Oh gosh...Leopard Gecko help please!

**AlteredStateGrl** · 07-10-2007, 10:27 PM

Ok, so tonight, I noticed at the very tippy bottom of my lil' lizards tail had some blood. There was some sand that had crusted on it, but I took some damp tissue and GENTLY pressed it against his tail...and it came off....the sand, not his tail. Then, I tried to dry it as best I could...still like, not even a drop of blood, but there was still a teeny tiny bit none the less. I don't think it's from trama because it hasn't experianced any, and it's not him "losing" his tail, but I don't know what caused it? He's alone in his tank, other than the crickets he eats, nothing else in there.....

Weird? I took a picture, it's the best I could do....and then took a pic of him just regular, because he's totally healthy, eating, etc.

So, I dunno...any ideas, thoughts? Just keep and eye on it?

Thanks!!!!!

**AlteredStateGrl** · 07-10-2007, 11:11 PM

Ok, so I did some Google searching, and couldn't find much for just the tippy bottom of the tail. I did find one thing that mentioned maybe it was because he didn't shed off the tip of the tail completely? Like they do toes sometimes? I don't know, I didn't see any skin on there, and we handle him daily. Well, nightly. Anyway, it seems to be ok now. No sand on it and it doesn't apear to be bloody. Bloody is a overstatement I think...it was just a teeny drop of blood.

**AlteredStateGrl** · 07-11-2007, 12:04 PM

Update...

His tail looks good this morning. I noticed a few of his little toes had some shed skin still on there tightly. SO, I read online to have him soak in warm water....yeah...ummm m, he doesn't "soak" he sprints. Anyway, I just kept putting him in the warm water and used a q-tip to get the rest of the skin off. After like, an HOUR, I think I got it. He's so squirmy. Anyway, I'll try and make sure his tank is more humid.

Any idea how to make it more humid? I spray his tree with a spray bottle, and the moss in there...but it dries quickly.

ES · 07-11-2007, 12:28 PM

glad hes ok ASG. to make it more humid spray down the tank with a spray bottle. the heat from the lights should make it a little more humid.

30_Units · 07-11-2007, 12:35 PM

what can happen when they shed asg, as you've already read about, is that a little tip of skin gets left on their tails, fingertips, etcetera. after shedding the animal continues to grow, and like a tourniqet, begins to squeeze and squeeze, eventually causing the loss of the toes\tailtip.

The best thing you can do is make sure that the humidity in his hiding spot is in the 70-90% range, and like emptyspaces said, misting once in the morning and once in the evening, whole tank, not just hiding spot.

If in the future you notice this happeneing, the best thing you can do is wet a q-tip with water and gently apply pressure around the chafing skin, and gradually work it off. the water helps it loosen up. be careful, go slow, and it'll eventually come off.

Be extra careful about incomplte shedding around the eyes! I had a baby lep get a really bad eye injury from my noobness and lack of removal at one time.

**AlteredStateGrl** · 07-11-2007, 12:41 PM

Thanks guys. I've been only misting his tree bedroom.

, so I'll do the whole tank. His tree is on the warm side of his tank and gets the perfect temperature (I use an under the tank heater...it's safer than a heat rock...I've seen terrible pictures of burned geckos from the heat rock getting too hot). He has been really good about the shedding skin on his face, but during his last shed, I helped him after some stayed over one eye for most of the day though. I think maybe I missed checking the toes because they're so little and i just don't look at them closely like I do his little mug. One of his little toes was purple-ishy and today when I soaked him and did the Q-tip drill, I think I got it all (off a few other toes as well, sometimes it's hard to tell because he has white paws). I'll pay much closer attention from now on.

Thanks again.

/goes to mist EL T's tank.

30_Units · 07-11-2007, 05:41 PM

good shtuff asg. sounds like the little lizard's got a good home.

question: do you have hiding spots on both sides of the tank? i.e. one on the cold side so he can thermoregulate if he gets too hot?

**AlteredStateGrl** · 07-11-2007, 05:46 PM

Originally Posted by 30_Units

good shtuff asg. sounds like the little lizard's got a good home.

question: do you have hiding spots on both sides of the tank? i.e. one on the cold side so he can thermoregulate if he gets too hot?

I don't...only on the warm side....you think I should get him one for the cool side?

30_Units · 07-12-2007, 05:17 AM

yeah, mos def. You don't have to go out and buy and expensive hidey-log or anything, just an upside down margarine container (or something similar) with a door cut in the side works wonderful.

They need to be able to hide in both the cool and warm sides because of the whole cold blooded thing, thermoregulation my dear.

**AlteredStateGrl** · 07-14-2007, 12:46 PM

Ok, it took me a few days, but I took a log shelter we had, and cut it down because it was huge....NOT easy to saw through...so, he has a hiding place on the cool side, but he hasn't used it yet.

Here are some pics. When he gets bigger, we're going to upgrade the size of his/her tank.

BTW, the toes and tail are looking perfect! I got rid of all of the pesky skin.

Lloydy · 07-16-2007, 04:04 AM

thats one wicked lizard

**AlteredStateGrl** · 07-16-2007, 06:13 AM

Thanks! Yeah, he's way fuckin' cool. He's so fun to play with and handle. He doesn't bite and loves to be petted...he'll sit still for you when you do it.

I <3's that little guy.

(or girl...still too young to know)

Mr. Criminal213 · 07-16-2007, 08:16 AM

Originally Posted by Lloydy

thats one wicked lizard

^agreed...

that cage looks like it would be fuckin tight to chill in...if you were high....and it was bigger....or tripping on shrooms you might shrink.....oh shit i wanna do that.......im gunna go trip....oh fuck...no cage....fuck it ill trip anyways....

tight lizard...geko?

**AlteredStateGrl** · 07-16-2007, 08:18 AM

Gecko. El Tigre is his/her name.

ES · 07-16-2007, 08:25 AM

looks like a pretty psychedelic place for the little guy, purple sand and whatnot. oh man, i can tottally imagine you struggling to saw that log asg

. i had anoles when i was young, i always thought the leopard geckos where awesome.

**AlteredStateGrl** · 07-16-2007, 08:44 AM

Dude, it took me like....2 days to get through it with this stupid saw. Then, there was a KNOT on one side.....grrrr. I was determined though, because I knew it'd be perfect.

Mr. Criminal213 · 07-16-2007, 09:38 PM

Originally Posted by AlteredStateGrl

Gecko. El Tigre is his/her name.

My friend has a cat named El Tigre... but that gecko looks way tighter

myxomatosis · 07-17-2007, 12:12 AM

Doesn't sand generally equal impaction?

**AlteredStateGrl** · 07-17-2007, 08:07 AM

Only when they're very very small. After so many months, they can move to sand, and a certain grain size. He's had carpet for months, and just got the sand. Also, when he eats his crickets, he doesn't get the sand, he gets the crickets only. He's a good hunter with great aim.

I watch.

myxomatosis · 07-18-2007, 12:02 AM

Good stuff. I was young when I had my leopard gecko and that's what I'd remembered.