Reptile & Amphibian Forums

One of my geckos is 5 mos old, and yesterday I noticed a patch of skin missing from the top of his head. (It's kinda red, not sure of its blood.) I watched him for a while and I also noticed him scratching his head with his little feet and rubbing it on the glass. What could be going on?? Is it possible for him to get an infection? He also hasn't been himself.. he has been sleeping more, and he jus mopes around or just stands and stares with his eyes droopy. Could he be sick, or have an infection? I'm worried that he will possibly spread it to my other gecko. Could someone help please!

Only a vet can give you a proper diagnosis. It would help if you posted a picture. However, it sound like it might possibly be a case of retained shed that may have caused the skin underneath to get infected. Try dabbing the affected area with hydrogen peroxide on a cotton ball, be careful not to get it in his eyes. Does there appear to be some skin stock on the head? You can also give him a warm bath and after, apply neosporin to the affected area.

It could also be an injury from figting or attempted mating. You mentioned it is in with another gecko. What are the sexes of the geckos you have housed together? If you have two males together they may be fighting, and may kill eachother if not seperated.
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Sarah Stettler aka Starling
Sarah@stargecko.com
StarGecko.Com COMING SOON! Star Quality Leopard Geckos
Specializing in Hypotangerine Tremper Albinos

It looks like there are some "flakes". I bought the 2 geckos at the same time when they were a few weeks old. I am not sure of their sexes. Can you tell this early on? Would they fight even though they have grown together? I just took some picks to post.. but I am not sure how to put them up???

He also has these two lumps under his front armpits. They are mushy. Poor guy.

Im not sure about the injury. Sounds like a fight between the two.

Anyway, i wouldnt worry about the arm pits. Their "fat storage" pockets. A common sign that yor gecko is well fed.

M.N

im not sure about anyone else but i cant view your picture. u can go to the photo galary, upload it, and then it will become an option when you go to make a new post or reply at the bottom of the page. It sounds like a wound from a shed but only a vet can know for sure if you didnt happen to catch the injury as it was happening.

Pick is now there.. thanks for explaining how to upload. Sorry so blurry.

well, a little while ago, i decided to change the cage, so I put the 2 geckos into a box, and just as i happen to glance over, the albino struck/bit the other gecko on his tail (the with the damage to his head.) maybe that is the cause after all? i still havent had the chance to check them out "downstairs". The albino is really feisty. he doesnt like to be held at all! any suggestions on checkin male or female. I'm new at this!

oh yah, one more thing (sorry).. his head is bleeding a little bit. I have him in a box with paper towels. He keeps rubbing his head on the side of the box. There are blood smears. What can i do about that? Probably nothing huh.. its not like they have those little "cone" like things that they put around dogs heads to keep them from biting themselves.. or do they

it does look like a bite injury. Aside from going to your vet I would remove your female and put her in her own tank, at least until it heals. Some males are very aggressive when mating and this could have been the issue. Are also sure that your female really is a female? Use hydrogen peroxide on a qtip and dab the open sore (dont get it in leos eye) and apply a thin thin layer of neosporin on top of it. Once healed, you may want to introduce them outside of the males element, meaning take him out of the tank he is in and have them meet on grounds different to BOTH of them i.e. a shoebox, sweaterbox, etc. While they are in there, rearrange the males tank so that when you put them back in, its unfamiliar to both and the male wont be thinkin "hey, this is my territory get out". Only a suggestion...has worked for me in the past.

I would definitely quaranteen the one with the skin problem. Just in case it does get infected, you don't want the infection to spread to the other gecko. I would also have them properly sexed, as to find out if they are both males. I would keep them seperated until you find this out. Usually taking them to a herp vet can get all your initial problems taken care of (e.g sexing, fecal exam, etc).

As for the infection on his head, if it looks like a open sore, I would rub some hydrogen peroxide on it with a q-tip very gently. And after that I would give him a warm soak in a bath (with water that goes up to the tops of his legs). And just drizzle some water over his head so that it will fall down his nose and not into his eyes. Then rub some neosporin on the wound after the bath (VERY thin layer).

Males will fight no matter if they are raised together or not. Reptiles for the most part or territorial animals, and loners. They do not NEED companionship, nor do they want it. Although in the past I have housed male geckos together with minimal fighting it was because I had multiple basking spots, and there was never a need for food competition. Even with these amenities there was still minor squabling (usually over which one was eating the most crickets!).

Anyways, I would highly suggest a vet visit for both your little guys. Shouldn't run you more than 50-60$, and an hour of your time for a checkup on both of them.