Injured/Stressed/Sick Tokay
- Thread starter cassicat4
- Start date
cassicat4
New member
Unfortunately I don't know if he is. I can only speculate based on what I see, but I've never personally witnessed it. I guess he could have also caught the scab on any of his cork and it ripped off. I do know there was a black scab there a few days ago that was raised on both ends a bit. Enough so that I could have peeled it off myself (I didn't, of course). And now the entire scab is gone, plus there are the "new" injuries. I just really wish I knew what was going on. I'm still concerned crickets are involved one way or another.
Weeks makes sense, I just wasn't sure if we were talking weeks or months or longer.
Elizabeth Freer
Well-known member
Are you leaving free-range crickets in his tank all the time?
cassicat4
New member
No; well not intentionally. I put them in at night after lights out (around 10pm) then pull them out in the morning (all the ones I can find) at about 8am when the lights come on. I also leave a couple chunks of potato as well as pieces of cricket food in the tank 24/7 in the event there are any left behind, or for them to feed on at night and not bother him. He's a grazer, and usually eats after I go to bed, so I can't just leave them in for a short period of time and then remove them. I tried bowl-feeding him, but that didn't work for him unfortunately.
However, I check on him throughout the day and night when I'm up, and have caught crickets crawling on him (at night). Not sure if they actively bite/annoy him, but I'm guessing they do. They've certainly been annoying me!
XoVictoryXo
New member
I vote for vet assisted amputation. only because it doesnt seem to be healing as well as I had hoped. He may be nibbling at it because it is irritated 
Poor babe. Its def a predicament
Poor babe. Its def a predicament
cassicat4
New member
I've decided to give him until Wednesday. When he was initially injured, he improved somewhat in that time frame, so I expect the same again if this is something that can be treated at home. He'll be treated with Betadine and Polysporin daily until then, and if there's no noticeable improvement, or if he gets worse, I'll be taking him in.
He shed about three weeks ago, so he should be close to shedding again I presume. I'm hoping this takes care of the tail tip.
He's also not getting free-roaming crickets anymore. If they're the issue, I should know soon enough. I've decided to disable them and put them in his superworm bowl. He ate worms just fine from there before, so theoretically he should be able to find the crickets. They can't climb out at all either. I noticed this morning that two were missing, so I'm hoping this means he ate them (and didn't unwittingly drape his tail in the bowl allowing for escapage).
Even after all the manhandling and treatment yesterday, he was quite active last night. Maybe he's feeling a bit better? I can only hope.
I will keep you all updated. Thanks for all the advice and suggestions and reassurances.
He shed about three weeks ago, so he should be close to shedding again I presume. I'm hoping this takes care of the tail tip.
He's also not getting free-roaming crickets anymore. If they're the issue, I should know soon enough. I've decided to disable them and put them in his superworm bowl. He ate worms just fine from there before, so theoretically he should be able to find the crickets. They can't climb out at all either. I noticed this morning that two were missing, so I'm hoping this means he ate them (and didn't unwittingly drape his tail in the bowl allowing for escapage).
Even after all the manhandling and treatment yesterday, he was quite active last night. Maybe he's feeling a bit better? I can only hope.
I will keep you all updated. Thanks for all the advice and suggestions and reassurances.
cassicat4
New member
UPDATE:
I'll be posting updated pics tonight, being that it's Wednesday and decision day.
I've been soaking his tail twice a day in Betadine and coating it in Polysporin.
The part below the injury went grey, dead, and is pretty shrivelled. It's barely being held on by a piece of skin. I suspect a good shed will take care of it.
There is no change to the injury site itself though...it looks the same as before, although a bit redder and wetter (a side effect to using Betadine and Polysporin constantly, and keeping it moist?). However there is a tiny piece of bone sticking out of the good part of his tail, not sure if I didn't notice this before, or if it's because it was covered by the bottom portion of the tail before (which has since receded). Will the wound eventually close on its own, even with my constant treatment?
I'm not seeing any changes or signs of infection to the good part of the tail. However, I did a bad thing and went on Google, so now I don't know if I'm being paranoid or what. My question is - what are the chances he could get septicemia from this? Can it develop on its own, or is the result of an untreated infection only? I'm extremely tempted to take him in for preventative antibiotics just in case. Do those exist? And I know there are risks associated with antibiotics, but in his case, would they be a good idea? I don't want to medicate him if unncessary, but I'm not experienced with this so I'm really at a loss as to what to do. The herp vets I'd take him to aren't very knowledgeable with Tokays (not as common around here) and are sometimes questionable in their theories as it is with more common reptiles.
I also notice that he develops this black crusty stuff on the wound site. From what I understand, this is a scab starting to develop, correct? However, soaking and treating the wound removes the crust. Is that a good idea, or should I be letting it form?
He's not eating a lot at the moment, but he's still quite active. I'm wondering if my constant manhandling is putting him off food? He didn't eat much before when he initially presented with issues and I was doing the same. However, I've also been strongly trying to encourage bowl-feeding, so I've severely limited the free-roaming crickets. He may still be trying to adapt to this as well, I'm not sure.
Anyway, any advice would be appreciated. I hate the fact that the vet is so far away, as I know stress won't help him at all either, but I'll take him if it's needed.
