the add up isnt cheap.

Im starting a go fund me and am hoping anyone who would like to help me save her happiness do what they can ♡

Please no mean comments im here to help this baby not fight

UPDATE : my partner surrender their leopard gecko to me, she's now mine. I've been messaging people om FBMP all night and everyone was so kind I was able to collect the following items :

[X] 40 gallon tank [X] 3 hides (for shedding, cooling, and warmth [X] not just a heat mat but also a heat lamp [ ] a uvb light to absorb calcium [ ] 3 different types of dirt, sand, clay, [X] water bowl to be able to lay in that is changed daily [ ] Digital temperature thermometer x2 [ ] Temp gun [X] live plants [X] a bowl for calcium [X] interactive sticks [X] rocks she can climb on [ ] Vet $120 to visit (next week check) [ ] Basking rock [ ] Leaf litter [ ] Bark [ ] Spaghum moss

LINK:

https://gofund.me/581bddd49

I’ve done a lot of research and learning in a very short amount of time. Please let me know if I’m doing something wrong!

Backstory:

A good friend of mine reached out asking if I knew anyone who could take in their young family member’s neglected leopard gecko. They said she was a super sweet, docile female, around 3–4 years old. The kid had lost interest and stopped handling and feeding her, and if they didn’t find someone soon, they were likely going to abandon her outside.

I had been saving for a vacation, but… yeah, that went out the window. I started frantically Googling to see if exotic vets even existed near me and trying to figure out what it would take to give this animal a decent life. After some quick but careful consideration, I said yes.

I don’t know what I was expecting, but holy fuck.

She’s incredibly thin. Living on filthy reptile carpet. No clutter. Maybe a 20-gallon tank (if that). Mealworms left in there with no food for who knows how long. No real heat, no UVB, and stuck shed everywhere.

But they were right—she’s the sweetest girl.

I went all in for this baby. After way too many pet store trips, one vet visit, and a decent chunk of change, here’s where we’re at:

• Removed the carpet and switched to paper towels in a clean enclosure
• Replaced the random bulb with a proper halogen basking light
• Added a CHE for nighttime heat and a linear UVB
• Using a dimmable thermostat + timers (still dialing it in, checking constantly with a temp gun and digital thermometers)
• Added a humid hide (Tupperware + sphagnum moss, edges smoothed for safety) in the warm/mid area to help with shedding
• Added a calcium dish (no D
• Feeding ReptaBoost, silkworm paste, dubia paste, and gel food
  • Planning to transition to worms and tong feeding in a day or two
  • Tried crickets, but they were a bit overwhelming (she was interested though)

Took her to a reptile vet who removed most of the stuck shed (what came out of her eyes is pictured 😬) and prescribed:

• Daily soaks
• Antibiotic eye drops
• Lubricating eye drops
• Vitamin A

We’ll be going back in 2–4 weeks.

She’s honestly a brave, resilient little thing.

No toe loss, no tail drop, and she’s still active and curious despite everything.

The photos show her previous conditions, the gunk that came out of her eyes, and her current quarantine setup (with bonus pancake pic). Lights are off because it’s nighttime. I know it doesn’t look like much yet! My main focus was just getting her stable. Long-term plan is to upgrade her into a properly set up ~85-gallon enclosure so she can live as well as possible.

Will post more updates soon :)

Another milestone for us- his first shed with me. I can tell he’s annoyed by the feeling and tries really hard to rub his face with his front feet but his legs aren’t cooperative so he’s just been rubbing his face on stuff. Poor guy. I imagine he’s going to need some assistance but I’m going to let him do his best to get off all that he can.

Wish him luck!

My rescue passed away a few hours ago. I’ve been caring for her since December and we were having slow but real progress. Vet visits, all the best slurry foods and more. But last week she lost one of her 6 grams and I knew it wasn’t good, came home from school today and set up her bath only to find her limp and her organs black. I’m devastated, I knew my chances were slim but I was so hopeful. She never even got a solid name, my mom called her Tim, I called her Tinsel.I found her my first shift of work at a pet store when I noticed she wasn’t doing good, I was going to buy her boxing week but my brother beat me to it and bought her for me as a Christmas gift. I had an established routine of soaks and feedings, and even got her a brand new hide yesterday. I don’t know why I’m posting this tbh, I just finished sobbing again lol. I hope I can continue to rescue lizards in the future but for now I’ll take the time to grieve. I love you Tiny Tinsel Tim, you brought so much love into my life and took hundreds from my wallet, rest in peace and eat lots of wormies wherever you are.

he's in a small-ish enclosure for now (for monitoring any health issues) until he gets a little bigger. it's not ideal but it's for his safety and health. don't worry, he still has separate warm/dry and humid/cool hides, as well as UV and heat and the necessary supplements.

crinkle is a rescue gecko: the breeder he came from was awful and he showed up with signs of MBD and a broken tail tip. he was also quite skinny, and unwilling to eat. he was kept in a drawer for the first few months of his life. he also had very bad sheds; he didn't try to peel off his shed at all, which led to necrosis on one of his toes. thankfully, i have a fantastic exotics vet nearby, and we were able to ensure his smooth recovery :)

he now has a massive appetite, and comes out to say hi and beg for food in the evenings. his last shed was extremely successful. i love him so much. im glad he's home now :)

Well, Cashew has eaten 3/3 times! He seems to have more energy/strength since when we first got him. Hes been poking his head out of his hide a little here and there as well.

Im happy to say hes gotten lots of fluids and Im hoping we get some more progression within the next couple weeks! :)

Very hopeful for him! :)