Reptiles/crested gecko

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Expert: Thea - 9/9/2009


Question
my son's crested gecko has just shed and he noticed he has some bumps under his jawline. It is more on one side than the other we were just wondering what might be causing it and if we should be alarmed?

Answer
Hi Rachel, I'm sure you can appreciate how difficult it is to give an opinion on something that I can't see. Just to rule out the obvious though, cresteds do have a series of rather enlarged scales that line the lower jaw. I have included a couple links with close-ups that show them well. Is it possible that this is what your son was looking at? Do the bumps appear to be at the skin surface or below the skin? Are they in the throat area or more on the jaw bone? How many are there and does it appear to be a random pattern or are they in a row? Is there any discolouration?

http://www.oldcountryanimalclinic.com/db2/00144/oldcountryanimalclinic.com/_uima...

http://www.pet-care-portal.com/images/CrestedGeckoT3Pic3.jpg

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Thea

Expertise

I can answer questions on the proper husbandry and diet of Iguanas, bearded dragons, geckoes, skinks, chameleons, tortoises, box turtles, treefrogs, non-venomous snakes and tarantulas. Also the breeding of some species of feeder insects. I have no experience with venonmous snakes and only limited experience with aquatic turtles.

Experience

I have been keeping and breeding reptiles for over 30 years. In addition to my regular job in the medical field I also worked for several years in a pet store that specialized only in exotics. The job entailed both caring for and answering questions on innumerable species. It required constant, extensive research into a wide range of reptiles. I have been called to appear on televised national media (CBC, CTV and Life Channel) as well as CBC radio to discuss the proper care of reptiles and other exotics in captivity. I currently own one or more species of those listed under my expertise with the exception of chameleons. I owned chameleons for years but keep none currently. I keep over 20 snakes comprising 5 species, both Colubridae and Boidae. I bred corn snakes for several years. I have a particular interest in treefrogs and currently have 5 different species. I've raised redfoot tortoises for 10 years and have two iguanas, one for 12 years.

Publications
A small and now defunct local magazine called "Pet Vue"

Education/Credentials
Diagnostic medical microbiology with some parasitology experience.

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