IS HE SUICIDAL?????

[meaghani]

Okay, this is probably going to be the most rambling post you've ever seen but I am freaking out about my gecko right now.

Quick Background:
-Normal
-Male
-73g or so
-2 years old

He just had surgery at the end of September for a hemipenal prolapse. Some of you might recall because I posted a thread then as well.

He hasn't been eating for almost three weeks now. Like, we're talking maybe 5-10 worms in that entire time. I've been worried but I haven't been too concerned because it all coincided with him moving to a new tank, then shedding shortly after (he never eats when he sheds) and I was thinking that if he didn't eat tomorrow now that his shed is done, I would call the vet.

That's not what's making me panic, though. What I'm absolutely freaking out about right now is what literally just happened five minutes ago.

I was trying to fall asleep and I heard this loud noise coming from his tank. So I looked in and he was gnawing on the cut edge of his humid hide! It's just a tupperware container with a hole cut in the side. I had originally put tape over it because I was worried about it being a bit sharp but it wouldn't stay, so I ended up just sanding it down a bit. I didn't think it was much of a problem because even post-op I didn't see any sign that it was irritating him. Plus I see the exact same humid hide in many setup pics on this site and I just figured it was a non-issue.

He gnawed so hard on it, he bled. I don't understand what could possibly have caused this! Is he trying to kill himself or something? He's never shown any signs of being mentally unwell.

He's just been acting so strange lately. Sitting there looking dazed and not moving, the not eating thing (he usually eats like a pig), freaking out when I come anywhere near the tank.

 

[meaghani]

Naturally, I removed the humid hide immediately.

It wasn't even like he was casually chewing on it. He was biting forcefully and quickly, with a vengeance, like he was trying to break something off.

 

[nnoossss]

My guess is that it is all related too the surgery, poor gecko i am not experienced enought too tell you whats causing this but other people here are.

 

[fl_orchidslave]

Maybe he needs some new things to entertain himself.

 

[mango+cola]

I also have a plastic tupperware container as a humid hide, but i layered masking tape all around the hole that we cut out because plastic is really sharp when cut, I would try putting masking tape on if I were you, or get another humid hide, we are replacing the tupperware container with a 3-in-1 hide the next time the reptile expo comes around because they are supposed to be very good.
I would guess also that he isnt eating probably due to the stress of surgery, watch his weight and if it starts to significantly drop then I would call the vet. If the weight doesn't drop, I wouldnt worry too much about it

 

[gecko4245]

Okay, this is probably going to be the most rambling post you've ever seen but I am freaking out about my gecko right now.

Quick Background:
-Normal
-Male
-73g or so
-2 years old

He just had surgery at the end of September for a hemipenal prolapse. Some of you might recall because I posted a thread then as well.

He hasn't been eating for almost three weeks now. Like, we're talking maybe 5-10 worms in that entire time. I've been worried but I haven't been too concerned because it all coincided with him moving to a new tank, then shedding shortly after (he never eats when he sheds) and I was thinking that if he didn't eat tomorrow now that his shed is done, I would call the vet.

That's not what's making me panic, though. What I'm absolutely freaking out about right now is what literally just happened five minutes ago.

I was trying to fall asleep and I heard this loud noise coming from his tank. So I looked in and he was gnawing on the cut edge of his humid hide! It's just a tupperware container with a hole cut in the side. I had originally put tape over it because I was worried about it being a bit sharp but it wouldn't stay, so I ended up just sanding it down a bit. I didn't think it was much of a problem because even post-op I didn't see any sign that it was irritating him. Plus I see the exact same humid hide in many setup pics on this site and I just figured it was a non-issue.

He gnawed so hard on it, he bled. I don't understand what could possibly have caused this! Is he trying to kill himself or something? He's never shown any signs of being mentally unwell.

He's just been acting so strange lately. Sitting there looking dazed and not moving, the not eating thing (he usually eats like a pig), freaking out when I come anywhere near the tank.

He's not on Flagyl is he? when one of my geckos was only Flagyl he was acting weird. if not take him to the vet to make sure an infection did not spread to his brain.

 

[meaghani]

Sorry, what is Flagyl?

 

[LZRDGRL]

Flagyl is a medicine given if geckos are parasite-infested, such as with protozoa (trichomonas, etc.). Like Panacur which is for pinworm-infestation.

If your male "only" had a prolapse, he won't have received Flagyl. He probably just needs to vent a bit. Maybe you can find some harmless decoration he can't hurt himself on when he chews or rubs against it...

Good luck with him!

Chrissy

 

[TranceZ]

I had a female blizzard that was healthy, 54g nice fat tail that decided to mutalate herself. Went to go check on her and she had her tail ripped off and was working on her back legs blood every where in the tub. I had to put her down, I couldn't stand to watch

 

[Dimidiata]

wth? thats bad. I would maybe find him a piece of chola wood or something soft to chew, cover the edges of the hide and anything sharp with tape for now.

 

[meaghani]

Is this normal? I have plenty of things for my hamster to chew on but not a lot for my gecko. I wasn't aware that they chewed...

 

[Destiny]

This is going to be completely unhelpful--- but I think that I have almost given up on NORMAL with geckos.

Do you think it could be stress?

I alos have a gecko that had one dingy removed around the sametime as yours. I have noticed changes in his behavior too, but not quiet like yours. He eats more, is getting fat... BUT what is like yours is he does seem to be more restless. He wanders aound quiet a lot, which is new... He would generaly be considered a couch potato, but now he is always wandering. I have compensated for his new found wanderlust by letting him roam on my bed or the couch under supervision. He usually tires himslef out like that.

Sorry I couldn't be of more help. "/

 

[meaghani]

This is going to be completely unhelpful--- but I think that I have almost given up on NORMAL with geckos.

Do you think it could be stress?

I alos have a gecko that had one dingy removed around the sametime as yours. I have noticed changes in his behavior too, but not quiet like yours. He eats more, is getting fat... BUT what is like yours is he does seem to be more restless. He wanders aound quiet a lot, which is new... He would generaly be considered a couch potato, but now he is always wandering. I have compensated for his new found wanderlust by letting him roam on my bed or the couch under supervision. He usually tires himslef out like that.

Sorry I couldn't be of more help. "/

You might have something there. Perhaps they do just get bored. I took him out tonight for the first time in a while (I haven't wanted to stress him out more) and he actually seemed to enjoy it. He's the type that will let me hold him, but doesn't particularly like it. He barely struggled at all.

I'm going to get him some new decor. Some stuff to climb on. Hopefully he doesn't just wig out.

 

[meaghani]

I had a female blizzard that was healthy, 54g nice fat tail that decided to mutalate herself. Went to go check on her and she had her tail ripped off and was working on her back legs blood every where in the tub. I had to put her down, I couldn't stand to watch

That's horrible. Some sort of neurological thing? I don't know if I could have dealt with that - it sounds awful. I'm really sorry.