tokay's can't climb glass?? HELP

tokaygeckoz

tokaygeckoz

New member
yeah but they'll only stay white for about 2 days until the seem to get "dirty" again, furthering that they can't climb on glass anymore. so they'll look normal and he CAN climb but for about a millionth the time as my other geckos could.
 
Riverside Reptiles

Riverside Reptiles

Administrator (HMFIC)
Have you tried yet putting him in a rubbermaid type tub with no substrate? This one easy to do experiment would go a long way in eliminating/ruling out various potential problems. You don't have to make it his permanent enclosure, but just try it for a few weeks and see what happens. Spend $10, get a rubbermaid that has some decent vertical height to it put some holes in it for air and just leave it free of substrate. You can still put in some fake plants, rocks, wood, bamboo, etc for hiding/climbing. If you don't try anything different, not much is bound to change.
 
tokaygeckoz

tokaygeckoz

New member
I've actually tried that about a year ago, when I noticed the tokays couldn't climb, but I still couldn't rule out anything? I'm starting to increase the humidity levels a bit, I'll have to see if that helps.
 
MauricesExoticPets

MauricesExoticPets

New member
I'm thinking some sort of fungal infection is your geckos issue, treat that an the problem should resolve.

My thoughts are that the issue somewhat resolves after shed but is reoccurring because of its presence in the enclosure.

Issues like this require daily sterilization of the enclosure as well as treatment or the problem never goes away.

Maurice Pudlo
 
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tokaygeckoz

tokaygeckoz

New member
okay I've been letting him soak in a shallow container filled with water and I"m beginning to think that his problem is extreme stuck shed!, I'm not 100% sure yet but it would explain everything, I think that every time he has been shedding his skin slim layers of stuck shed have been layered overtime, resulting in no grip from his feet. HOWEVER it's not 100% visible to the naked eye, which is why I thought it wasn't stuck shed. does anyone have an idea or better way I can remove his stuck shed faster but without injuring him?
 
MauricesExoticPets

MauricesExoticPets

New member
If it can climb for a bit after each shed, stuck shed is not the problem.

Stuck shed, certainly several layers of it are very easy to spot.

You described clean feet post shed then climbing ability returns for a short time. Then the dirty feet issue returns and climbing ability is lost.

I'm nearly certain your gecko is suffering from a fungal infection. Not lack of humidity or anything else. Treatment is going to require identification of the fungus, and then some form of medication that will kill said fungus.

There is no way to guess at this sort of thing with out a huge chance of error. Its going to cost you some form of time and likely a fair bit at the vet too to properly resolve the problem.

Maurice Pudlo
 
M

mnelson777

New member
Black fungus disease

Your Gecko probably has black fungus. Its usually caused by the temp being to low. I found out about it when i had an Iguana that caught it. I read several books before I found out what it was. There is medication you can get for it. I got some at Petco or maybe it was petsmart. There isn't much info about this available. I didn't find out about it until I bought a 500 page Iguana manual. I think my Tokay Gecko has it right now. I had him in an unheated cage for too long. His in a better situation now. Hopefully this goes away after treatment.
 
tokaygeckoz

tokaygeckoz

New member
mnelson777 said:
Your Gecko probably has black fungus. Its usually caused by the temp being to low. I found out about it when i had an Iguana that caught it. I read several books before I found out what it was. There is medication you can get for it. I got some at Petco or maybe it was petsmart. There isn't much info about this available. I didn't find out about it until I bought a 500 page Iguana manual. I think my Tokay Gecko has it right now. I had him in an unheated cage for too long. His in a better situation now. Hopefully this goes away after treatment.
Click to expand...

huummm? I'm interested in more information about this? what exaclty are you using? feel free to pm me.
 
MauricesExoticPets

MauricesExoticPets

New member
tokaygeckoz said:
huummm? I'm interested in more information about this? what exaclty are you using? feel free to pm me.
Click to expand...

I assume you didn't read my posts, fungus is likely, but type of fungus is just as important in determining which medication to use, tossing just any medication at it is not the way to go.

Hit up your vet with a sample of the geckos shed, soaking water, and substrate. Maybe even bring the gecko. The vet will be able to identify the issue be it fungus or something else and provide a recommendation for treatment, and a solid answer to what is causing the problem.

You are not obligated to seek treatment there, if you wish, you can tell the vet you are going to seek out a second opinion.

Most fungus does thrive in warm moist areas, some do well in cooler temps. Its best just to identify what it is so the best medication can be selected to get rid of it.

In the meantime I'd move the gecko into an enclosure that is easy to clean every day. Sterile kind of clean, and maintain it away from any other reptiles and air ducts. Think quarantine.

Maurice Pudlo
 
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tokaygeckoz

tokaygeckoz

New member
Unfortunately I have not. I have no idea why. Occasionally he will be able to climb for like a few hours and then he will just slip off as the day persists after a shed. After a couple days after the shed he won't even be able to climb and the seta turn a light grey brown color? This has only happened with my female and male tokay geckos for some reason, but they have never been together during ownership beacuse the male was purchased after the female. I only have my male tokay gecko now. Sadly my female has passed away due to a very unfortunate accident which was completely unrelated. I don't even live in the same area anymore and the problem still persists with my male which I've owned for 3 years now. It makes me very upset. I've even went as far to read a college study about geckos feet, but came up with nothing helpful. My original thoughts had to due with frequent handling, but I've tested this and it did not make a difference. I feel like there isn't much else I can do at this point.
 