I'll be posting updated pics tonight, being that it's Wednesday and decision day.
I've been soaking his tail twice a day in Betadine and coating it in Polysporin.
The part below the injury went grey, dead, and is pretty shrivelled. It's barely being held on by a piece of skin. I suspect a good shed will take care of it.
There is no change to the injury site itself though...it looks the same as before, although a bit redder and wetter (a side effect to using Betadine and Polysporin constantly, and keeping it moist?). However there is a tiny piece of bone sticking out of the good part of his tail, not sure if I didn't notice this before, or if it's because it was covered by the bottom portion of the tail before (which has since receded). Will the wound eventually close on its own, even with my constant treatment?
I'm not seeing any changes or signs of infection to the good part of the tail. However, I did a bad thing and went on Google, so now I don't know if I'm being paranoid or what. My question is - what are the chances he could get septicemia from this? Can it develop on its own, or is the result of an untreated infection only? I'm extremely tempted to take him in for preventative antibiotics just in case. Do those exist? And I know there are risks associated with antibiotics, but in his case, would they be a good idea? I don't want to medicate him if unncessary, but I'm not experienced with this so I'm really at a loss as to what to do. The herp vets I'd take him to aren't very knowledgeable with Tokays (not as common around here) and are sometimes questionable in their theories as it is with more common reptiles.
I also notice that he develops this black crusty stuff on the wound site. From what I understand, this is a scab starting to develop, correct? However, soaking and treating the wound removes the crust. Is that a good idea, or should I be letting it form?
He's not eating a lot at the moment, but he's still quite active. I'm wondering if my constant manhandling is putting him off food? He didn't eat much before when he initially presented with issues and I was doing the same. However, I've also been strongly trying to encourage bowl-feeding, so I've severely limited the free-roaming crickets. He may still be trying to adapt to this as well, I'm not sure.
Anyway, any advice would be appreciated. I hate the fact that the vet is so far away, as I know stress won't help him at all either, but I'll take him if it's needed.
Last edited:
billewicz
New member
So, yes there is a bone that will show. And yes, the black is his scab and scar tissue is black for a while as well.
Your vet should be able to do the math and break down an oral antibiotic appropriate for his weight. Then let the wound dry out and scab over. This should heal faster.
Also, bring him to the vet in a snake bag or similar cloth bag. This way you can weigh him in the bag and easily remove him from it for his exam. (Then weight the bag to subtract from the total weight.) Hard, Kritter Keepers, and a-like, make it really easy for escape.
I actually use the soft mesh, spring loaded carriers in the same fashion but a snake bag will do just fine.
Your vet should be able to do the math and break down an oral antibiotic appropriate for his weight. Then let the wound dry out and scab over. This should heal faster.
Also, bring him to the vet in a snake bag or similar cloth bag. This way you can weigh him in the bag and easily remove him from it for his exam. (Then weight the bag to subtract from the total weight.) Hard, Kritter Keepers, and a-like, make it really easy for escape.
I actually use the soft mesh, spring loaded carriers in the same fashion but a snake bag will do just fine.
Elizabeth Freer
Well-known member
cassicat4
New member
UPDATE:
He's doing much better.
He shed the day after my last post, and dropped the tip of the tail. I gave the open wound one last coat of Polysporin and then left it alone.
Since then, it has scabbed over, and his appetite and attitude are back! (I almost got munched even trying to get this picture ). I'm very relieved.
I think it's well on the way to healing fine, but I'm keeping him on paper towel just until it's completely healed. I am using much larger pieces of towel that are being held down in the corners by even more cricket food (potatoes and carrots) to prevent him from accidentally biting it. Since he's more active, I notice he's been picking them off the walls and foliage of his enclosure instead, which helps. He also spends more time sleeping on the walls or in his cork log, rather than sprawled out on the floor.
So thank you everyone for your help! You kept me sane and calm, and provided me with valuable info that I'll definitely use and remember! There's very few Tokay keepers where I live, and the herp vets' experience is limited to the more commonly-kept reptiles, so advice by the much more experienced people on this forum is definitely appreciated.
He's doing much better.
He shed the day after my last post, and dropped the tip of the tail. I gave the open wound one last coat of Polysporin and then left it alone.
Since then, it has scabbed over, and his appetite and attitude are back! (I almost got munched even trying to get this picture
). I'm very relieved.I think it's well on the way to healing fine, but I'm keeping him on paper towel just until it's completely healed. I am using much larger pieces of towel that are being held down in the corners by even more cricket food (potatoes and carrots) to prevent him from accidentally biting it. Since he's more active, I notice he's been picking them off the walls and foliage of his enclosure instead, which helps. He also spends more time sleeping on the walls or in his cork log, rather than sprawled out on the floor.
So thank you everyone for your help! You kept me sane and calm, and provided me with valuable info that I'll definitely use and remember! There's very few Tokay keepers where I live, and the herp vets' experience is limited to the more commonly-kept reptiles, so advice by the much more experienced people on this forum is definitely appreciated.
XoVictoryXo
New member
Yay so happy he is ok and thank goodness he was able to drop the tip of his tail!
it looks to be healing up great, thank goodness, i have totally been routing for him!
it looks to be healing up great, thank goodness, i have totally been routing for him!
