#tail loss

[carrmodo]

(via https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kBx9GXbfUSQ)

Subscribe!

[tser]

So I literally know nothing about cresties and I'm curious as to why I see so many cresties without a tail? Is their tail falling off just something that happens with the species?

It is very common for crested geckos to lose their tails as adults, compared to other geckos. Also, most other geckos grow their tails back, albeit looking slightly different, while cresties don’t, so it’s far more noticeable of course. 

I have one frogbutt (crested gecko without a tail) and two with tails.

In the wild, crested geckos do not keep their tails to adulthood! Researchers hardly ever find an adult gecko with a tail. 

In fact, one of the reasons “floppy tail”/”lazy tail” seems so common is that the muscles used to hold their tails are not really strong enough to support their tails into adulthood (in addition to perching upside-down on glass which is not natural). 

This is one reason it’s so important to provide a lot of cover and platforms and perches for crested geckos, beyond that it makes them more comfortable. Even doing this, however, lazy tail does happen... especially with some geckos who just really really like sleeping with their tails arched over their backs. Haha. (Floppy tail as a sign of MBD is a whole different matter!! It also involves tail kinks or waves and is a result of a bad diet.) Niji has very mild floppy tail (you can see in some of his pictures he holds it a bit like a hook) which seems to have gotten somewhat better with some gentle tail exercises. 

We like our geckos to keep their tails (because tail loss is a source of stress, an open wound, as well as aesthetics), so we do everything we can to prevent their loss. We treat them very gently, don’t hold them by their tails, try not to startle them, and don’t cohabitate them. 

However, crested gecko tail loss does happen. It’s important when they do to keep their habitats (and them) extra clean, feed them lots of nutritious food to help them heal, and keep an eye on the open wound. Most heal into adorable frogbutts with no problem.

[fuckyeahleopardgeckos]

I just went out and got myself a cute little leopard gecko baby today, BUT, (s)he has previously lost and regenerated his/her tail. It looks normal, proportionate with the body, it's just smooth instead of lumpy. Is it likely for him/her to have a pretty much normal tail since it was lost and regrown at such a young age? Or will (s)he likely have a stumpy tail?

Congrats and good luck with the baby!

Alright... I don't have much experience with tail loss in geckos, I've only read about it. So I might not be very knowledgeable about this. To a follower who has experienced this- feel free to reblog and answer yourself! I'll reblog helpful replies so that ohails can see them!

I'll try to answer your question, I'm pretty sure that if it regrew looking normal, it'll probably continue to look normal unless it comes off again?

[hexsy]

If Your Gecko Has Lost Its Tail

Make sure the gecko is eating well; you can ramp up the amount you normally feed a bit since tail loss is stressful and also means loss of the gecko's fat stores. However, make sure crickets (or other prey) not eaten within about 15 minutes are removed from the tank, or the crickets may try to nibble on the gecko.

Cricket: "You aren't eating me? Oh. Let me just nibble on your open wound."

[chevko]

I wouldn't worry too much about your gecko losing its tail! Even if it does happen, it's not detrimental to the animal, and it doesn't happen often. I have a young (~4mo) gecko who hasn't dropped his yet despite being handled by young children. You just have to be cautious. The tailless geckos in the tag don't necessarily mean the owner is at fault, often tails will drop if geckos are housed together and one is more aggressive than expected, or if the tail gets pinched in the cage on accident.

I haven't gotten one yet but it's one that I'm wanting to get. I like my lizards with tails if possible and I'd be really upset if mine ever lost it's tail since, with cresties, they never grow back :'(