Criptic's Page on Herps - Reptiles - Day Geckos

Please be advised, this page is not intended to take the place of veterinary care. When faced with an emergency, seek a veterinarian's assistance!

and kept in a properly maintained well-planted enclosure that is kept clean and has good air flow, day geckos are not prone to disease. Because of this, prevention through good husbandry is the best way to avoid disease.

Captive-bred day geckos are preferable to wild-caught individuals for both conservation and health reasons. Select individuals that are alert, and will feed in front of you. Check to make sure it does not have sections of unshed skin. to monitor health, visually check each lizard twice daily. Look at body posture and alertness. Also, look for non-feeding response when food is offered. Check for damage to the skin. Check the coloration and look for stress coloration. Day geckos generally do not look sick until they are very ill.

Dermal and Digit Infections

If day geckos are maintained in an enclosure that is too moist or dirty, they may develop serious skin infections. This may lead to more extensive damage and loss of digits. The first part of treatment is to rectify the cause. Treat superficial infections with Neosporin.

Gastroenteritis

Obvious symptoms is substantial weight loss combined with the passing of watery or bloody stools. Take a fresh stool sample to a vet to inspect and determine the cause.

Metabolic Bone Disease

This condition is more frequent in females that juveniles that have been fed commercially-raised prey items without dietary supplements. A diet lacking a 2:1 calcium to phosphorus ratio and vitamin D3 may result in metabolic bone disease as well. Symptoms of metabolic bone disease are indicated by a soft, flexible lower jaw, some deformation of the limbs, a kinked tail, the inability to climb well, and if stressed seizures. If caught early enough, this condition can be corrected by proper insect dusting with a powdered vitamin/mineral supplement.

Missing Tail

A missing tail indicates fighting or careless handling. If fighting is the cause, remove the day gecko from the enclosure and house it separately. Keep in optimal conditions.

Mouth Rot

This disease is usually seen with newly imported day geckos. the identifying symptom is a raw-appearing or discolored snout. If the damage is relatively minor, treat with Neosporin. If serious, have a vet administer an oral antibiotic.

Respiratory Infections

Uncommon in day geckos, if seen the symptoms are partial opening of the mouth when resting, or labored exhalation. The cause is improper enclosure temperature, especially too cool. To treat, raise the daytime temperature to 84 - 88 F, and night time temperature to 80 F. If no improvement in a week, take to a vet for antibiotics.

Ripped Skin

This almost always indicates fighting. Separate the damaged gecko and house in its own enclosure under optimal conditions.

Shedding problems

Incomplete shedding symptoms are parts of unshed skin remaining attached to the body or extremities. If ignored, this will lead to the inability to climb, loss of digits, or even death. the principal cause is lack of proper humidity. Repeated light misting, of areas with leftover shed, with lukewarm water will help the gecko pull off the shed. If incomplete sheddings happen regularly, you should increase the humidity in the enclosure. Another cause of incomplete shedding is another illness. Weak animals will not be able to peep off their shed.

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