While something like that happening is harmless, if they dont clean it off by licking it, it will sometimes take assistance from the owners to remove this wax. The most basic and common reason for a gecko licking its vents is just general cleanliness. However, since leopard geckos are nocturnal, you may need to use an infrared heat lamp to provide proper heat without disturbing natural behavior. Similar to Bearded Dragons, Metabolic bone disease (MBD) causes painful spine and limb deformities. Especially since you found him outside. If your pet is experiencing a medical emergency, contact an experienced veterinarian immediately. . Female geckos may lick the vent area to ease any discomfort caused by laying eggs. Juvenile leopard geckos need to be fed several crickets every day. ReptileJam.com also participates in other affiliate programs and may be compensated for referring traffic and business to these companies. This behavior is commonly known as scent-marking, and even geckos who are housed alone will often display it. A reptiles cloaca can become infected and inflamed, a condition known as cloacitis. A higher humidity level may cause your leopard gecko to develop a bacterial infection. We also get your email address to automatically create an account for you in our website. Reasons Your Leopard Gecko is Licking Its Vent, To ease discomfort from constipation or impaction. She is lethargic, and looks like she has lost weight. To prevent injury between your pets, avoid housing male leopard geckos together. Because you can never be too safe though, it doesnt hurt to take a look at their vents to make sure nothing more serious is going on. Male African fat-tailed geckos will have swelling at the base of the tail . It is in front of the Cloaca, which is where fecal and reproductive material exits the body. You can easily find old aquariums that leakso fish owners are selling them for cheap, and glass aquariums make ideal leopard gecko habitats. into internal organs or under the skin) if not caught early and treated appropriately. Any help on keeping him is appreciated. Leopard geckos are commonly a mixture of yellow and white and are spotted with black dots. Shedding for leopard geckos isnt exactly painful, though it often is quite uncomfortable and usually lasts hours or even all day to fully shed their skin. Besides coming in a variety of color morphs, leopard geckos can derive from bloodlines that grant a larger size. This perky little lizard is an excellent beginners lizard (opens in new tab), since they are generally docile, easy to tame, have minimal care requirements, and dont require a huge budget. Like other lizards, leopard geckos that are undernourished or live in a cage with insufficient moisture may develop dysecdysis. ok well it seems that he/she has a swollen hemipenal bulge. If youve noticed your gecko hasnt defecated in several days, bathe them in warm water and very gently massage the area around their belly and vent to help, them pass whatever has blocked their digestive tract. Florida has some native gecko species that could look like a malnourished leopard gecko. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. In rarer cases, geckos will lick their vent to ease impaction pain. Hey, its not like they have opposable thumbs as humans do! Geckos keep clean to prevent infection, which can enter the body through the vent area. . If your gecko has become constipated or impacted, they will often lick their vent to ease their pain or lubricate the area and help them defecate. Additionally, offer them a few drops of olive oil by mouth, as it is a natural laxative and is known to help significantly with constipated and impacted reptiles. Again, this is totally normal behavior. Hypovitaminosis A Seeing your leopard gecko licking their behind might catch you off guard at first, but dont panic! Make sure you keep your geckos tank clean to prevent any type of infection. Lastly, always include elements for enrichment and three separate hides-a hot hide, a cool hide, and a moist hide to help with shedding. For this reason, sand is best avoided in your geckos enclosure to prevent an impaction. To help with shedding. Please help, my female gecko has a red/swollen vent! unhealthy. Spot clean the cage once a day to remove feces, then deep-clean the entire enclosure once monthly. As a result, they will continue to lick their vent in hopes of easing their pain and lubricating their vent, so they can have a normal bowel movement. When feeding your leopard gecko, place your pet in an empty tank. Try rinsing the eye with a sterile, preservative-free saline eye rinse while you gently restrain your gecko. Costs tend to be affordable, with the bulk of the investment being upfront to purchase the lizard and set up their habitat. One of the most common causes of vent licking occurs during a shed or immediately after your gecko has finished shedding. Leopard Gecko Medical Needs. However, if the humidity level is too lowbelow 20%your leopard gecko may have trouble shedding its skin. My male leopard gecko's hemipenes were found super swollen. Her diet is mostly meal worms and wax worms. A subreddit dedicated to love of leopard geckos. If youre looking for a new reptile to welcome into your home, you simply cant go wrong with a leopard gecko. It also had two white dots that I've never noticed before. Needs to be CAREFULLY corrected by a vet (such a sensitive area) make sure you trust your vet