Why is my gecko's tail thin, but he's still eating and active?

Have him examined by your veterinarian or an experienced herp vet to diagnose and treat any infection related to the loss of the tail. In the meantime, increase tank temps by about 5-10 degrees F, soak daily in a warm 50/50 solution of water and unflavored PediaLyte for 20 minutes. Once he warms up and rehydrates, offer appropriately sized prey. Gutload prey for 24 hours prior to offering to maximize nutritional value. Supplement with a product such as Fluker's Repti-Boost to get weight back on him. You can clean the stump with diluted betadine or chlorhexidine. Use paper towels for substrate until the stump is healed.

Make sure any prey is appropriately sized, no bigger than the space between his eyes. They should be gut loaded for at least 24 hours prior to offering to maximize nutritional value. Consider adding LaFeber’s Emeraid for Carnivores, Oxbow’s Carnivore Critical Care or Fluker's Repti-Boost to get weight on him. Submit a stool sample to your herp veterinarian to diagnose intestinal parasites. If there are cryptosporidium in his stool, they may be responsible for his condition.

As long as it is just the tail, there is no cause for concern there. If her limbs start to swell, then she may have a more serious issue. Delta may have been able to use her tail reserves while she wasn't eating, but now she should fatten up her tail again as long as she continues to eat. Try to determine why she became impacted and treat that. If you need to change the substrate or diet, do so. Adjust the cage temperature as well. Low temps can affect digestion in reptiles. Soak her in a warm 50/50 solution of water and unflavored PediaLyte for 20-30 minutes. Gently massage her abdomen, front to back, during the soak to stimulate defecation.

I would highly recommend taking Crash to a vet. Unfortunately has birds get older they are at higher risk of developing disease. Birds are really good at hiding illness but Crashs weight loss might be a early sign. I would be concerned about Crash's liver and kidney function. It is important that he has some basic blood work to look at how his organs are functioning. At home I would just recommend feeding him as much as he wants to eat. Also you can give him his favorite treats more often. Hope Crash feels better

Hello, "Stick tail" refers to generalized weight loss in these species. Weight loss can commonly be caused by intestinal infections or parasites. Weight loss could also be a sign of a more serious problem, such as an internal cancerous tumor. I would recommend taking Delta into a veterinarian to be seen. They will likely recommend x-rays, a fecal exam, and testing of the stomach fluid. Those results can help guide whether Delta has something like a curable infection or a more serious disease and the best treatment course for her. I hope this is helpful. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

By "stick-tail" I'm assuming that you mean the tail has become skinny. This means that he has been losing weight over a long period of time. This usually happens because of a disease process or incorrect care. Since this has been happening for a long time, it's not an emergency, but it's definitely wise to visit the vet tomorrow. Without knowing what caused this, I cannot recommend anything in the short-term to make him feel better. I can only recommend that you ensure that he is being kept at the optimum temperature and environment. I've given a link below to a website that has great information about proper care of Leopard geckos. http://www.anapsid.org/leopardgek.html I hope this helps and Garbanzo gets better soon.

This may simply be how he eats, especially in the absence of other symptoms. Confirm proper environmental parameters and monitor him. Symptoms that should be addressed by your veterinarian or a vet experienced in treating reptiles may include lethargy, decrease or loss of appetite, weight loss, abnormal stool or straining to defecate.