F

Fantom6

New member
tokay climbing on walls

Did you ever take them to the vet just to see if it was a fungal infection like Maurice was talking about? I have a Tokay that just started doing it and can't figure out why. His feet aren't sticky like they usually are and are a light brown. Only been going on for about a week. I handle him every night cause I'm trying to tame him but I don't think its the handling cause I wash my hands with a bacterial soap before and after getting him out. Still trying to figure it out and I will just need more time. Thanks for getting back with me and lets keep each other updated!! thanks and good luck, Joe
 
NicKtheGreeK1997

NicKtheGreeK1997

New member
Maybe it's the start of MBD or calcium/D3 vitamin oversuppliment. One of the symptoms is that their lamelas don't work. Happened with my gargoyle gecko. Did you ever find the causes of the inability to climb?
@hquintero1980 I don' get it, can you say again how your day gecko died? I'm a bit conserned for my garg as he haven't made a good shed for a while and he can't climb very well.
 
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tokaygeckoz

tokaygeckoz

New member
Fantom6 said:
Did you ever take them to the vet just to see if it was a fungal infection like Maurice was talking about? I have a Tokay that just started doing it and can't figure out why. His feet aren't sticky like they usually are and are a light brown. Only been going on for about a week. I handle him every night cause I'm trying to tame him but I don't think its the handling cause I wash my hands with a bacterial soap before and after getting him out. Still trying to figure it out and I will just need more time. Thanks for getting back with me and lets keep each other updated!! thanks and good luck, Joe
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Hey Joe,

Well there aren't any reptile vets around here unfortunately. Regular vets don't seem to know much other than sometimes geckos get stuck shed, which isn't exactly rocket science. However, I did seek advice from a pharmacist that said he could actually recommended a topical anti bacterial/fungus cream for his feet (the gecko) that would not harm him either way. That was like a year ago and It did not help at all. It had no effect what so ever actually. I'm betting it isn't a fungal infection, I've literally tried so many things making sure his feet were clean as hell too and would soak them in water etc. I will keep in touch for sure, but I'm afraid there isn't much I can help with at this point. If you figure out something or notice a change during the day, write here so we can go over what you're doing differently or anything like that. I want to hear what you've tried or noticed. One thing I should also mention is that I've owned golden geckos and house geckos which never had this problem. I would ask you to try not holding him for at least a week and report back to see if there is a change. I've tried this and there wasn't a change at all. Perhaps I didn't do it long enough?
 
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billewicz

billewicz

New member
OK, the next time you clean the glass, use a razor and the cleaning solution. Tap water that is heavy in mineral salts will coat the glass rendering it 'slimy' to your Tokay.

You may have to work at it bit and let the cleaning solution help while you wet-scrape with the razor.

Good luck,

Michael
 
tokaygeckoz

tokaygeckoz

New member
billewicz said:
OK, the next time you clean the glass, use a razor and the cleaning solution. Tap water that is heavy in mineral salts will coat the glass rendering it 'slimy' to your Tokay.

You may have to work at it bit and let the cleaning solution help while you wet-scrape with the razor.

Good luck,

Michael
Click to expand...

I appreciate the reply, but there are a few things I'd like to make clear. The glass is very clean and I do use a razor blade to scrape off calcium and residue build up when I see it, along with warm fragrance/residue free soapy water. After it's wiped down with a cloth, it's dry and there is never any residue left over. I'm 100% sure his cage is not the problem. He is also very rarely in his cage anyways, only when I go to bed and sometimes during the day. I always have him outside the cage and around the house, but he is kept hydrated with his own water bottle and mister. Normally he'll just lay on the couch with me or sit on my laptop like he's doing right now. He doesn't run around in dirt or chemicals or anything unusual. He cannot climb any smooth surface at all, including walls, glass, shelves, wood slaps or anything that would normally require the toe pads to be used. He can only climb trees and rough material in which he will use his claws/nails. He will try to climb my laptop screen and he won't be able to grip at all. I'm not focusing on just his cage alone. I know how to care for him and clean their cages and stuff. I've had lizards since I was 8. This is something that doesn't make sense to me and it seems as though it isn't very common either. Not to sound rude, but I really don't think too many people here can offer advice that I haven't already tried. Thanks anyways though.
 
billewicz

billewicz

New member
OK, you're right, I did not see that you had razored the glass as well.

I wanted to air the option for educational purposes as well since several new keepers will learn from this thread when dealing with similar husbandry issues.

My last thought is a nutritional issue. Should you ever discover the cause please let us know, for the betterment of the Tokay community as a whole.

Thanks and good luck.

Michael's Tokay Hoard
 
Stellarreality

Stellarreality

New member
Sorry for bumping an old thread, but it is extremely related. I'll outline my situation.

I got my tokay about a week ago, and he (pretty sure with the coloration it's a he) was on top of the cage, I accidentally spooked him and he dropped hard. So I figure I'd attempt to handle him. This is my third attempt; after some coaxing and slight chasing around the cage I got him to walk up on my leather welding glove. I transferred him to my hand and held him for a bit and he walked up my arm...and back into my hand I was pretty happy.

I went to place him back in the cage and I know he likes the glass so that's where I went to place him...he started slipping and my heart sunk =[...well I found this and have his feet a water bath and noticed it didn't help...I misted the cage to raise humidity thinking the gloves sapped the moisture from his feet but no success.

I also noticed his pads that don't stick well are brown and the others are pale like they should be...wtf is this =[ I'm so sad for him he loves the glass. I don't know what a gecko is that can't scale glass it makes me so saddddd.

Could it be the oils from my hand? The perfume from my body wash? I use filtered water for his cage so I don't think it could be a water issue...

It just seems odd it happened right after handling....maybe stress?
 
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