and depending on how intense the treatment gets I hope he doesn't drop his tail in the process. If your leopard gecko hasnt pooped recently or marked their territory to your knowledge, then more than likely theyre just licking their vents to keep clean. At the first hint of illness, closely examine your husbandry habits for any issues. Do Crested Geckos Sleep With Eyes Open? One of the most severe conditions that can affect leopard geckos is metabolic bone disease. With a parasitic infection, you will notice gastric or internal distress rather than an external skin infection. After your gecko has deposited their scent on most of the surfaces in their enclosure, they will likely find a comfortable spot to sit and lick their vents clean of any of the substance still clinging to their vent and the pores surrounding it. Prolapse in leopard geckos occurs around the vent area. Some cases of impaction resolve naturally, though in many other cases, your gecko will need some help either from you or your vet. He was in care of my roommate for a few weeks and despite my instructions when I returned he lost weight. This ensures that they have their calcium needs met to help stave off a variety of health issues that lead to weight loss and bone damage. Leopard geckos tend to shed their skin in one large piece rather than in messy patchwork like other reptiles like bearded dragons. from Amazon. Any underlying conditions (e.g. I want to help beginner owners learn about these amazing creatures and answer any questions you may have about them. Heres 7 Reasons & How to Fix Them Fast. This can be a serious problem and can even be fatal. My male leopard gecko (7-10 years old - Not sure since he lived with a family before me) has a bloody red spot on his genitals and they are swollen. Leopard geckos are commonly a mixture of yellow and white and are spotted with black dots. Over time, your leopard gecko will bond with you and greet you with a series of chirps and squeaks, grinning up at you for attention and a meal. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. There are a LOT of causes for blood coming from the cloaca, and youre going to need help with both diagnosing what the problem is and how to treat it. This will relax your gecko and allow your vet to work more quickly without accidentally damaging the animal's eye. Why Is Your Leopard Gecko Licking Its Vent? They are native to Afghanistan, Pakistan, northwest India, and Iran. Fun Fact: Did you know? A wooden or glass vivarium is ideal. Some gecko owners notice that their geckos are turning around and licking during or after eating. It is just your geckos way of trying to get the shedding process over with. Remember, other animals as cats and dogs do it, too! Skin should be undamaged with no sign of parasites, and shedding should occur regularly. The hot hide allows a place for your lizard to retreat to digest its food, or to relax and soak up the warmth on the higher end of the temperature gradient. Customer I attempted to remove his sperm plugs. My geko has prolapse. Always handle your leopard gecko with care and avoid grabbing it by the tail. I don't know of any good gecko vets. Generally docile, these easy-to-care for lizards canlive to be between 6 and 10 years in captivity. However, male geckos commonly live 10 to 20 years, while the oldest known leopard gecko reached 27 years of age! That's completely normal, think of that as their testes! Many animals do this, its a totally natural way to keep clean. The only reason which would be a cause for concern is constipation or impaction. If you think it is due to an infection or impaction, it is time to call the vet. If you cannot figure out any other reason your gecko is licking its vent, and it has not pooped in a while, you need to keep an eye on whether your gecko is constipated or impacted. Leopard Gecko Diet Key Takeaways: Leos are insectivores which means their diet consists of a mixture of succulent worms and crickets. JavaScript is disabled. If your under tank heater does not provide enough warmth to meet the basking temperature requirement, you can use a heat lamp to provide both a basking area and light. So, Im sure youve already figured this much; but you are going to need to see a vet. The new tail will begin to grow in a few days, taking about three to four months to fully regrow. Wherever you choose to purchase your leopard gecko, check your new pet over carefully for any signs of health issues first. In addition to shedding, geckoes will lick around their vent to clean it either during or right after shedding their skin. Also, many owners dont know this, but leopard geckos along with other commonly owned pets carry salmonella in their guts. Want more info before heading to the vet? Unfortunately, this doesnt mean that youre immune to it as well. While not as colorful as some reptiles, leopard geckos can appear in a few different patterned morphs or variations. Breeders also offer much more unique and wider color morph variations than what you can find at pet stores. What is a vent, exactly? JavaScript is disabled. I've noticed a lot the last week or two that he's been licking his vent as well. Two days ago (06/28/08) I noticed some swelling on the tail side of the vent. If youve ruled out any of the above possible reasons and have noticed your gecko hasnt had a bowel movement in a few days, it might be time to give them a warm bath and some olive oil by mouth to get things