Might be paranoid, but...

[lizardlove]

Sappho has a relatively large, dark spot on the lower portion of her underbelly. It's blackish green, and I don't think it was always there. It's not on the outside, on the skin, but on the inside. It's dark enough to sort of see when she's not flipped over. Her appetite's increased lately and she's gained weight. Any idea what it could be? I tried to take a picture but she wouldn't let me. I'll try a few more times, but I don't want to keep flipping her. Don't want her to get too agitated. At first I thought I could see through to her intestines or something and it just meant that she had to poop, but she did and the spot is still there. Any ideas?

 

[BettaDragon]

I had a spot like that on my gecko that died. Never knew what it was though.

 

[lizardlove]

This isn't a great picture, but the spot is there. The mark above it could be anything, a mealworm bite, I dunno. Any ideas?

 

[BettaDragon]

I'm not working tomorrow, want me to come over for a look-see at this and take better pictures with my camera?

 

[lizardlove]

Sure, that would be awesome... I hope it's nothing. But if it's not, I have a suspicion... The UTH needs to be replaced IMMEDIATELY. If you come by we need to run to the pet store. It overheats and if she's not going to the cool side she could be overheating, too. I try to keep the fan on in my room, but you can't regulate the UTH temp on mine so other than that I don't know what to do...

 

[lizardlove]

Then again, for all I know it could be her heart and the blue spot is blood. I hope so. Until I see you tomorrow, it might be easier for me to think so so I don't worry myself sick...

 

[BettaDragon]

Try putting more paper towels down for now, I'll check it out first. What's the temperature reading on both sides?

 

[lizardlove]

The cool side's at 75ish. I've seen the warm side go up to 100. I got an extra sheet of carpet when I bought it to use for cleaning, so I'll clean off the top one real quick and put that under it.

 

[BettaDragon]

Sweet Jesus, it shouldn't go up that high. Yeah, me thinks on the fritz. I want to double check it before you get a new one though as they aren't the cheapest things in the world and I don't want you wasting your money. Add the other carpet and more paper towels if you need to for now.

 

[lizardlove]

Yeah, I couldn't believe it. And she doesn't go to the cool side that much. I'm worried that she was cooking in there, there are little spots that I'm afraid are burns... I put down another layer of carpet, anyway. I just hope that, if that's what it is, I caught it in time...

 

[Gregg M]

100 degrees WILL NOT COOK YOUR GECKO... Just think, 100 degrees is only 1 and a half degrees higher than your own body temperature...

Do not think for on second that leos do not endure heat greater than 100 degrees in the wild...
I am going to say that the reason why your leo has been eating better and gaining weight is because of the high temps...

 

[LeapinLizards]

I have to agree with Gregg on this one. If you are uncomfortable with the 100*F then take it down a few degrees. As long as there is a control device of some sort on it, you should be just fine! I upped my temps from 91*F to 95*F+ for the last few months. Since I've done that, my geckos are eating much more, seem to have colored up, and generally look better.