Reptile & Amphibian Forums

One of my females (38.9g) has these 'air sacs' under her forearms. I can't find any lit out there on it. Anyone know if this is a type of genetic abnormality or if this is some kind infection (bacterial)? -phillip

No problem, you ask the question I first came here to find out about: do they look like water blisters just behind the armpit area of your leo? Then they are most likely calcium deposits and a sign that your gecko may be getting a bit too much calcium. We monitor our geckos and try to keep them at just barely visible bulges on one side as an indication of how much to dust the crickets.

My only thought was your gecko is a bit underweight (IMHO at 38 grams) to have calcium deposits. Are you using a multivitamin supplement or pure calcium for the prey items? Is the gecko adult or nearly adult? As long as the gecko doesn't seem to be in pain if you touch them and all other things being ok, most likely Ca is the issue. Try cutting back the calcium this week and see if the deposits shrink a bit. (You don't want them completely gone as you might then be under Ca requirements.) Hope this helps!
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0.1 Albino Leo Gecko
0.1 Crested Gecko
1.0 Dear Boyfriend
Departed: Harvey and Spock

I am only asking this because I have never come across any literature that indicates masses behind the limbs to be calcium related. Can you direct me to a source that discusses this?

I know that "The Leopard Gecko Manual" discusses something that sounds similar to this. On page 41 there is a really good picture of masses behind the forelimbs of a gecko. The caption on the picture says:

"Fatty masses behind the forelimbs indicate your geckos are in good condition for breeding."

Maybe some new information came out after the publication of this book??

I'm not saying sleepygecko is wrong - I'm just saying that the information I have doesn't seem to match up. Please correct me if I'm wrong though.
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-Kristin

0.2.2 Leopard Geckos
(Kumquat, Tamale, Jujube, and Nougat)

Well, this is what I've been told over and over... however, calcium is fat soluble, so the deposits could very well be both fat AND Ca. The size of our geckos' blisters are very responsive to how often we dust, so I had agreed with what I had been told about it being Ca based, then again, that is just my experience. Certainly, the kind of deposits we are talking about, whatever they may contain, is not a sign of a sick gecko, which is the most important part.

I wonder about the line you quoted about the deposits meaning it is in good shape to breed... didn't the original post say something like 38 grams? That's way too small to breed IMHO. Maybe I jumped to the wrong conclusion about what this particular gecko has...? (Bad me.)
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0.1 Albino Leo Gecko
0.1 Crested Gecko
1.0 Dear Boyfriend
Departed: Harvey and Spock

I agree with the other posters. My biggest gecko has the exact same thing as yours and she's a fatty, which means I need to cut down on the food. It's just a fat deposit.

They certainly seem to be filled with gas not fat or a solid. At this weight me geckos recieve a vionate dish for geophaging. She should not be reciving too much calcium as i do not dust. If i press the sacs they deflate but nothing escapes, then they inflate upon release. I looked at pg 41 in the leopard gecko manual and i dont have that pic. anymore help? thanks so far though...we are ruling somethings out. -phillip

I had a gecko that refused to eat for several weeks and had a few trips to the vet. MBD was a real concern by the 4th week without eating. As part of the 'get well plan' the vet gave me calcionate calcium drops to administer to her.

It was explained to me that these 'pouches' of fluid-like blisters would form behind her forelimbs when she had been getting enough calcium and to discontinue the drops when I saw that happen.

My gecko is doing quite well now and the blisters have reduced over time to where they're just barely visible. About where they should be for a normal healthy gecko.

They do indeed seem 'gas filled' because of the fluid present in them. I think the term 'deposit' makes people think they're some big lumpy thing that resembles a bone but that's not what I've seen in my experience. Pressure on them probably does force some of the liquid to leave the area and return shortly after.

Anyway, a pic is worth a thousand words and it may help to see one of your gecko. A simple question to your vet may provide the answer.