Western banded gecko dropped most of her tail...

[McBoredFace]

My poor little girl got spooked the other day and dropped her tail. I felt so bad, and was so scared because I had no idea that it bled even if it was just a little. It looked so gross and painful it’s so hard to believe that it doesn’t hurt them. (If I’m wrong and it does hurt them then I thought so because that doesn’t look like no big deal like it says it is online...) so anyway, I isolated her from her sister and put her on paper towel bedding and all that stuff so she’s doing okay but this happened yesterday and her tail is still connected by a tiny little piece and I’m worried about it. Will she eventually chew it off? Will it stay on while her new tail grows in and then she’ll have two tails?! Like I feel so bad for her... what should I do? And if you think I should take her to a vet, how much do you think it would cost? Because I’m on a budget since our last visit to get them dewormed... and the only place I trust to take her to charges you 172$ just to go there... so yeah unless you can refer another vet for reptiles in Philadelphia, I don’t think I can take her anytime soon. So any advice on what to do about her tail? Here are some pictures too :/




And here’s a picture of her separate enclosure Incase you have any advice on how to make it better for her;

I know it’s hard to see but she’s in a smaller tank inside her other tank since I don’t have another light set up. But she’s on paper towels with her favorite hide and a water dish. I’m also feeding her crickets with tongs so they don’t bother her since she really won’t eat anything else. She’s so picky. The crickets are dusted as well with calcium with d3 and a multivitamin.

 

[McBoredFace]

Okay, so I just went to check on her and refill her water dish and the tail is still attached but it’s all shriveled up and dying... why won’t she chew it off? For such a tiny little piece holding it together it’s sure strong.. I don’t know what to do. She seems like she’s so stressed out and in pain from this. But I’ve heard it doesn’t hurt them. I’m not sure I believe it since seeing it myself

 

[acpart]

Sorry this happened to her. Yes, the tail will ultimately drop off on its own and there will probably be some regrowth. I have no idea whether it hurts. I've had leopard geckos and crested geckos drop their tails and they seemed to be running around as usual not long afterwards. Do you think she got scared or do you think the other one bit her? (if there was a bunch of bleeding, she may have been bitten) You shouldn't need a vet visit. Just keep her on a non particle substrate as you're doing until it heals and keep feeding her.

Aliza

 

[McBoredFace]

Thanks a lot, that makes me feel better. But no the other one didn’t bite her. They get along really well. I had both of them out and the small one was shedding and I had her in my hand and she went to jump off my hand onto the bed but I guess the shedded skin on her tail got caught between my fingers or something and when she jumped off she freaked out and dropped her tail. But there wasn’t much blood at all. I just didn’t know there was any at all when they did that so it freaked me out. But she seems so much slower and really upset over it. That’s why I was asking if it hurts them cause she seems like she’s being more careful and slow dragging her dying broken tail behind. I feel so bad. My boyfriend feels even worse. He doesn’t understand how common it is. He’s acting like she had a terrible accident lol I feel bad for him that he can’t even look at her! Lol but thanks. I’m glad I’m doing everything okay and that she’ll be okay too. Thanks a lot

 

[McBoredFace]

Now we have another problem. Her eyes are shut. She can’t open them. She’s walking off my hand. Like she clearly can’t see. I’m not sure what’s wrong, she’s had one eye do this before and when she shed she opened it but I don’t think she’s about to shed. Her skin actually has looked really dry lately so I’ve been in the bathroom with the shower on for the steam almost everyday but I don’t know what’s wrong and I’m worried.. ever since I got her it’s been problem after problem since I got her she was always deformed. But I really don’t have the money right now to take her to a vet and nothing has been life threatening so I don’t want to take her unless I seriously have to. But I’m starting to think with all her problems I’ll have to. But until then does anyone know why her eyes may not be opening right now? :/

 

[McBoredFace]

I’m in the bathroom with the hot water going now and she just opened one eye! Yay! But why does she do this so much? :/

 

[acpart]

It's possible that she is acting strange because she's hauling around this dead tail. It's also possible, since you mention she was deformed from the time you got her, that she is not a healthy gecko from the beginning. She may even have dropped her tail because she doesn't feel well, not because she got spooked. I'm just theorizing, I have no way to know. I have had a few banded geckos drop their tails for no reason that I can figure out. If the humidity helped her open her eye, try it again. Sometimes putting a drop of water on the eye (just let it drip off your finger) will help the gecko open the eye.