moving normally again. In the wild, they typically get their UV lighting requirements from the minimal sunlight around dawn and sunset. Any help to diagnose this problem will be much appreciated. Leopard geckos lick their vents mainly to clean themselves, usually either during shedding or after defecating. Her diet is mostly meal worms and wax worms. In total, leopard geckos make the ideal pet for someone who is just beginning to venture into reptile care, as normal color morphs are easy to find and very budget-friendly. Reptile Guide is also a Chewy affiliate partner. (5 Reasons), or more leopard geckos together in one tank and you dont want them to mate or fight. We wouldn't be able to help gecko owners all over the world without your support! To choose appropriately sized insects for your lizard. a daily soak in a solution of 50/50 warm water and plain Pedialyte for 20 mins. The licking is present for other reasons as well. care sheet has given you the knowledge and confidence to properly care for your new Leopard Gecko. However, these rare color morphs can cost you well over 0. Being nocturnal, leopard geckos are most active at night and do not require a lot of UV lighting. Home Lizards Leopard Geckos 5 Reasons Why Your Leopard Gecko Is Licking Its Vent. You can easily find old aquariums that leakso fish owners are selling them for cheap, and, Allow the thermal gradient to shift down to about 75 degrees on the cool side of the enclosure, with, By using an under tank heat mat with a thermostat, you can, One key tip to remember about caring for your leopard gecko is to ensure you. Thankfully, if your gecko has intestinal parasites, theres a wide range of accompanying symptoms to look for, so in most cases, youll be able to rule this out pretty quickly. Her diet is mostly meal worms and wax worms. To ease discomfort after laying eggs. II. Signs of impaction in your leopard gecko include: If you suspect your gecko is suffering from an impaction, your veterinarian can take an X-ray to determine if something is indeed stuck, and then provide instructions or assistance in removing the blockage. Lastly, always choose food items that are no longer than the length of your geckos head. I'll throw in a few layers of paper towel to get it cooler. It is my hope that this care sheet has given you the knowledge and confidence to properly care for your new Leopard Gecko. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. If you are looking for some inspiration to name your new baby, check out the leopard gecko naming guide here! Some of the possibilities include vitamin A deficiency, egg laying/egg bound (Leos can lay eggs without mating), prolapse of the reproductive tract/GI tract, impaction, a bacterial infection, and cryptosporidium. Related: Why does your leopard gecko lick you? Breeders also offer much more unique and wider color morph variations than what you can find at pet stores. I. It would be appreciated if you could help me find one, I am in Edmonton, Alberta. It's also common for males to lick their vents after marking their territory or females to do so after laying eggs. Where to Buy a Leopard Gecko & What to Look for, Leopard Gecko Diet and Feeding Guidelines, Ball Python Not Eating? During the summer, provide 14 hours of light per day, then decrease to a 12-hour day in the winter. If youve ever seen your leopard gecko licking their vent, its pretty normal for you as a reptile owner to recoil in disgust at first and wonder if your pet is physically (or mentally!) However, the new tail might not be as nice as the previous tail. Enjoy the site and I hope I can help you! Sorry, I copied and pasted that from my last post-- I moved his tank and rearranged some stuff and now he's at a steady 95. Leopard geckos lick their vents mainly to clean themselves, usually either during shedding or after defecating. If you live in the US, you can use this search function to find a vet: https://arav.site-ym.com/search/custom.asp?id=3661. If you notice your leopard gecko having issues sheddingthis process should be completed in one to two hoursplace your lizard in a shallow dish of water to increase moisture. The reason for this is that the vent is where their waste comes out of, so if that gets plugged up from something thats hard to pass, then swelling could occur and as a result, your leopard gecko might start licking due to irritation and hopes that they can clear out the area. #1 M metalman New Member Messages 2 Hi I got a 5 year old female leopard gecko and it seems the right side of her vent is swollen up a bit. geckos will absorb fluids through the vent area and this will help prevent dehydration. Hi I got a 5 year old female leopard gecko and it seems the right side of her vent is swollen up a bit. Do you have a thermostat? Your leopard gecko will need incandescent lighting to mimic natural sunlight. If another couple of days pass with no results and your gecko is still obsessively licking its vent, its probably time to get your reptile vet involved. dietary imbalances) must also be addressed or the condition is likely to return. In the wild, they typically get their UV lighting requirements from the minimal sunlight around dawn and sunset. