For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Many animals masturbate, and this is totally normal, even for geckos. This behavior is commonly known as scent-marking, and even geckos who are housed alone will often display it. 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. Some signs of health issues in leopard geckos . Lastly, always include elements for enrichment and three separate hides-a hot hide, a cool hide, and a moist hide to help with shedding. They are naturally nocturnal, but while in captivity, they generally abandon their true nocturnal behavior and become more active during the day, but still continue the height of their activities overnight. The gecko may be licking to avoid discomfort of some kind, and oftentimes this is normal. 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. Other than this, though, vent licking is to be expected if you own a leopard gecko, whether theyre male or female. Yes, Heres Why! Skin should be undamaged with no sign of parasites, and shedding should occur regularly. Being nocturnal, leopard geckos are most active at night and do not require a lot of UV lighting. 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. Leopard geckos are insectivores who thrive on a diet consisting of crickets, waxworms, mealworms, and superworms. Ive also seen her rub her belly and tail against the objects in her cage. If you catch your leopard gecko licking their vent and theyre not impacted then all the other reasons for why theyre licking their vent are usually pretty harmless. 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. As an Amazon associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. n Never grab a leopard gecko by its tail as they may drop their tail. Compared to other lizards, leopard geckos require minimal care, and with proper husbandry, they. Although you know leopard geckos do well on a diet of crickets, ensure the insects are gut-loaded prior to feeding your lizard. It is intended to clean the geckos vent area to prevent infection and keep anything from sticking to it. How often should you feed a leopard gecko? For example, a 6-inch long gecko should be offered 12 crickets per feeding. If your gecko becomes constipated, they will likely lick the area around their vent to lubricate it and soothe their pain while attempting to pass their stool. The problem of hemipene prolapse is mostly likely to occur following mating by the male. Pet health information given on this site is not intended to replace the advice of a certified veterinary professional. These lizards are prone to snatching up their substrate, particularly sand, if fed in their usual habitat. Rocks and logs also offer fun activities and the opportunity for exercise for your leopard gecko. Learn more about this on our affiliate disclosure. In this case, you will need to get your gecko veterinary treatment right away. 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. Any condition that disrupts the normal protective barriers of cloacal tissues can allow an infection to set in. ). 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. Any help to diagnose this problem will be much appreciated. 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. Because leopard geckos only have skin, cleaning off their vents and other body parts is much easier for them and theres no risk of dirt being trapped underneath any fur. Juvenile leopard geckos need to be fed several crickets every day. Pro Tip: One key tip to remember about caring for your leopard gecko is to ensure you provide a moist hide. Wherever you choose to purchase your leopard gecko, Waxworms are high in fat, so they should only be fed as a treat, while. If the licking is accompanied by other worrisome behavior, then you may want to get your leopard gecko checked immediately. Lives alone of course and I own no other geckos. The substrate is just paper towel. A vent in geckos refers to the animals genital area. 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. Any help on keeping him is appreciated. In rarer cases, geckos will lick their vent to ease impaction pain. 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. In addition, your gecko might lick around their vent to loosen the skin and ease the discomfort, as their vent is very sensitive. In fact, if a male leopard gecko comes from a giant bloodline, he may reach nearly a foot in length at maturity! Leopard geckos generally do not bite and are slow-moving, which makes them an ideal pet for the beginner reptile enthusiast. Her diet is mostly meal worms and wax worms. Reptile Guide is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. 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. Make sure you keep your geckos tank clean to prevent any type of infection. Thank you for making the Gecko Forums community the great resource that it is! To learn more about the reasons why leopard geckos occasionally lick their vents, keep reading. Without the proper sanitary steps, you run the risk of catching the strain and although you may only be sick for a couple of days, its not something that you necessarily want to experience. Wherever you choose to purchase your leopard gecko, check your new pet over carefully for any signs of health issues first. If two leopard geckos of the same or opposite sex are paired together in an enclosed area for too long then eventually one of the geckos could end up gravid (pregnant) or potentially losing their life due to aggression from fighting over territory. Leopard geckos need a wide variety of insects that are well fed a calcium rich diet and should be dusted with calcium just prior to feeding. Although that sounds nasty, its something that they do quite often and is expected behavior to see after theyve just had a bowel movement. 