Tip of tail?

bambichik39 · #1 11-29-2011, 03:28 PM

I have two leo's that are housed together, both female. I've had them since '06, so they are going to be 6 this coming year. They have always been housed together and are house mates. I have this DIY humid hide I made, and yesterday one of my leo's has learned how to get in-between the humid hide tub and the structure I built to cover it. Twice I found her on top of the tub, and once down in the corner. I shoveled some empty toilet paper rolls around the tub to keep it tight against the structure. I checked her this morning and she was inside the tub. Then, a few hours later this morning I checked again and sure enough shes on top of the tub again! I went ahead and took off the top of the structure, so its just the tub basically in case she gets stuck again since I can't fix the problem right now. But that whole story is really about her tail. I noticed the last time I found her on top, the very tip of her tail looks like it was either bit, or pinched off. It might have happened when she was stuck in the corner of the DIY structure and the tub and I just noticed, either way its gone. Do I need to do anything about this?

Here are some pictures...

This is what she keeps getting stuck in... inside of that structure is an actual container that has the brown mossy stuff (sorry can't think of the name right now).

Here is a close up of her tail (shes on top of the container in this picture, I have the top of the structure off).

Yoshi'smom · #2 11-29-2011, 05:27 PM

It may have pinched off.... Is the top of that humid hide heavy enough to do this? If so, this may be dangerous to both geckos. You don't want one of them to get crushed or break any bones on accident.

bambichik39 · #3 11-29-2011, 05:31 PM

I dont understand how that one keeps getting up there, as their tunnel goes straight into the tub. I've had that set up for months now, and never had one of them get up there. It's just frustrating. I dont want it to get hurt, so I removed the lid. I'm just upset I can't figure out how its getting up there. It's like a magic trick. They must be like mice and can squeeze their bodies up or something, because there isn't even a 1/4'' gap for it to crawl up there.

Yoshi'smom · #4 11-29-2011, 05:39 PM

They can do things I never thought possible... I have a custom built background for one of my leo's tanks and he will literally crawl up the sheer vertical surface to the top of the tank... They can be little tricksters!
About the tip of the tail... Keep an eye on it. Don't use anything topical on it unless it's prescribed by a vet (they can lick it off and you don't want them to ingest it). Keep the tank especially clean while the break heals. If you see it getting worse and looking gross in the next few days, it's time for a trip to the vet.
You may also want to consider splitting up these two for the time being while she heals...
Keep us updated!

bambichik39 · #5 11-29-2011, 05:46 PM

ok thanks, i've been keeping an eye on it. I thought about seperating, but for now they have been hanging out in different places. I use slate as substrate, so hopefully that helps as its always cleaned. I'll update regularly!

Yoshi'smom · #6 11-29-2011, 05:57 PM

Awesome! Slates tile are great! Let us know!

bambichik39 · #7 12-02-2011, 02:13 PM

Just a quick update... Napoleon (the leo in question) seems to be doing well. The tip of the tail looks about the same, and healing on its own. She still has a great appetite and seems to be doing well. Today is the first day I put the humid hide cover back in their tank. I made a little "tunnel" so they cant go anywhere but in and out of it. Here is a picture. Hopefully she doesnt manage to do anything else, and I'll update again in a few days.