You might see a lot of crested geckos losing their tail. Most crested gecko owners really appreciate their crested gecko’s tail, and don’t want it to be dropped. In this post, we will discuss why crested geckos drop their tail, how to prevent crested gecko from losing its tail and what to do if your crested gecko has dropped its tail.
Why do crested geckos drop their tails?
- When a crested gecko feels scared or threatened, it will drop the tail to escape, while a wiggling tail will distract the predator.
- Tail grabbing
- Bullying and tail biting
- Accidents
- Dropping from high structures
- Loud noises
- Jerky and sudden movements
- No apparent reason
- Stress (wrong setup or living conditions).
Do crested geckos regrow their tails?
No, crested geckos don’t regrow their tails. If your crested gecko has dropped its tail (called autotomy), it will be left with a stub, also called a ‘frogbutt’.
Does it hurt a gecko to lose its tail?
No, losing a tail doesn’t hurt a crested gecko. In fact, crested gecko’s tail will break at a fracture point, and when breaking, the blood vessels will constrict to prevent any blood loss.
Crested gecko without a tail
Crested gecko can live perfectly without a tail. While a tail adds to the beauty and helps with balance and stickiness, it doesn’t impact the lifestyle when your crested geckos doesn’t have a tail.
What to do if my crested gecko dropped its tail?
If your crested gecko has dropped its tail, do not panic. No matter the reason, it is an end result and you cannot undo this. The dropped tail will wiggle for some time (around 30-60 minutes), before stopping.
If you have an extra tank, it would be very good to move your crested gecko there while it’s recovering. In a new tank, make sure to only use paper towels, because anything else will stick to the wound and prevent healing.
However, if you use paper towels in the main crested gecko’s cage, you can leave him/her there. Make sure to clean the tank more regularly to prevent any infection. You can also put a little bit of Neosporin (or other antibiotic ointments with no additives) to help disinfect the wound and keep it clean.
Try avoiding handling your crested gecko for around 10-14 days while it’s getting used to its new life and coping with stress. Tail drop is still stressful for your crested gecko and you need to keep everything stress-free.
How to prevent crested geckos from losing a tail
- Allow your crested gecko to acclimate for 2 weeks before handling.
- Never grab a crested gecko by its tail.
- Don’t make jerky or sudden movements.
- Avoid loud noises around the crested gecko’s tank that might scare it (drilling, TVs, speakers, loud vacuums etc).
- Bullying. Cage mates can bite your crested gecko’s tail.
- Do not handle very small crested geckos under 10 grams.
- Be careful with baby crested geckos – approach slowly, avoid noises, mist from the distance.
- Make sure your crested gecko can see you approaching.
- Your crested gecko’s tank should not be too hot or humid, or your crested gecko is likely to drop its tail.
- Falling from high structures can cause tail drop. Make sure the cage is safe.
- If your crested gecko is showing stress signs, such as tail wiggling & slithering, looking scared, then put it back in the cage.
Summary:
Every crested gecko reacts to various environmental factors in its own way. One crested gecko might get scared if you mist it, while another one won’t. Never get discouraged if your crested gecko has dropped its tail.
Crested geckos live normal lives without their tails, and this is how most of them are in the wild. Living is also full of competition and stress, so most crested geckos in the wild lose their tails.
You can help prevent the tail drop by handling carefully, providing stress-free environment and setting correct heating and humidity. However, you can never fully prepare or avoid tail dropping. If your crested gecko has dropped its tail, do not blame yourself and just move on.
Making a crested gecko drop its tail
Some crested gecko owners decide to cut the part of the tail or force the tail drop because of various issues. For example, a part of a crested gecko’s tail might turn black (necrotic) due to a stuck shed or injury.
In this case, a vet might amputate the part of the tail to save the healthy remaining part. Otherwise, necrosis will spread higher in the tail and even body. Whole tail might be forced to be dropped, too.
In some cases, when a crested gecko is constantly staying upside down, it might cause a floppy tail. Floppy tail syndrome might also cause tail and back kinking, and hip deformities. In this case, some owners decide to hold the tail until the crested gecko drops it.
If a crested gecko also suffers from MBD (calcium and/or vitamin D3 deficiency), it will only worsen the situation. Lots of foliage might prevent the floppy tail, as some other adjustments to prevent the hanging of the tail when sticking.
You can read more on a floppy tail syndrome and MBD in crested geckos in this post.