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. Send us a Message drstubz@gmail.com Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. Larger food should be offered every other day until they become full grown in about 10-12 months. I don't know of any good gecko vets. However, excessive licking might indicate that something is wrong with your gecko. 95 is too hot, it should be 90-92 without fluctuating. You are using an out of date browser. This behavior is fairly similar to vent licking post-shedding. You can easily find old aquariums that leakso fish owners are selling them for cheap, and glass aquariums make ideal leopard gecko habitats. 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 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. In addition to dusting your lizards food with a calcium and vitamin D3 supplement, keep a small dish full of a calcium supplement (with or without the vitamin D3 supplement). Main reasons for a Gecko licking its vent: This is a totally normal behavior in Geckos, so it should not be cause for alarm. Long-term stomach tubing or feeding tube support is indicated until the geckois eating well on its own, usually in 6 to 8 weeks. when taking him out to help him with bad shed i noticed he had poop stuck in his vent, didn't notice last week and a bath didn't help with cotton swab and i don't know what to do. Remember, other animals as cats and dogs do it, too! With a parasitic infection, you will notice gastric or internal distress rather than an external skin infection. Vet. Spot clean the cage once a day to remove feces, then deep-clean the entire enclosure once monthly. General rules for housing leopard geckos are as follows: Keep in mind that it is also a good idea to have a separate enclosure in which to feed your leopard gecko. Leopard Gecko Diet Key Takeaways: Leos are insectivores which means their diet consists of a mixture of succulent worms and crickets. 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!) Unlike some other reptile species, leopard geckos can be housed together. #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. These little lizards are prone to gulping down substrate along with their meal, which can potentially cause an impaction. If a stone is present within the cloaca it must be removed for the infection to resolve. It's hard as a rock. However, if your gecko is licking frequently, you may want to take it as a sign that your gecko might need additional attention or even treatment. Also, be sure to avoid wood shaving for your geckos habitat, since the oils found in shavings can be irritating. My male leopard gecko's hemipenes were found super swollen. In this moist hide, keep the humidity level between 20% and 40%. If your gecko is male, you will see the enlarged pores in front of his vent. 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. 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. Bearded Dragon Keeps Licking Me: What Does it Mean? While not as colorful as some reptiles, leopard geckos can appear in a few different patterned morphs or variations. While it may be tempting to rescue the sickly lizard and attempt to nurse it back to health, you may be left with heartbreak and hefty veterinary bills. A veterinarian can usually diagnose a case of infectious cloacitis based on a reptiles symptoms and a physical exam. You can see these noises for yourself here. males will rub rub their body against the substrate to spread their scent and as for the swollen vent im not sure =/. It may help if you give your gecko a bowl of warm water to soak in. This can be a serious problem and can even be fatal. As your gecko becomes older, you can stretch out feedings to every other day. Because theyre leopard geckos, there probably isnt a logical explanation as to why they do this, but if I had to guess, then it would likely be because theyre making sure theyve gotten all of their shed off. Waxworms are high in fat, so they should only be fed as a treat, while the main diet should mostly consist of gut-loaded and dusted crickets (more on this soon). If your leopard gecko licks its vent and displays signs like sleepiness, swelling, inflammation, and inflammation, it might have an infection. The swelling is a little bit red and the is an extremely small dot of orange on one side of the swelling (its about the size of this period . Pictures of geckos, advice for care, requests for information about geckos, and more. We also get your email address to automatically create an account for you in our website. Their quirky smiles will make you burst into a laugh! Before offering your leopard gecko a meal, you will also need to coat the insects with a calcium and vitamin D3 supplement. I have a feeling that you aren't getting it all? I thought she has a parasite but she isn't showing any signs of having it. And it's building up again? If you think it is due to an infection or impaction, it is time to call the vet. Like many reptiles, male leopard geckos have hemipenes, or two penises, which are stored inside their vent until it is time to mate. When your gecko is a baby, A 15- 20-gallon tank can be large enough for two adult leopard geckos, but, As with most reptiles, one of the most popular enclosures are glass aquariums. Part of the gecko cleaning process is licking after defecation. Because there are around. 