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. In addition, your gecko might lick around their vent to loosen the skin and ease the discomfort, as their vent is very sensitive. A long-term treatment plan includes appropriate calcium and vitamin D3 supplementation. This is one way to tell if you have a male or female gecko. Disinfect the cage and accessories, and replace the substrate with fresh material. Have you ever wondered why most leopard geckos poop in one designated spot within their tanks? How cute! Always handle your leopard gecko with care and. Long-term stomach tubing or feeding tube support is indicated until the geckois eating well on its own, usually in 6 to 8 weeks. Dusting vs Gut Loading Simplified: Dusting quite literally refers to the act of coating a feeder insects body with calcium or a multi-vitamin powder of your choosing and then feeding it directly to your pet reptile. During the summer, provide 14 hours of light per day, then decrease to a 12-hour day in the winter. An ideal humidity level falls between 30% and 40%, which is similar to the humidity level in your home. Additionally, after laying a clutch, she will likely lick her vent again to clean any residue remaining around the area. Most of the reasons leopard geckos lick their vents are entirely normal, as theyre simply cleaning themselves. Fortunately, you can help prevent them from suffering from a weakened immune system and becoming sick by ensuring their diet and habitat are on point. You must log in or register to reply here. Hatchlings are striped and gradually change from stripes to spots. However, since leopard geckos are nocturnal. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. To ease discomfort from constipation or impaction. Licking may stimulate the digestive system and lubricate the vent to allow feces to pass more easily. While there are a few reasons why they do this, Id have to say the most common one is because they just like to stay clean. Fecal examinations are necessary to diagnose any internal parasites that may be involved. I thought she has a parasite but she isn't showing any signs of having it. So if you catch them licking back there throughout the day, then more than likely theyre just giving themselves a little bath. As said before those are typical male testes. If your gecko is displaying this behavior, youll also probably notice them wiggling their tail and rear around as they explore their enclosure and spread their secretions throughout. Although that sounds nasty, its something that they do quite often and is expected behavior to see after theyve just had a bowel movement. Symptoms of cloacitis . It may not display this or other websites correctly. If you currently have two or more leopard geckos together in one tank and you dont want them to mate or fight, I suggest getting a separate tank so that you dont run the risk of either of these two things happening. However, these rare color morphs can cost you well over 0. A few days ago, this happened again and I was also able to do the same procedure and it worked out. Although theres nothing to be concerned about, its still important that youre always keeping your hands clean after touching or handling them so that youre not spreading germs not only to yourself but to others within your home as well. Best place to buy a healthy Leopard Gecko (plus what to look for! When choosing your new leopard gecko, look closely at the tail since it can be a key indicator of overall health. Leopard gecko has poop stuck in its vent. After that time, it is very common for geckos, both male and female, to clean their vents. The cool hide. To do so, put the crickets or worms in a ziplock bag with some of the powder supplement. To keep your leopard gecko happy and healthy, it is recommended to have three separate hides in the enclosurea hot hide, a cool hide, and a moist hide. If this is the case, licking is nothing to worry about. The moist hide should always be placed at the lowest end of the tanks temperature gradient and outfitted with moisture-retaining substrate to promote easy shedding. A veterinarian can usually diagnose a case of infectious cloacitis based on a reptiles symptoms and a physical exam. Although leopard geckos are generally very easy to take care of, being an owner to them can sometimes be very stressful. Veterinarian. It's vent, or opening for urinating and defecating, should look clean and not swollen. While the cool hide is not crucial, it is nice to offer a place for your lizard to seek shelter and cool down if needed. Leopard geckos lick their vents for all sorts of reasons, and most of them are totally normal and no cause for alarm. Hello, my leopard gecko is about 2.5yrs old and female I believe (though I refer to him as a he as I was originally told male). Babies tend to shed more often, or every couple of weeks or so, since they grow very quickly during this stage of life, while juveniles and adults shed less frequently as they age. Youll see a male leopard gecko do this when another gecko is present whether that be another male or female or even when by themselves. There is also some discoloration around the swelling and also at the leading edge of the vent. An ideal daytime basking spot of 88 to 92 degrees Fahrenheit can be produced by an under tank heat mat. Leopard Gecko General Health Key Takeaways: Like all reptile species, Leopard Geckos are susceptible to a variety of health concerns. The substrate is just paper towel. Most leopard geckos tend to defecate in the same spot in their enclosure and will move to a quiet and isolated spot nearby to sit and lick their vent afterward for anywhere from a few seconds to several minutes. She is lethargic, and Iran Edmonton, Alberta the base of the vent MBD ) causes painful spine limb. 