AboutYexalen Experience I have a few years of experience owning and researching many species of reptiles. I have been asked to write articles for numerous reptile based websites and I have my own website focused towards reptile care. I currently own two Chinese Water Dragons, two Leopard Geckos, two Green Anoles and two Red Ear Slider Turtles. I have been involved with reptiles since I was a young kid and plan to be involved still for many years to come.
Question QUESTION: My daughter has a fat tailed gecko, he was full grown when we got him so I don't know his age, but we've had him about 3 1/2 years. Today my daughter was holding him and his tail came off. I don't know exactely what happened my daughter is only 5 and very up set about this, she's afraid he's going to die. So what do I do now. Does he need to see a vet? Any help would be great.
ANSWER: Hello Amanda, he wont need to see a vet unless it gets infected. They are a type of lizard that can drop their tail if they feel threatened. She might have grabbed him a little too hard or pulled on his tail. They will do it to distract a predator so they have time to run away.
Tell you Daughter that he will be fine.
I wouldnt handle him though again until his tail has healed. Replace his substrate with a papertowel substrate so its easy to clean (Daily) and will help so nothing gets in the tail area.
Is the end of his tail red or white inside? It should be nice and pink. Warm up the temperatures no more then 5 degrees Fahrenheit, this will help it heal. Be sure to clean the tank very well, right now the most important thing is to get the tail to heal without any infection so keep it clean. If it does look like an open wound you can buy some Anti-bacterial ointment like Neo-sporing and apply a small amount on the area. This will help prevent infection. It is VERY important that you do NOT get the kind with Pain Releiver. It can make him really sick.
My Leopard Gecko lost her tail at a young age and withotu any ointments and just raisign the temperature slightly and keeping her on papertowels it healed up really nicely.
Don't let any crickets stay the night either. Any crickets that he doesnt eat need to be removed because they will eat at the soft exposed tissue on her tail. It should heal fairly soon.
Keep an eye on it and it should be fine.
Good luck
Yexalen
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QUESTION: Thank You for the info. So far his rear end is looking good. I had sand in his cage but I cleaned that out today. I switched it to the green carpet stuff, is this OK? I put one cricket in his cage and he didn't eat it right away like he usually does so I took it out, I'll try again tomorrow. Now with the crickets I usually feed them a good quality crushed dog food, and add a little calcium, and vitamin powder to it. But today at the pet store they told me to feed them tropical fish food. Is that better then what I'm doing?
Answer Hi Amanda, The reptile carpet will be ok but it is best to use papertowels it is easier to clean and keep sterile by replacing it daily. But anything is better then sand (sand is one of the top causes of death in captive geckos) Keep offering him food if in a few days he still doesnt feel like eating (which is normal) try blending the crickets into a mush and hand feeding or gently feeding with a plastic syringe. You can also try to hand feed the cricket to him. If none of that works then boil skinless boneless chicken breast. NO SALT NO SEASONING just water. Put it in the blender and blend until baby food consistancy. Put a little on his lips for him to lick off or use a plastic syringe and gently hand feed that way. But you have a couple days before thats needed.
I have heard of people using the high quality dog or cat food and it is ok as far as I know. Never heard of it being a problem. Dusting with a calcium powder every other day and the multi-vitamin once a week is fine. If you have been doing what you are doing with the dog food for a long amount of time then there is no problem
However Tropical Fish Food Flakes are good for the crickets too. Lots of nutrients. But I don't see one being better then the other.
Here is a good Gut Load recipe:
*3 cups of a grain cereal (like Cheerios, Rice Chex, etc.)
*2 cup of oats,
*1/2-1 cup fish flakes (for protein).
If it looks scrimpy, add a bit of corn meal, even potato flakes.( Be careful with potato flakes. When they get wet they turn into glue and can trap the crix. Only a small amount is needed anyway.)
Don't forget to add moisture to the crix cage. Apple and oranges, zucchini and celery. Also fruit rinds and chard leaves. Leaf lettuces and just about any other moisture laden produce you can find. Avoid iceberg lettuce.