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. (5 Reasons), or more leopard geckos together in one tank and you dont want them to mate or fight. Usually, they will begin shedding around their head and neck and pulling at the skin with their feet or rubbing themselves against surfaces in their enclosure to get the skin to start coming off. Try to note other times the gecko is licking his vent to determine the cause. But are you 100% sure it's a leopard gecko? To do so, put the crickets or worms in a ziplock bag with some of the powder supplement. A . By using an under tank heat mat with a thermostat, you can ensure the ambient temperature remains above 70 degrees, with a toasty-warm hot spot of 88 to 92 degrees. This may occur before or after the eggs are laid. 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. For this reason, sand is best avoided in your geckos enclosure to prevent an impaction. These lizards are a desert lizard, so they do not need an overly humid environment like amphibians. When feeding your leopard gecko, place your pet in an empty tank. Leopard Gecko Medical Needs. How cute! Leopard Geckos, also known as Leos, also make GREAT pets for more experienced reptile owners who are interested in breeding unusual color morphs and patterns! JavaScript is disabled. We wouldn't be able to help gecko owners all over the world without your support! Licking may stimulate the digestive system and lubricate the vent to allow feces to pass more easily. Finally, leopard geckos will lick their vents to ease pain related to a parasite infestation in rare cases. What Colors And Why Explained. 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. Leopard Gecko Background Key Takeaways: Leopard geckos make great pets for both beginner and expert lizard owners alike. Leopard Gecko Diet Key Takeaways: Leos are insectivores which means their diet consists of a mixture of succulent worms and crickets. When you first bring home your leopard gecko, give them a few weeks to settle in. Some gecko owners notice that their geckos are turning around and licking during or after eating. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. If youre just starting out and arent interested in getting a fancy morph, then a high-quality, well-cared for pet with the typical color pattern for leopard geckos will cost around $20 to $30. It's also common for males to lick their vents after marking their territory or females to do so after laying eggs. When it comes to temperature and humidity, the ideal gradient includes a daytime basking spot of 88-92 degrees Fahrenheit which shifts down to about 75 degrees on the cool side and humidity between 30-40%. YES! If your pet is experiencing a medical emergency, contact an experienced veterinarian immediately. You can use a magnifying glass and bright light to look at young leopard gecko's vent when it reaches 4-5 months old, but experts can try doing it at the age of 2 months. Offer two appropriately sized insects per inch of lizard length and change their feeding frequency as they age. Check out our leopard gecko shedding guide for more information on the process and how you can help your pet. The licking is present for other reasons as well. They will either need to prescribe additional medications or, in rare cases, surgery will be necessary to eliminate the blockage. This is healthy and the way geckos rid the body of waste material. Similar to infection, geckos are sometimes affected by parasites due to the fact that they eat a variety of insects. To clean after mating. All About African Fat Tail Geckos In The Wild, Do Gargoyle Geckos Change Colors? 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. It's fairly common in leopard geckos to lose toes due to that, so make sure you're helping him shed those little "toe socks" with warm water soaks to soften them and gently removing them for him. a daily soak in a solution of 50/50 warm water and plain Pedialyte for 20 mins. , the strain that your leopard gecko carries is likely unique to them and because of that, theyre immune to it. Weight: Don't have a scale, sorry ive only had him for a few days, Thermometer type(include location): temp gun, Hides: 1 cave on hot side that is moisted daily, 1 hide on cool side, How much: as many as he wants for about 10 mins, How often: every day because he looks very malnourished since I found him, Do you gutload the feeders: yes, kept in oats with potatos thrown in for moisture, Supplements(what kind, how often): calcium with d3 and a multi vitamin for reptiles. It may not display this or other websites correctly. 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