Weird stains in the belly

[Sandra]

Two friends of mine recently acquired several baby geckos from the same breeder and all of them have very dark stains in their bellies. I can't tell if this is natural or not. They have seen parasites in their feces, but what they are really worried about is about cryptosporidium. Now the questions:

- They heard that the darkening of the stomach is a common symptom of crypto, and that is why they are so worried. I never heard anything like that. Is it true?

- Do any other gastric problems cause this? Such as parasite or bacteria 'overload'...

- If it is natural, which organ is it that we see? (I would really appreciate a necropsy pic that pointed what every organ is, if there's any, because I'm quite lost at gecko anatomy...)

 

[Golden Gate Geckos]

What you are seeing is the gall bladder. There are times when it is more visible than others because it will fill and empty during the digestive process. Also, it is more obvious with younger geckos.

 

[Sandra]

Thanks Marcia! I recalled seeing them in other babies, but to tell the truth, it's been so long since the last time there was a baby gecko in this house that I wasn't completely sure if mine were like that too... It's good to know what it is.