Tail fell off!

[Izzy001]

ok..so i got my baby only a few days ago...not really handled her/him much so it could settle...i came in from work this afternoon and it has a bit of its tail dropped off?! i no this is normal, but only when scared or threatened??? no1 was in the house and its a basic set up so i dont think it could have got its tail caught on anything....is this normal??

And iv read they come bk shorter, will this b notcieable?

 

[Leopard.Geckerz]

It's not normal for them to just randomly drop a tail, they only do it while threatened or scared. I'm not sure how your little sweetie managed to do it, but maybe he heard a big scary noise or something? Who knows, they can be strange little creatures.

The re-grown tail IS going to look different. Not the best picture, did a google search because I've never had a gecko lose one, but a regenerated tail looks like this:
http://z.about.com/w/experts/Reptiles-704/2008/07/tail-leopard-gecko.jpg

What you want to do now, is keep his living quarters VERY clean. Replace substrate with fresh, clean paper towels and change them often, you don't want any bacteria from fecal matter, crickets or otherwise getting in the open wound.

 

[T-AL]

Yep, your little babies tail won't look the same when mine was a little baby hers fell off to and its definitely not the same but it's not too bad. Not sure why it would just drop it's tail for no reason. Make sure to check your temps in the tank. DEFINITELY like Sarah said, make sure there is NO loose substrate in the tank because it will get in the wound and infect it.

 

[2bacop]

you also want to put neosporian (spelling) on the end to help keep away infections.

 

[Riyo]

Make sure the neosporin is the original and NOT the pain relief kind. Good luck, I'm sorry to hear its tail dropped.

 

[Pepper]

Actually, since it's just the tip, it probably won't look too bad.

When I got my baby who is now growing quickly, about 1/4 of his tail was dropped and it's growing back and looks really nice.

 

[Gregg M]

Do not put anything on it.... It will heal faster and better on its own... Just leave the gecko alone...

 

[sitting_duck]

Have any pics of where it fell off? I've aways wanted to see it =)

 

[shawn119]

That is normal but it means your not being gentle enough.

 

[BettaDragon]

Neosporin worked great when one of mine dropped her tail. There was also a liquid bandage that the vet suggested I use but I don't think they make it anymore. In my experience, geckos heal very quickly. It's not normal for them to drop for no reason but if something scared it in the house while you were gone, like a loud noise or perhaps something going by outside the house that could make it drop.

 

[GeckoGathering]

tails dropped

It's not normal for them to just randomly drop a tail, they only do it while threatened or scared.

Add to this.....if caught on a sharp entry hole to a hide. Some of the plastic hides that are the disposable ones are thin and
make sharp entry holes, especially if not using a hole saw or heated device
and smoothing out the hole. I lost one this way....Take care. Hj

 

[Foreverandever]

That is normal but it means your not being gentle enough.

Actually, it's NOT normal for a leo to just drop its tail. I suggest you read her post again as she said she wasn't handling it at the time :main_rolleyes:

 

[geckospots]

don't panic when your lizards tail falls off. it will grow it back.

 

[GeckoGathering]

Dropped Tail

don't panic when your lizards tail falls off. it will grow it back.

I guess there is no need to panic since
it is uncontrollable at times.......
but one will die occasionally from stress of the dropped tail.
(two with me, 1 with vet handling and 1 on a sharp hole in a hide.....
I pretty much don't trust either one now for my geckos.....
take care. HJ