Vet Q&A-Reptile

How do I know if my baby created gecko is comfortable with me holding him? Also, is it normal if I put my gecko in his cage, he'll move to his favorite hiding spot, and stay there until I hold him again? One last thing, based on the pictures I send, how old would you say my crestie is?

If he isn't struggling or trying to escape, he's probably okay with being held. Don't hold him for too long initially. Gradually increase the handling time to acclimate him. Even though he doesn't struggle, it may still be stressful, so he'll return to a safe place when returned to the enclosure. As he adjusts to his new surroundings, he may begin to explore. A "best guess" on age would be 12 to 16 weeks. Reptiles have different growth rates depending on diet, availability of food and environmental factors.

I have a red ear slider turtle, he has been in the tank for 2 days and has not figured out how to climb up on a floating log I have for him. How much time before he is in danger?

I'm not exactly sure what you are asking. Is the floating log the only way she has to get out of the water? That is not recommended. You need to make an actual basking area. The entrance to the basking area should be stationary (not floating) and a gradual incline would be best. http://www.reptilesmagazine.com/Red-Eared-Slider-Care-Sheet/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sLKDJEGFH7k If you have a basking area and a log, I would not be worried that she hasn't gotten up on the log yet. Give her some more time to figure it out. If she never gets on it it doesn't matter. Some of them just don't like it. She does however need a way to get out of the water (basking area). Hope this helps. Best wishes.

I have a crested gecko and I’ve had him for about a month now and he’s still very jumpy . He won’t let me pick him up and when I put my hand in the cage to see if he will climb onto it he has no reaction or will scram away into the plants . I was wondering if there’s anything I can do to get him to calm down so I could pick him up because I’m scared of trying to pick him up and he just jumps right out of the cage or drops his tail . Any advice on how to handle a hyper crested gecko?

It will take patience and consistency on your part. Spend time sitting by the cage. He may run or hide initially, but when he doesn't, place your hand in the cage for ever increasing periods of time. Once again, he may run and hide but make no attempt to touch or hold him. Once he stops running from your hand, use special food treats/prey to entice him onto your hand. Eventually, he will anticipate your presence as meaning a potential meal or treat.

Hi my male leopard gecko Leonardo has been getting dark kinda brown for a time then in few hours or the next day,he'll be bright yellow again! Whats going on? He also has a little spot on his tummy or inside I would describe it a a bruise but most definitely its compaction I really don't know what is that in their so two days ago i started giving him warm bath and rubbing the sides of his tummy. Do u have an idea of what going on? Pls help

The color change may be due to stress or low temps. The dot could be liver or gall bladder. If he is behaving, eating and defecating normally, there is likely no cause for concern. Check enclosure temperatures and adjust if necessary. Monitor the spot for any change and monitor his demeanor. See your veterinarian or an experienced herp vet for an exam if necessary.

My 4 month old turtle is developing white patches with tine black spots on his shell. They were initially localised but have started spreading now. Also, his vertebral scute seems to be lying at a different level than the rest of them. He eats well and is active. I feed him turtle food and tubifex twice a day. Since i live in India, i haven't placed a heating bulb nor am I using a uvb bulb. I have placed him near my window as for now. Also, i change his water daily. What is wrong with his shell

Biscuit may be developing shell rot. This condition is usually caused by poor lighting, poor water quality, poor diet or a combination of the three. The lack of a UVB light source may be contributing to the condition. Natural sunlight is great but the window panes can block a large portion of the beneficial UVB rays. If the shell underneath looks pitted, deformed or feels soft and spongy then there could be a serious issue. Minor shell rot can be treated at home. Use a soft bristled tooth brush and an antiseptic such as chlorhexidine or povidone to gently clean affected areas. Dry dock Biscuit until the area heals. This means keep him out of the water except for 30 minutes daily to eat, eliminate and hydrate. The dry dock (and tank) should have a UVB source placed no more than 12 - 18 inches above the tank. Use a screen instead of plexiglass or glass. Replace UVB bulbs every 6 months. Clean the tank, do a water change and change the filter media. Feed a species appropriate diet and dust food with a calcium supplement once a week or more if indicated. A cuttlebone can be placed in the tank as a source of calcium to build shell strength. Stubborn or severe cases of rot or infection should be treated by a veterinarian experienced in treating turtles. Request a consultation to discuss the case in greater detail. More detailed information and advice can be provided once the species of turtle is known.

My bearded dragon lizard is a baby and just got her a few days ago, I let her roam in a tub of crickets and she ate 9. Now today she won't even eat crickets or anything. What's going on?

Make sure the crickets aren't too big. They should be no bigger than the space between Medusa's eyes. Confirm proper temperature as well. Reptiles need adequate warmth to digest food. Low temps will affect appetite and activity. She should be fed twice daily. Gut load prey for 24 hours prior to feeding. Dust with vitamins/minerals every other day. Vegetables can also be offered every other day.

I have an Iguana who is carrying un fertilized eggs and I have noticed she has a few mites on her. I was wondering if I could give her a solution bath to rid her of the mites. Her name is Li Mai and she is one year and three months of age.

Hello. Good question. Mites unfortunately, are not easy to get rid of. You have to treat both the iguana and her environment. It is not recommended that you use any medications on your iguana without speaking to your vet first. Over the counter treatments do not usually work well and can often times be toxic if not used correctly. No matter what treatment you use it will likely take multiple treatments. It is best to obtain treatments directly from your veterinarian. If you do not already have a vet that you work with, this is a veterinary hospital near you where the vets are well versed in treating reptiles: http://chadwellanimalhospital.com/about-us/the-hospital/ You must also treat Li Mai's environment. Remove her from the cage. Throw away and branches or other organic material including the substrate. Soak the bowls and the enclosure itself in a 10:1 dilution of water to bleach. Let is soak for at least an hour but as long as you can. Be sure to get the bleach water in all the crevices. You will probably have to do this twice weekly over the next few months. Please consult with a veterinarian as these mites can be VERY difficult to get rid of. They can cause a myriad of other health problems including issues with shedding, damaged scales, stress, scratching, and more so you need to work together with a vet you trust to make sure all of her husbandry is correct. This includes her diet, the lighting, the temperatures and humidity in the cage. I hope this helps. Best of luck to you and Li Mai! Dr. Amber

I have a 2 year old bearded dragon and just trying to figure out why he does things. I've taken him out of the cage for an explore but he has gone into the corner and trying to what I think is digging and laying down flat? Is this a bad thing or his he just being normal?

Flattening out, or pancaking, can be a fear response. He may feel uncomfortable or stressed outside of his enclosure for long periods of time. This response is sometimes accompanied by gaping (opening his mouth wide). It can also be an attempt to create more surface area to increase heat absorption. If he is away from a heat source for too long, he may cool off.

I just rescued an African fat tailed Gecko who is very thin. He appears to have a dislocated right rear hip. There is a lump under his body around where the hip joint is and it feels like bone. He is still using his leg but walks a bit oddly. I am handfeeding him as he refuses to eat on his own. There are no vets anywhere near my city that treat reptiles. Is this something he may be able to live with or would it be more humane to euthanize him?

Unfortunately that is a severe injury and it is possible that your Gecko has/had metabolic bone disease as well. Hemorrhage or accumulation of fluid due to the luxation is possible. Considering what you described euthanasia would be a fair option, but I would recommend to discuss it with your local vet as a physical examination would be essential. Please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation (where you can post pictures ) if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further.