Some Ailments Leopard Geckos Can Get

Leopard geckos are very special pets. They can get numerous types of ailments though. So, whenever your gecko is displaying certain characteristics, you will want to know what is wrong with it. Recognizing these ailments ahead of time will help you to keep them from becoming too serious.

Tail Loss

If your gecko feels threatened or is accidentally grabbed by his tail, then he will drop it. Sometimes cage mats will accidentally grab the tail and cause this too. When this happens make sure to take the gecko out of his cage and move him somewhere warm where you can keep an eye on his eating habits. This is important because his tail is where he stores his fat. Eventually he will grow a shorter, fatter tail.

Eye Disease

Shedding in a terrarium that has low humidity, or for geckos with low amounts of vitamin A, can lead to an eye infection in your leopard gecko, as old skin remnants can get inside of them. Loose pieces of sand, soil, peat or moss can also get inside of your gecko's eyes and injure him. This is why it is a good idea to use reptile carpet, paper towels or newspapers as substrate and supplement vitamin A, to prevent these types of leopard gecko illnesses.

Symptoms of eye disease include discharge, cloudy eyes, squirting, swelling and difficulty opening eyes. Whenever you notice any of these signs you will need to take immediate action. Flush his eyes with sanitized water and then take your gecko to the vet. He will prescribe oral antibiotics to help fight the infection.

Crypto

Cryptosporidium's main symptom is diarrhea, as your gecko's body attempts to flush out the parasite. Vomiting, pain and a swollen stomach are also possible symptoms. Whenever your gecko gets crypto you need to quarantine your gecko from all other geckos and animals. Now decontaminate the terrarium with ammonia. You will also need to wash all of the bowls, hide boxes, furniture and decorations and completely replace the substrate. Make sure that you allow everything to air dry for three days before you use it again. Replace the substrate with a paper one so that you can immediately remove droppings as soon as possible. This will prevent your gecko from re-infecting himself. If this doesn't work, and your gecko appears to be keeping sicker, you will need to take him to the vet. There is no known cure though. Instead, it may take your gecko six months to become "normal" again.

Digestive Tract Blockages

If your gecko swallows sand or gravel while he is eating, his bowels can become blocked. This is why it is so important to make sure that there is no gravel or sand in his eating area. It is also important to use a shallow bowl for this reason, to prevent leopard gecko illness.