My gecko's tail looks thin. Is this a sign of a health problem?
Updated On September 23rd, 2025
Is my Gecko healthy?
2 Answers
Most Helpful Answer
Published on December 24th, 2018
Delta looks very thin. One the best ways to gauge the health of a gecko is by looking at the thickness of the tail. You should get Delta examined by a reptile vet as soon as possible. ( https://rockroadvets.com/services/exotic-pet-care/ ) ( http://www.thegeckospot.net/leohealth.php ) Hope this helps. Best wishes.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Related Answers from Veterinarians
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Published on January 9th, 2020
Thanks for reaching out about Medionoche and including a photo. The body score appears within normal limits. Most geckos when thin, appear most on the tail. Continue to check and correct husbandry and diet. Good luck.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Health & Wellbeing
My Gecko's tail is very thin and she is pail,is there anything I can do to heal her? Or is this the end for her? ( She is about 3 years)
Leopard geckos can live up to 10 years with proper care. The first step would be to have her examined by your veterinarian or a vet experienced in treating reptiles to diagnose and treat illness or injury. Submit a stool sample to diagnose intestinal parasites or bacterial overgrowth. Either can cause a failure to thrive. Delta may need a deworming or antibiotics. You can find a herp vet at this link:
https://arav.site-ym.com/search/custom.asp?id=3661
Review her diet with your veterinarian. Geckos can be fed a variety of insect prey including crickets, mealworms, dubia roaches or phoenix worms. Prey should be no bigger than the space between the eyes. if you choose to feed mealworms, select freshly molted ones which are "softer", thus easier to digest. ALL prey should be gut loaded for 24 hours prior to offering to maximize nutritional value. This can be done by feeding them a high protein baby cereal, tropical fish flakes and fresh greens/veggies. Dust all prey appropriately with b
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Food & Nutrition
Is there any cure for stick tail? I'm not 100% sure my gecko has it but she seems to be losing weight drastically.
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 Boop by Petco.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
Does my leopard gecko look healthy? Also u vets are really helping. Thank u so much!!
She looks a bit thin, but if she is a juvenile then that's fine. As she matures, she will bulk up. The best way to confirm good health would be to have her examined by your veterinarian or an experienced herp veterinarian.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
My leppard gecko I got 1 month ago, ate in the first week, than didnt eat in the next and after that he ate normally again. But I am worried because his tail got a lot skinnier... but he has grown a lot too...
Continue to feed appropriately sized and gut loaded prey. Weigh him every few days to confirm gains of losses. If his tail continues to shrink, have him physically examined by your veterinarian or a vet experienced in treating reptiles. Submit a stool sample to diagnose intestinal parasites. If you have other reptiles, wash your hands before and after handling Alex. If he has cage mates, remove them (or him) in case he is infectious.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
my leapord gecko ha stick tail i can't get to a vet until tommorow what can i do now to make him comftorbal
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.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
I have an African Fat Tail Gecko that is 14 years old. I don't know his sex, but he's adorable. He is eating, shedding and appearing normal, Except he is all of a sudden extremely thin. Almost skeletal in his head area and his body is smaller, althou
Have him examined by your veterinarian or a vet experienced in treating reptiles to diagnose illness or injury. Submit a stool sample to diagnose intestinal parasites. Confirm proper environmental parameters which may be affecting his appetite and digestion. If he will eat more, offer more prey. Gut load them for 24 hours to maximize nutritional value. Dust several times weekly with appropriate calcium and vitamin supplements. . Soak in a warm 50/50 solution of water and unflavored PediaLyte. Do this daily for 10-15 minutes to prevent or treat mild dehydration. Do not hesitate to post additional questions or request a consultation for more detailed information.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
Hey I just bought him from a pet store like this is this stick tail or something else and what can I do
Thanks for reaching out about your gecko and including photos. This animal is emaciated and starving for nutrients. A veterinary visit if highly recommended, ASAP, as it appears severely ill. Intestinal infections/parasite and metabolic disorders (liver, kidney) are among the most common causes. Check and correct husbandry as environmental parameters (heat, UVB exposure, humidity) are extremely important for recovery. Offer water and food through a syringe until a veterinary appointment can be made. Good luck.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Food & Nutrition
She shed this morning and she's eating Repashy as a main diet. 21°C and 65-85% (depending on time of the day) hydration. She "hugged" my finger with her tail and it felt as strong as usual. Last night I forgot to spray down her tank (45x45x60cm exo t
Overall, she looks quite thin. The kinks in the tail may be an early indication of metabolic bone disease (MBD). 21 C is a bit cool for her. Cresties do best between 25.5 C and 27.7 C Ideally, she should be evaluated by your veterinarian to confirm and treat MBD or other illness/infection. Submit a stool sample to diagnose intestinal parasites. IN the meantime, you can review care at the link below. http://www.reptilesmagazine.com/Care-Sheets/Lizards/Crested-Gecko/
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
My leopard gecko April is within 6 months old and shed a couple weeks ago. But she seems to be shedding again her skin is dulling and she's lethargic and not too hungry. Her tail also looks skinnier. Is this stick tail?!?! Please help!!!
To diagnose stick tail, you would need to have April physically examined by your veterinarian or a vet experienced in treating reptiles. A stool sample will be needed to diagnose the organism responsible. Weigh her every few days and keep track. Check temps to make sure she isn't cold. Low temps can affect appetite and activity in reptiles. Keep food available at all times, but do not leave live prey in her enclosure.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Food & Nutrition
Worried about my gecko looks like he may have lost weight on his tail but he’s eating drinking and even comes out to play
Iggy does not look underweight but i have nothing to compare the way he looked before so i can't tell you for sure regarding weight loss. as long as he is active and eating normally i would not be worried, unless you see that he is losing a lot of weight fast.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
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