Just lost my first gecko. RIP Moka.

[Phantom240]

I just got home from work, and went to check on Moka, who had been acting a bit strange the last couple of days, and found her lifeless in her cool hide. She had been a bit lethargic in comparison to her usual, "get away from me!" attitude, but I figured it might have been because of the time of day I was checking on her. She hasn't eaten much this winter. I attributed that to brumation, though she would eat one or two appropriately sized roaches every other week. Her tail stayed plump, so I didn't pay her appetite any mind. I believe that she may have gotten impacted somehow, based upon the color of her belly, and a mass of regurgitated shed that must have been made within the past 48 hours (the last time I tidied up her cage). It's so strange seeing a gecko with such vibrant colors, and healthy body mass laying limp in my hands, cold to the touch. She and I never really hit it off, due to her complete intolerance of my hand being anywhere near her. Regardless, she was still part of my family, and I feel really bad for not seeing this coming. Her warm hide is 92 degrees right now, and she's always had plenty of water. She's kept on slate, and wouldn't eat anything but Dubia. How could this have caused an impaction?

It's no matter now, I suppose. I'll give her a proper burial in the morning, so she may rest in peace.

Moka grew so much in the six months I had her. From a thin-framed, fat-tailed juvenile to a thick, healthy sub-adult. Her colors were so amazing in person.
From this:

To her last day:

Does it look like a case of impaction to you guys as well?

 

[tb144050]

I'm sorry for your loss.

It does look like she definitely had a full stomach, but I am assuming that is her stomach. I'm not a vet, but generally I am fairly confident that the mass of the stomach is visible like that but wayyyy smaller.



Here is an older pic of my girl, Ruby, when she had eaten a medium-sized meal (3-4 crickets). I've seen the mass got bigger when they eat more and smaller when they eat less.
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If you have other geckos in the enclosure, I would get a definite "yes, that's an impaction" and possibly get a vet to determine what was impacted.

I hope you never have to go through this again.

 

[staceyleigh]

Oh so sad, I am so sorry for your loss! She was beautiful.

 

[Phantom240]

I kept my two girls separate, so if it isn't impaction, I know it won't spread to Eris.

 

[stager]

Sorry for your lose. She looked quite healthy.

 

[Phantom240]

I wish I had noticed symptoms sooner, so I could have gotten her to a qualified professional. Money is 100% not an issue when it comes to my pets. If I had caught on in time, I'm quite certain that something could have been done. I feel so bad. I did give her a proper burial this morning, so that's a little bit of consolation.

 

[DrCarrotTail]

So sorry for your loss. It looks like something was wrong internally. Either bleeding or possibly a swollen or ruptured organ. Sometimes with these guys things crop up that are out of our hands and a vet visit may not do much good if whatever it is gets quickly worse. I wouldn't blame yourself for a second. It's obvious you gave her a great life while she was with you

 

[Josh P.]

I'm really sorry for your loss but as DrCarrotTail so accurately said, what matters is that you gave her a good life. Some things are often beyond our control.

 

[Phantom240]

You think she could have injured herself from falling? She had a habit of climbing up to the top of her humid hide, which sits on top of her warm hide, and would use that in an attempt to escape, which she did once. If she fell on the edge of her slate hut, could that be enough trauma to cause internal bleeding? I wouldn't think so, but the more I look at the photos I took, and info I gathered when I discovered she had passed, I don't believe impaction was an issue here. She wasn't bloated, her stomach was soft and squishy like a normal healthy leo belly (I kinda felt wrong about poking at her, but it was for knowledge). It is quite a mystery.

 

[Tongue Flicker]

Awww.. my condolences

 

[Mantislover]

Im sorry you lost her. And Im glad you buried her, I feel its good to do that. All my mantids that have died this winter will go in my garden. Same with my geckos when I have them.

 

[indyana]

Sorry for your loss, Corey.

 

[GazzaB85]

So sorry to hear this, I would be devastated if it happened to me. Just to add on the previous posts, its clear you had provided all the care needed and sometimes reptiles are so good at hiding illnesses that by the time we see them its usually too late. R.i.p. to a lovely gecko. Gary

 

[courtney.lynne]

I'm so sorry for your loss She was beautiful and you gave her a great life. RIP <3

 

[Ozy]

You say you saw a mass of regurgitated shed.. Could it be she choked on it, ruptured something while she was gagging or whatever, got it back up, then died from the rupture?

 

[tomcatguy74]

What a beautiful girl. I am really sorry for your loss. I'm sure she's in a much better place now, Gecko Heaven.


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