Help! I found a gecko out side hurt, want to help it but don't know what to feed it.?

Question

I was up here at my grandmother's house in florda, well I'm still down here but I was gecko hunting, I love to bring animals into the house over night so they don't get hurt or what ever, but this is the first time with a gecko,(I have been studying animals sense I was to young to remaber so yes I know how to take care of other animals, mostly warm blooded.) It has a cut on its neck, nothing bad but I don't want it to die because it hurt, i so I brough it in, now sense I plan to 'play nurse' as my grandfather calls it I need to know what it eats. I don't know what type of gecko it is, (I normaly take care of wildlife in Michigan, so I don't know much about reptiles.) But I hate to see anything hurt so I want to help it. Please help with what it would eat. (Please don't tell me its not good to take animals off the street, and help what is around. I get that enough from my parents and other family. I can't stand to see anything hurt. If it was up to me I'd take of everything of earth.)

It seems vary common, I've seen alot around here, its has no spots and goes from green to brown, for what I've seen. Kind of looks like the gecko for geko(sp?).

do plan to let it go. Its wild it desives to be outside but I want to make sure its ok before I send it off into the woods, I will always want yo learn more about animals and even if I do let it go,right now I would still like to know about them so if one does need alot of help than I can take it to the vet or whatever. But I never like to have to worry about things around me getting hurt. So as long as I'm not dead I will take care of any animal, than if it wants I'll let it go. And I also plan to be a vet, so its best to know as much as I can. I would also feel badsense I took it in for the night if I did not give it something to eat. I would never be able to forgive myself. I know that sounds weird but I just love all animals and wish I could help them all. I also plan ongetting a lizard when I get home. So why resuch then when I can now?

do plan to let it go. Its wild it desives to be outside but I want to make sure its ok before I send it off into the woods, I will always want yo learn more about animals and even if I do let it go,right now I would still like to know about them so if one does need alot of help than I can take it to the vet or whatever. But I never like to have to worry about things around me getting hurt. So as long as I'm not dead I will take care of any animal, than if it wants I'll let it go. And I also plan to be a vet, so its best to know as much as I can. I would also feel badsense I took it in for the night if I did not give it something to eat. I would never be able to forgive myself. I know that sounds weird but I just love all animals and wish I could help them all. I also plan ongetting a lizard when I get home. So why resuch then when I can now?

Answer 1

Odds are that if it doesn't have a deep bleeding or infected wound, it would be better off without you trying to play nurse or mommy to it, and instead let it go where you found it. Especially since you are not experienced with reptiles.

If you really care, and it's flesh wound is not serious, that is what you would do.

Reptiles know better how to take care of themselves, and have been doing it for millions of years before people came along to play nurse to them. It is very arrogant to assume that an animal will not make it with the slightest injury without such human intervention. Most likely you will be the cause of it dying by interference when you don't know anything.

If it really has a serious injury/wound, or infected wound, and if you really want to help it, you can spend allowance or something for a vet trip. Or at the very least find someone with some medical background who might have some first aid supplies around to debride the wound, sterilize with betadine/saline solution, treat with some antibiotic, and dress the wound or seal it from further debris. Then let it go after it is treated. It will live longer than you trying to play catch up and learn about reptiles at the same time. Learn about the reptiles FIRST...THEN try to keep one.

Answer 2

Depending on what kind of gecko it is, you should find out pronto. Go online and look at some pics. If it's outdoors, chances are it isn't a gecko, but your run of the mill lizard.
Since you're in florida, it most likely requires humidity to survive. I suggest some Forest Floor type of substrate that you mist twice daily at least. Almost all reptiles will eat crickets, but you can 't get just any crickets. If the lizard is no bigger than your thumb and no longer than your index finger give it small crickets. Pet stores sell different sizes. If it's as long as your hand from wrist to fingertip and wider than two of your fingers put together, give it large crickets. Buy some calcium dust and put it on the crickets before you feed them to the lizard, because if the lizard or gecko is injured, it needs the suppliment. I keep various exotic geckos from South America and Pakistan and even China, so if you don't know what gecko it is, crickets sized appropriately is the way to go. Give it a water source in a bowl...a flat one that he doesn't have to climb to reach and try to watch it drink if you can. If the water bowl is ignored, mist the tank along the glass or plastic walls, because geckos that don't drink from bowls will drink from the walls, assuming it is rain. If the cut is deeper than a large paper cut, it will get infected and the gecko will suffer tremendously. If it doesn't eat anything you give it and it stays hidden(give it a hiding place like a hollow rock or cave dwelling)
it's dying. Take it to a vet and they will put it to sleep without pain. I've put down suffering geckos before that had impacted intestines and couldn't expel their waste. It's painless for them. Try to keep in mind, that if what you have is a gecko of unknown origin, maybe an escaped pet, it could be dangerous if you handle it and do not wash your hands. A number of gecko species will spread salminella. For instance, leopard geckos. You have to wash your hands with hot water and soap each time you come in contact with all lizards. Just be careful and don't over feed it. No more than two or three crickets at a time if it is injured. Geckos have high stress levels! They can die from stress, especially if already hurt or scared. And good for you taking in a hurt pet. Creatures that can't help themselves are the most needy. But, chances are, the gecko/lizard would have found a way eventually...they are resourceful. Unless that is, he was a long way from home, or captive bred and knows nothing of the wild. Good luck.

Answer 3

The truth is that this lizard can most probably survive very well in the wild independantly with or without this cut.
Since you already have the gecko, and i do think it is really caring of you to take it in, gecko's require crickets as a stable diet. You can buy these from most pet shops. I wouldn't advice feeding bugs from the wild as they may contain paracites or pesticides (pest sprays) which may harm this little fellow.
Try not to keep him for too long as he may get stressed out and I am sure he has a little family waiting for him.
Good luck in discovering more about these animals, maybe you could consider buying one of your own from a pet store, just make sure you read up EVERYTHING you need to know about them first.

Answer 4

Color change from brown to green, throat flap on male is either red ( American Anole ) or blue ( Bahama ), both are found in Florida. They eat small bugs and flying insects. Geckos can also be found in Florida, look on window screens at night..

Answer 5

Its more than likely an anole. It'a invasive species that is not native to Fl. I live down here, they are really common here. My cat like to catch them and eat it too.. Do the true Florida wildlife a favor and kill the specimen you have.

Answer 6

It sounds more like an Anole, there everywhere in FL. Here is a great site, check it out. As for the cut wash it out, and put an antibacterial oinment on it.

http://www.anapsid.org/anole.html

Answer 7

check this out here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gecko, they list different kinds and what they eat, so maybe you can identify the one you have