Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I know this is the leo forum, but I posted on the gecko forum and have gotten no responses... maybe you guys can help me...

I have a male AFT whos around a year old. We made a move about a month ago, and around the same time I switched his substrate from jungle earth to paper towels. Since the move (i dont know if it is significant or not) he hasnt eaten, at least not very much. It was colder in the house that we were at for the last month -- maybe it was too cold (but there was an undertank heater and a night light on at all times-- we have since come back to where we were to begin with... its warmer here.) His bottom lip also appears to be a red, chapped looking, irritated. Im not sure whats going on with him, and I plan on taking him to a vet, and also contacting my local reptile center, but im not sure how big of a problem this is.
Any input would be greatly appreciated.

How did you transport him? By the sounds of it he has a injury to his bottom lip. How long has he not eaten? The move might also have stressed him out enough that he wont' eat. I'm not sure about AFT but my leos have reduced their eating alot, Boo my adult male isn't eating anything at all right now...i believe it to be the cooler weather thats causing that....i would assume the same could be true for AFT's.

A vet trip is a good idea, just to be on the safe side and if he hasnt eating for an extended period of time.

Red

>>I know this is the leo forum, but I posted on the gecko forum and have gotten no responses... maybe you guys can help me...
>>
>>I have a male AFT whos around a year old. We made a move about a month ago, and around the same time I switched his substrate from jungle earth to paper towels. Since the move (i dont know if it is significant or not) he hasnt eaten, at least not very much. It was colder in the house that we were at for the last month -- maybe it was too cold (but there was an undertank heater and a night light on at all times-- we have since come back to where we were to begin with... its warmer here.) His bottom lip also appears to be a red, chapped looking, irritated. Im not sure whats going on with him, and I plan on taking him to a vet, and also contacting my local reptile center, but im not sure how big of a problem this is.
>>Any input would be greatly appreciated.
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Crested Gecko Zeek:1.0
LEOS: Boo: 1.0 normal , Bronx & Nala: 1.1 blizzard,
Lily: 0.1 patternless, Abby: 0.1 albino, Zoe: 0.1 reduced pattern, Dot: 0.1 hypo
Chip: 1.0 papillion (small dog)

It was a car trip. He was in a little critter cage type thing. The small plastic cages with the vented plastic tops. There was paper towel on the bottom of the cage. I dont know how he would have injured his lip, but you think it is an injury, as oppossed to being chapped, or along those lines? He hasnt eaten anything significant (maybe 7 crickets or so) within the last month. I don't usually feed crickets, but i tried them because he wasnn't eating any worms.
We will see....

My first thought was an injury yes, but it could also be a bad shed that has caused the lip to be that way. Its a possiblilty that with the pain of the lip he might not be eating because of it. If his eating had stopped before the lip became *chapped* then it could be just the winter weather....Either way a vet visit is a good idea.

Hope he gets better
Red

>>It was a car trip. He was in a little critter cage type thing. The small plastic cages with the vented plastic tops. There was paper towel on the bottom of the cage. I dont know how he would have injured his lip, but you think it is an injury, as oppossed to being chapped, or along those lines? He hasnt eaten anything significant (maybe 7 crickets or so) within the last month. I don't usually feed crickets, but i tried them because he wasnn't eating any worms.
>>We will see....
-----
Crested Gecko Zeek:1.0
LEOS: Boo: 1.0 normal , Bronx & Nala: 1.1 blizzard,
Lily: 0.1 patternless, Abby: 0.1 albino, Zoe: 0.1 reduced pattern, Dot: 0.1 hypo
Chip: 1.0 papillion (small dog)

I have gotten some responses suggesting that it may be the beginning of mouth rot. How does this happen? Is it something I have done? I have had him for almost eight months, and he has never displayed any type of problem. I am going to look inside his mouth and see if there is anything going on inside.

I was also thinking it could be a matter of humidity. AFTs' like more humiditiy than leopards. I also know that the original substrate you were using holds alot more moisture and thus makes the enclosure more humid. Make sure he is not dehydrating! One of the signs in use humans of dehydrationg is CHAPPED LIPS! Yep chapped lips in the winter time is not only a result of the wind and cold but also from less water intake on our part. AFTs' don't eat well if they get dehydrated. Also another thing be on the look out for lateral skin folds(another tell tell sign) of dehydration. Being that his lip is already red make sure to keep his enclosure scrupulously clean. I would also treat it directly with a good triple anti or some iodine. Hope this helps.