Tail rot is an inner infection of the tail or feet/toes caused by stuck shed. My gecko lost his tail due to this, he naturally dropped it. Your gecko's tail etc. will shrivel up and turn purple, pink, red, and black. It will also start to smell. You should get it amputated by a vet if it is not on its tail and if the tail doesn't naturally drop or you can risk septic infection. Move your gecko to a 10-gallon tank that is disinfected, with 1 hide, a heat mat, a water dish, and a dish with nature zone rot guard, and t rex leopard gecko supper food mix. If your gecko looses apatite take it to the vet asap!!
Stick tail- caused by the parasite Cryptosporidium varanae, is a deadly, and extremely contagious parasite with no cure. Symptoms are a tail that is so skinny it looks like a twig, body will be emaciated, diarrhea, spending time in cold side of tank and will not use heat mat, visible white spots on liver through belly skin, and loss of apatite. If you think your gecko has stick tail bring your gecko to the vet and get it tested for the parasite. If it turns up positive have your gecko humanely euthanized. There in so cure and your gecko will slowly and painfully die.
To prevent parasites and worms feed your gecko its feeder insects dusted in nature zone worm guard once a month. Sighs of parasites are loose stools, visible worms in stools, and mucus in stools, If your are seeing any of these sines take your gecko along with a fresh stool sample to a reptile savvy vet and get your gecko tested for worms.
Malnutrition is caused by lack of feeding, worms & parasites, and even incorrect temp. Check out my Basic Leopard gecko care for information on temp, housing, and feeding. If your having troubles with malnutrition, and your geckos temp and feeding habits are proper make sure to go to a reptile savvy vet and get your gecko tested for worms and parasites. Keep in mind that baby leopard geckos have smaller tail then adults, but your geckos tail should be nice and plump, and there stools should be neither hard or watery, whit a urite aka crystalized urine ake white spot on poo that is soft.
Skinny adult leopard geckos tail
Healthy adult leopard geckos tail.
Healthy baby leopard geckos tail.
Stuck shed is never fun, but is actually very common, and am hear to help! The first thing you need to do is figure out why your gecko isn't shedding properly. A normal geckos shed should come of in one piece like a banana peal. The most common reason your gecko is having issues shedding is because you don't have a moist hide for it to shed in. you'll need a hide with a bottom and a top that you can put peat moss or paper towel in and dampen. The hide will need to be on a heat mat otherwise your gecko will not use it. Another reason your gecko could not be not shedding properly is malnutrition. If your gecko is not healthy and not fed properly it cant shed properly. Check out my page on malnutrition, and basic leopard gecko care, for more information on malnutrition and diet. The last reason your gecko is having shedding issues is it is a chronic, and will acer every single time your gecko sheds leading to tail rot If the toes or tail get bit or stuck shedding isn't removed. To remove shedding soak in warm water for 15-30 minutes with zilla shed ease, after soaked well still wet CARFULLY pull of shed with a sharp tweezers. After shed is removed rub area where shed was stuck with clear as natural as you can find aloe vera jell.
Leopard geckos drop there tails for 2 reasons, stress, or infection. See tail rotfor information on dropping due to infection. If your gecko drops its tail due to stress move your gecko to a disinfected 10 gallon tank with a paper towel bottom, 1 hide, heat mat, feed it 1/4 tsp of rot guard made into paste to prevent infection of the tail nub, and put a few drops of colloidal silver on the tail nub to prevent infection as well. Don't touch your gecko, turn its light off, and let it be for a couple of days, besides feeding and watering it, it may not eat for a few days after the trauma.
MBD from a lack of calcium. It makes the joints soft. It is very deadly. Bring your gecko to a reptile savvy vet asap. To prevent MBD (metabolic bone disease) give your gecko a free choice dish of reptile vitamin and mineral supplement calcium with d3 in it. Also dust your feeder insects with the supplement.