Poor Luther!!! (graphic pics)

[Golden Gate Geckos]

Luther is an old guy, and was the founder of my Hybino/Sunglow lines. I have not bred him for 2 seasons, and he started mutilating himself during his sheds last year. He has bitten off several toes, and chews on this particular spot on his tail until it's raw. Well, two sheds ago, I thought he was going to chew his own tail off! I got it to heal up, and I actually caught him right before he shed last time and did it for him.

This time, I was too late... he chewed not only his tail, but the side of his body pretty bad and bloody. I put antibiotic ointment on it, but tonight it looks like it is becoming necrotic. I sent my vet these photos, so hopefully we can get it taken care of. He only does this during the start of breeding season! It's as if he is frustrated or neurotic, like a bird that pulls out all it's feathers.

Any ideas WHY a gecko would do this to himself???

 

[Halley]

Maybe he has built up sexual frustration? Why not breed him to a few females?

I know when shelter dogs are locked up in runs for too long they will start to chew their tail, and other body parts to release energy.

The only problem with my theory is that he’s only doing it during the shedding process.

To be honest I’ve no idea what I'd do you in your situation.

I wish you the best of luck!

 

[Tomek]

Hey MOGL
I am so sorry to hear that about Luther. Normally by more complicated animals like Parrots such kind of mutilation is a sign of lonliness or boredom. I have never heard about such kind of Neurosis by the Geckos.
I would try to change his milieu if he is allone now so put him together with somebody if he is with somebody then let him allone. If you are to affraid that he can hurt another animals so i would put him into a Terrarium with more possibilities to hide, explore, hunt etc.
good luck for you and Luther
Tomek

 

[Golden Gate Geckos]

Maybe he has built up sexual frustration? Why not breed him to a few females?

I believe this may have something to do with Luther's behavior, too! I guess I will just house him back with Libby, his old mate, and see if he stops mutilating himself!

 

[spykerherps]

I don't know why they do it could be a number of things though it could be genetics like certain breeds of dogs have different traits, even if they are not good things like shar pei tend to have bad skin or large dogs and bad hips.or certain "personality" traits.

I also had a gecko that did this to herself it started at probably a year old and she bit off a lot of her toes and ended up having some scaring on her belly where the wounds are on Luther.
I thought I was crazy or the gecko was. I couldn't figure out what was going on until I saw her doing it.
A little too vigorous with the shedding skin removal.

 

[fallen_angel]

Wow, I have never seen anything like that before.. I would definitely think it has something to do with being housed alone. He's losing his mind! Please keep us updated on him and how he does being housed with his old mate! Best wishes to you both, I hope he heals quickly!

 

[Golden Gate Geckos]

I'm taking in to the vet tomorrow morning at 10:00. My vet saw the pics and said Luther needs to come in ASAP.

 

[SFgeckos]

oh no

Wow, I'm sorry to hear about Luther! Very strange behavior indeed...Let us know what the vet says! I'm sure he will heal quite nicely.

Pertaining to the other comments about feather plucking in species of captive birds- it is true that boredom and lack of social interaction can be a cause of this (since most species of birds kept in captivity are social creatures living in flocks), there can also be other causes such as malnutrition, parasites and internal abnormalities, or a combination of the above mentioned.

J

 

[LeapinLizards]

WOW Marcia, I remember you telling me about him, but wow...

Poor guy, he's having a terrible time with something. It is very interesting that he did not do this while he was being bred.

Keep us updated!

 

[geckoboy16]

Aww poor Luther good luck at the vet!

 

[thestack510]

As ugly as it is, it looks like he'll heal up okay. I would be worried most about infection in the raw portion of his body. I would try lightly misting him around his shedding time to soften up the skin (next time around). Placing him with his old mate sounds like a good idea too. It seems to me that it is anxiety brought on by raging hormones. I hope Luther makes a speedy recovery.

 

[Golden Gate Geckos]

We are concerned about the black part of his wound, which appears to be necrotic and could become gangrene.

 

[Nigel4less]

Poor Luther, he is such a sweet boy! Hopefully putting him with Libby will calm down his Self - mutilation. .

 

[Spooki]

i have a cat that did something similar when he was frustrated with his dry skin. he licked his butt bald and chewed himself up. poor little guy, hopefully putting him with his old mate will help him.

 

[thestack510]

We are concerned about the black part of his wound, which appears to be necrotic and could become gangrene.

Could it be surgically removed, or do you think it would be to his detriment to have surgery right now?

 

[Gregg M]

Marcia, I am thinking it could be problem areas while shedding... The tissue looks beat up and bruised but not necrotic in the photos...

Personally, I would not put any ointments on him at all... Thats just me though... I feel reptiles are better left to heal on their own with as little human contact as possible... In my experience, they usually do better... I seriously doubt it has anything to do with him not breeding or not being with his old mate... It has nothing to do with pent up energy or sexual fustration... Reptiles do not go through hormonal disruptions like mammals and they need to conserve energy, not let it out... That is basic reptilian physiology...

Hope he gets better...

 

[Golden Gate Geckos]

The vet thinks the black area is possible necrotic. I'll find out tomorrow.

 

[David Loftin]

Yikes! He is a big Ham.. I hope he heals and doesn't do anymore damage. You may need a cone for his head so he doesn't do this again.

 

[Golden Gate Geckos]

Well, we just got back from the vet.... the black area is necrosis. We need to make sure it doesn't spread or become gangrene. Luther has oral medication and a special topical antibiotic liquid for the sores. If it doesn't help, the vet will remove that portion of the skin on Luther's side, but he is concerned he will chew on the incision.

Dr. Harkewicz didn't seem to think it was a neurotic or frustration problem, as reptiles brains and nervous sytems are not that sophisticated. He feels that for some reason when Luther sheds, it is particularly irritating to his skin in those areas and it could be a form of infectious 'dermatitis' even though reptiles do not have a real dermis like mammals do. It's possible he'll continue doing this when he sheds, so I am going to have to watch him during his sheds to prevent this self-mutilation.

 

[catvettech]

Marcia, too bad they can't use e-collars on geckos.