Is there anyway to prevent dropping a tail

[Saphira]

My dd was just feeding two of the geckos and they decided to get into a fight. they share a cage and this is a new development(the fighting while eating). One of the tails is torn and looks like she might drop it. Is there anyway to prevent it from happening? I have them currently separated.

 

[DrCarrotTail]

From what I understand, sometimes geckos break the connective tissue between the tail and body but don't actually drop the tail. If the tail is injured but the connective tissue is intact then it may heal and stay on. In either case, I don't think there is much you can do but if the blood supply has been cut off and the tail dies it can begin to rot and pose a health threat to your gecko. In this case I would take it to a vet to get it removed.

You probably want to keep your geckos in separate enclosures from now on.

 

[Saphira]

Yah. They have shared a cage for a few years but not likely again.

My poor daughter is scared to death.

 

[katie_]

I think the only way to stop a dropped tail is prevention. Sometimes bad things happen. You can reasure her that even if it does fall off, the gecko will be ok

 

[Saphira]

I think she did try to drop it but she didn't complete it. It definitely started to separate..

 

[sausage]

if separation has partly occurred then it would be impossible to save it. blood vessels will have disconnected and sealed in the parts that are open.

 

[Saphira]

It is still attached today......

 

[DrCarrotTail]

A picture would probably help people tell you if it is saveable or not

 

[sausage]

agreed a picture would be good. normally the if the tail is still attached it would gradually shrivel up and go black till it drops off. if it starts to go funny id go to the vets and have it taken off rather then waiting for it to fall off.

 

[Saphira]

It looks pretty icky.

 

[DrCarrotTail]

Ouch that does look pretty icky. If she were my gecko I would be worried. That wound could easily get infected and potentially kill her. I would take her to the vet ASAP. Her tail looks reasonable healthy but that wound does look like it started to separate. I think you might need a herp vet's opinion about what to do.

 

[Saphira]

I did put neosporine on it. I will likely call the vet. :yes

 

[sausage]

awww poor thing, good news is that tails are expendable, as much as we dont want her to loose her beautiful tail i would think the vet would remove it. i could be wrong but at least she will grow a new one.

 

[Saphira]

Her tail is almost healed up completely.

 

[DrCarrotTail]

Glad it seems to be healing for you. Did she always have black spots in the middle of her carrot tail like that? IMO I would still have a vet look at it is you haven't. It looks like the part that started to separate may be growing. Leos can grow a second tail in cases where the tail has half separated.

I would soak her a bit to try to get the stuck shed to loosen a bit form her toes and possibly the wound. If left on too long the shed can cut off circulation and she may lose the toes.

 

[Saphira]

Yes those spots are normal. I don't see any regrowth going on. She just finished shedding so she will be getting soaked today to take care of toes. We have had geckos for 5 years and have 5 of them. This was just the first experience we have had with one trying to drop a tail.

 

[sausage]

Im glad its healing, the puckered skin dose make it look weird.
One of mine had a chunk of its tail ripped off by a male but she didn't drop it either, the new skin grew back spotty to its amazing

 

[Saphira]

Well...I do think she is growing another tail.

 

[Embrace Calamity]

Well...I do think she is growing another tail.

It's been suggested several times: VET.

~Maggot

 

[Saphira]

And what exactly is a vet going to do about it? I haven't had the $$ to take her to a vet. It is $100 to walk through the door.