Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi there,
My adult male crestie has just started dragging his rear legs like he can barely use them, I will of couse take him to a herp vet but I was just wondering if anyone knew what might be causing this? He also seems way too lethargic in general.

Also is there any way of aging cresties?

Thanks for any help.

Justin

hmmm...seem to recall an earlier thread here with the same or similiar problem..some sort of viral infection in the spine I think was the cause. It also could be MBD (I hope that is the acrynom. Metebolic bone disease....)

ANother thing it could be..though I have only heard this happening with Bearded Dragons, is eating prey that is too large, especialy for youngsters. Have you been feeding it crickets bigger than the space between it's eyes? If the crickets aretoo big it could be puttingpressure on the nerves on it's spine, causing the apparent paralysis of the hind legs. If this is the case a vet visit is needed.

>>Hi there,
>>My adult male crestie has just started dragging his rear legs like he can barely use them, I will of couse take him to a herp vet but I was just wondering if anyone knew what might be causing this? He also seems way too lethargic in general.
>>
>>Also is there any way of aging cresties?
>>
>>Thanks for any help.
>>
>>Justin

This is a very bad sign. Sounds like he has Metabolic Bone disease. Do you use a full spectrum light source or add calcium to his diet? becuase of MBD, the gecko has a pinched nerve in his spinal column and is unable to use his legs. Be very careful moving this gecko as his bones may be very fragile.
Good luck with him
-----
Take Care
David
My Email
Rhac's Rule

Full spectrum lights are for diurnal animals they really are not going to do anything for nocturnal geckos since they hide all day while the lights are on. In captivity they are getting their D3 orally through multivitamins. However I am curious if UV absorption for changing provitamin D3 plays as vital a role as it does with diurnal reptiles. Most likely nocturnal reptiles are more sensitive and do not require high exposures if any. I would just make sure your gecko is getting calcium at every feeding and I would also make an appt at the vet. If not to advanced, it can easily be reversed. However any spinal deformities that arise will remain. Best of Luck.
-Mike

It was me who had that same problem with Grendel. Two vets and a reptile specialist all looked at the x-rays they took of her and agreed that she would never get better. She had an bacterial infection sometime in her past (before I got her since I only had her 2 months and they take a long time for problems to develop) that went untreated. The infection went into her bones and literally ate away at them. There was a blank spot along her spinal column.

With MBD it can sometimes be halted or even made better by feeding liquid calcium to the gecko. I did it for two leos that are happy and healthy one. One actually bred and had beautiful babies.

Grendel was dragging her back end along with her little feet sticking to everything she pulled herself across. She would try to jump only to be pulled back by her feet stickers. I put her down, on the advice of all the vets, since that was no way for an arboreal animal who loves to jump and climb to live. It broke my heart but it was the right thing to do in her case.

Good luck with your little guy.
Randi