Potential fts?

[Revasius]

Hey everybody,

I just picked up a new little crestie from Petco today. He's young, I don't know his exact age, but he's defimitely male. Anyway, I knew he had a slight kink in his tail when I got him, but as he's getting used to his new cage, I'm noticing some oddities. He's got a few good kinks in it, and the tail itself leans to one side. As well, it seems dispoportionately skinny. When he was climbing upside down, the tail itself hung over his back. In my opinion, this sounds like floppy tail syndrome, but I wanted to be sure. If it is, can it have any impact on his health?

Thank you! I've attached pictures for your reference.

 

[Revasius]

Just saw this. He also seems to have a hollow at the base of his tail that my other geckos don't have... Is that a sign of a calcium deficiency or MBD?

 

[CrestedL]

Definitely not normal, I would say that is FTS, and if it continues it could develop into MBD, do you have a calcium suppliment handy to give small doses of to him? I would lay off the crickets for the moment and get him on a regular MBD to steady out his calcium levels again before adding crickets back in, have you noticed any kinks in his back or oddities in his jaw?

 

[Revasius]

I feed all of my geckos Repashy CGD, no crickets. I can defintely get some more calcium within a couple days. I haven't noticed any back or jaw abnormalities, which is good. I'll take him out and check him over really carefully tonight.

 

[CrestedL]

Careful of getting a calcium suppliment with d3, you want to get one with lower levels or oh could OD him on it, a plain calcium suppliment should suffice, just add very little sprinkles like every 3 feedings or every other, I would just be careful about doing it everyday. Make sure to observe him sleeping as well to cut out any habit he has of sleeping upside down, very bad for a gecko when his tail flops over his head

 

[Revasius]

Okay. I just ordered Rep-Cal Phosphorous-Free Calcium Powder without Vitamin D3. Seems like it should be fine. I will follow your advice about not giving him too much. Would leaving a bottle cap filled with it in the cage for him to lick up help at all? (I know that you can do that for leopard geckos). Thank you!

 

[CrestedL]

No, do not do that for crested geckos, what works for leos is not always the same for cresteds

 

[Revasius]

Alright, thank you for your help! I appreciate it.

 

[Aimless]

a nocturnal gecko without UVB won't properly absorb calcium without D3. if you give him calcium without D3, he'll just pee most of it out. yes, this will prevent overdose, but also just puts more stress on kidneys, etc. I'd use a supplement with D3 and just be very sparing.

also, IMO, that is definitely MBD, though not yet too bad (as he doesn't seem to have an underbite, based on that photo). I would consider it to be more serious than just FTS as his hips are a bit twisted and his tail is kinked, not just floppy.

 

[Revasius]

So I should get calcium with D3 for him? Will that work without any UVB lighting?

If I keep him on very small dosages of D3 (maybe 1/8th of a teaspoon every other day or so?) and Repashy CGD, will he be able to recover to a point of being able to live a comfortable life? ( I know that any bone damage done is irreparable). I want to do everything I can for him within reason.






Here are some closer pictures!

 

[Aimless]

I think if you're doing more than dusting crickets you should get dosing info from a vet. I wouldn't add it directly to his food perpetually.

 

[Revasius]

Okay... I will try to get in contact with one! Thank you for your help.