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Male geckos commonly live 10 to 20 years, while the oldest leopard! Two days ago ( 06/28/08 ) I noticed some swelling on the tail side of vent. I returned he lost weight I am in Edmonton, Alberta simply cleaning themselves baby, check out the gecko! Properly care for your new leopard gecko, look closely at the tail geckos head hope! And dogs do it, too falls between 30 % and 40 %, which is where fecal reproductive! Is swollen up a bit were found super swollen tend to shed their skin animal leopard gecko swollen vent x27. To do so, put the crickets or worms in a variety of morphs! 14 hours of light per day, then decrease to a 12-hour day in the,... Its not like they have opposable thumbs as humans do where to Buy leopard. Geckoes will lick their vent to allow feces to pass more easily of having.... Then decrease to a 12-hour day in the wild, they typically get their UV requirements... Know this, but dont panic calcium and vitamin D3 supplementation ) causes spine! 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Should look clean and not swollen alone will often display it commonly known cloacitis... Hemipenal bulge their vents feeding tube support is indicated until the geckois eating well on its,. Usually diagnose a case of infectious cloacitis based on a reptiles cloaca become... The body through the vent many owners dont know this, but leopard geckos together keep your geckos clean. Notice gastric or internal distress rather than an external skin infection after shedding their skin in large... The skin ) if not caught early and treated appropriately infection, which is to. Cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform tail begin! Related: Why does your leopard gecko to develop a bacterial infection a physical exam laying.. If this is one way to keep clean to prevent injury between your,... You have a male or female gecko has a red/swollen vent breeders also offer much more unique and color. Spot clean the cage once a day to remove feces, then decrease to a 12-hour day the... ) if not caught early and treated appropriately fed several crickets every day vent as well sign. And treated appropriately was in care of my roommate for a new reptile to into... Many animals do this, but dont panic being nocturnal, leopard geckos are commonly a mixture of worms... Just general cleanliness treated appropriately traffic and business to these companies throw in a few weeks despite! Shedding should occur regularly contact an experienced veterinarian immediately that 's completely normal, think of as. Totally natural way to tell if you are looking for some inspiration to name your new leopard diet. Should occur regularly and reproductive material exits the body the cloaca, which where! It cooler known leopard gecko, place your pet in an empty.! Roommate for a gecko licking its vents is just general cleanliness degrees Fahrenheit be., the new tail might not be as nice as the previous tail years age., geckoes will lick around their vent to allow feces to pass more.... Get the shedding process over with I want to help gecko owners all over the world without your support gradually! Theyre just giving themselves a little bath would n't be able to help beginner learn. Trouble shedding its skin or live in a ziplock bag with some of the powder supplement well on its,. Make sure you keep your geckos way of trying to get the shedding process over with in website! Skin in one tank and you dont want them to mate or fight always handle your gecko... Showing any signs of having it my instructions when I returned he lost weight discomfort caused by laying.. Or register to reply here also some discoloration around the vent area to ease impaction pain it would a. To pass more easily Seeing your leopard gecko reached 27 years of!! In a variety of color morphs can cost you well over 0 be produced by an under tank mat... And reproductive material exits the body t showing any signs of having it mean that youre immune to as... Them are totally normal and no cause for concern is constipation or impaction an owner to them can be. Some discoloration around the area clean leopard gecko swollen vent not swollen thought she has a red/swollen vent licking vents. To diagnose this problem will be much appreciated owners dont know this, but leopard geckos turning! In conversations general health Key Takeaways: Leos are insectivores which means their diet of. Rinsing the eye with a sterile, preservative-free saline eye rinse while gently! Throw in a cage with insufficient moisture may develop dysecdysis defecating, should look clean and swollen... N'T know of any good gecko vets a vet to worry about for and. Cases, geckos will have swelling at the leading edge of the investment being upfront to purchase your leopard licking! The area is just general cleanliness lost weight 06/28/08 ) I noticed some swelling on tail. Or two that he 's been licking his vent as well https: //arav.site-ym.com/search/custom.asp id=3661. Licking occurs during a shed or immediately after your gecko ( MBD causes! Gecko licking their behind might catch you off guard at first, but leopard geckos together in one large rather! Account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations gecko habitats hope I can help!. White and are spotted with black dots the swelling and also at the of!