Problem with leachie tails

[stubacca]

So I bought a couple juvenile leachies (they were purported as being 7 mos old) a few months ago. They were small for 7 mos but the price was right. Within a week of shipping their tails went squiggly on me. The previous owner had been keeping them on baby food and crickets, but when I got them they would only take crickets which I dusted and gut-loaded. It's now a few months later, they still take crickets with gusto in addition to T-Rex diet but the tails are still as squiggly as ever. Is there anything I can do? Is this common? What causes this? Can anyone help me?

 

[Preston Cook]

That’s is a form of calcium deficiency, as long as its not going into the pelvis its an easy fix. That seems like a Moderate to Bad cause. Just be sure to use calcium in everything. Maybe some else can suggest something else.

 

[GeckoFiend]

I'd actually forget the crix and just do the t-rex diet. That diet has everything they need. If anything will help it, a proper diet will.

As far as the tail, mine is like that, but not as severe. I've talked to a few people, and no one's really sure if that's from a deficiency, an over-abundance, or something else.

 

[luc]

I have only seen it in females prior or after egg laying, mostly corrects itself after a good feeding.

 

[herperboy]

Looks like they werent given enough calcium. Like said previously, as long as it doesnt go into the pelvis or spine they should be fine, but it will most likely never be straight again.

 

[Protean]

UV lighting works well with leachies.

 

[luc]

It will certainly get normal again the animals just need extra calcium.

 

[EMS]

Calcium, D3 and UV lightning will correct it very fast.

EMS

 

[stubacca]

Thanks everyone for your help.

 

[SelectGex]

UV lighting works well with leachies.

I was going to say the same thing. I had a crested do this a few years ago and a UV light on her for a few weeks made a world of difference. Even if she didn't 'bask' some light hit her threw leaves and when you picked her up you could see the outline of where she was in the shade vs where she was in the light. I think UV for Rhacs is great, but not always neccesary.

 

[Nathan Hall]

This is extremely common in leachianus. As everyone stated, bump up the calcium and D3 or just stick with Allen's diets. Personally, I give ALL of my leachies crickets dusted with calcium in addition to MRP, fresh fruit, etc. It won't hurt if you want to use UV but it isn't needed. I give calcium glubionate (Neo-Calglucon/Calciquid) and bump up D3 supplementation for reproductive females.

 

[Nathan Hall]

but the tails are still as squiggly as ever.

It can take months to rectify the problem.

 

[Nathan Hall]

an over-abundance, or something else.

Well, I've had a couple of babies hatch out with this issue, so I bumped up the calcium for the female and the rest of the babies of the season had straight tails. It is hard to say 100% since I've noticed it in specimens that receive generous amounts of calcium and D3. I do feel that it is hypocalcemia as opposed to any sort of over-supplementation.

 

[Palex134]

i've had the same issue in auriculatus. My breeders didnt take to insects too well, so I fed clarks gargoyle to them, and most of the babies had the tails. With proper feeding, they began to straighten out in a few weeks, and are normal looking after a couple of months. Good luck.