I was out of town for two nights to a conference, and I came home to find Gigi's tail injured at the tip! My husband and kids had instructions, and followed them, but I think that either she got bitten by crickets that were left in the cage (I failed to instruct my husband to remove uneaten crix), or else there was inter-gecko agression (Freckles, the other female leo of nearly identical weight, lives in the same 20 long with Gigi -- they've lived together for years -- but maybe it's time for them to be separated). I haven't witnessed any agression, but I know that doesn't mean it's not happening.

Anyway, crickets or gecko bite, I am wondering what to do for Gigi's tail. I have treated it with neosporin, and she shed tonight. I thought the tip would come off and she'd be able to heal up really well after the shed, but the (dead) tip is hanging on and now there's a piece of shed skin stuck to it. Should I carefully remove it (like with a scalpel -- it's hanging on by a thread)? Should I try soaking in warm water to soften it up? Is it an injury that requires a vet visit?

Here's a photo:


Thanks!

__________________
Amy

Looks like it may be a nip...but your doing right by cleaning it and putting neosporin on it. Keep us posted.

__________________
MARSHA

:D I'm smiling because I have no idea whats going on!

If it looks like a leo nip, these girls are getting separate houses this weekend! (I have a 20 long all ready for a corn snake, and I'll use that and get another for the snake...) I know they shouldn't be together anyway, but when I adopted them they came to me in one enclosure, and had been together for over 2 years. However, they've gained tons of weight in the past couple of months (more than 10 grams each -- a 20% increase in weight) with me, and have gotten really into hunting crickets (they had only had mealworms before). I think maybe their hunting instincts are "awakened," and maybe they mistake one another's shaking tails for something to pounce on?

Thanks, Marsha -- so you're saying just keep cleaning it and using neosporin and it should probably heal OK? I should try to remove the dead tissue at the end or soak off the bit of shed skin?

__________________
Amy

P.S. Will the tip grow back?

__________________
Amy

The tip should grow back, 2 females shouldnt be showing aggression towards eachother, are you sure they are both females . Youre gonna wanna keep her on paper towels or somehting close to that, to keep the open areas clean. She will heal up in no time for you, youll be surprised at how fast reptiles recover!!

I've wondered if they really are both females. I looked closely, though, and I have seen a male leo in person and could easily see the difference between him and my two. Neither has the pores visible. I have noticed that Freckles' head is much broader than Gigi's, though, and it made me wonder. But I dunno...

__________________
Amy

You should be able to carefully remove that tiny dangling peice from the end, or just wait a day r two and it wil probably fall off. Best of luck to you, it doesnt look too bad.

__________________

"If you're not falling, you're not trying." - Sonni Trotter

~*~Lacey~*~

My Photos

From what I can see of the picture it is only hanging on by the slightest sliver. I would go ahead and remove it using a sterilized razor blade or X-acto knife followed with a dab of neosporin.
The dangling peice is likely to cause another attack do to it moving and possibly being mistaken for an insect.

__________________
Merlin,
What's Life Without A Little Magic!

Thanks, y'all. The tip fell off by itself, and it seems to be healing up well. The girls now have separate 20 longs. Gigi got the new home, and she seems to be adjusting fine. Freckles doesn't notice anything different, I'm sure. I appreciate the advice and reassurance.

__________________
Amy