Aliza

 

[McBoredFace]

Well the tail came off and I think she’s really not doing well. She’s slowing down even more. Her one eye only opens when I have the steam going. As soon as I leave the bathroom her eye closes again and she goes back to not being able to see. I feel so horrible. I wish I had the money to take her to a vet but honestly I don’t think there’s much they could do. I got her crickets hoping she would eat and feel better but she won’t eat them. I tried feeding with the tongs and that’s not working either. I have carnivore care and she drank a little yesterday so hopefully if I keep doing that it’ll help. But I feel so bad. I don’t know what to do. I hate seeing her like this I wish I could do more :/

 

[GeckoLeen]

Like Aliza said, it could be that she was just not right from the get-go...I think you are doing everything you possibly can short of taking her to the vet, so if the worst happens, don't blame yourself. Sometimes things just happen with these little guys, and there isn't anything we can do about it except try to make them comfortable.

 

[McBoredFace]

Thank you, I really appreciate it. But I’ve got really good news! I feel so stupid for not seeing it before! Yah know how she started opening her eyes and acting better when I would take her in the bathroom for the steam? Well both her eyes opened this time and she was acting totally normal! She’s probably just brumating and she’s really dry! So as long as I turn the heat up and spray the tank to make it humid she acts totally fine! And she’s been really good at drinking the carnivore care! So I think this is a really good sign! She was just cold and dry! I’m so happy it’s nothing more serious. But I want to thank everyone for the help and support. I’ll keep you updated but things are looking up )))

 

[Sg612]

Hi, I’m from Philadelphia as well. What vet charges $172 just for the visit? Good to know prices. This is the place my husband used in the past. The visit was under$100 here. https://www.vet.upenn.edu/giving/donors-friends/giving-stories/no-prince-here

 

[McBoredFace]

That’s exactly where I took my chameleon. It was crazy expensive and that’s where they said it was 172 just to bring them in not including everything...

 

[McBoredFace]

Was this link your story here? And that was under 100$ that’s nuts! We got ripped off big time! I took my Jackson’s chameleon in for worms and other meds and they charged us over 500$ and he still passed away a week later... so then when I called about taking my little gecko in, I didn’t even say what we needed yet and they said the same thing that it’s 172$ just to bring them in...

 

[Sg612]

Was this link your story here? And that was under 100$ that’s nuts! We got ripped off big time! I took my Jackson’s chameleon in for worms and other meds and they charged us over 500$ and he still passed away a week later... so then when I called about taking my little gecko in, I didn’t even say what we needed yet and they said the same thing that it’s 172$ just to bring them in...

No I meant to post their main page linked that accidentally cuz I had just finished reading it. I just asked about exotic pet insurance because it seems worth it. I will definitely look into it further. My husband end up paying thousands in the past on vet care. Hope your banded gecko heal up nicely

 

[Sg612]

No I meant to post their main page linked that accidentally cuz I had just finished reading it. I just asked about exotic pet insurance because it seems worth it. I will definitely look into it further. My husband end up paying thousands in the past on vet care. Hope your banded gecko heal up nicely

Just wanted to make a correction. The first visit is $119, then follow up are $62. Hubby kept taking in half dead lizards

 

[McBoredFace]

Ugh again I thought she was getting better and now she keeps biting her back and ripping the skin off. It’s freaking me out. She clamped on until she pissed herself. I really want to take her to the vet but I have no money right now. I’ve been struggling this week with money and of course that’s when things get bad. I feel so bad for this creature I need to help her and I don’t know what to do... will an emergency vet help her with me not having money? I don’t know what to do.

 

[McBoredFace]

Her legs and bottom of her back and feet are torn apart from her biting herself. I can’t stop crying. I want to just take her to the vet but I only know one, i don’t have money to take her, and after I took my chameleon and he still died I’m so afraid.

 

[McBoredFace]

It’s really hard to see but she’s all bit up. I don’t know what to do...

 

[McBoredFace]

Just wanted to make a correction. The first visit is $119, then follow up are $62. Hubby kept taking in half dead lizards

Well they raised the price. It’s 172 now and I can’t even afford that. I’m just worried she’s gonna die either way or do they put down reptiles if they’re suffering? How do they even tell if she is? I feel so bad. I don’t have the money right now to handle this and it’s making me feel even worse..

 

[GeckoLeen]

I believe they can euthanize a reptile, and in this case, maybe that would be the kindest thing. She does need treatment of some kind, and it that's not possible, then ending her pain would be a kindness.

You've done the best you can under the circumstance, and this is a difficult case. I hope it won't deter you from having another reptile, but next time, hopefully it will be healthy from the get-go, and don't do it until 1) you feel good about having another one, and 2) have some extra money put aside for emergencies. I will say though, that is a LOT to ask for just walking in the door. Probably because exotics vets are hard to find in your area.

This is just a thought, but in another thread, someone suggested raw honey for a wound on the nose. I'm wondering if that might help with this? It might be worth a try if you can find some.