Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have a 7 to 8 month old male cresty that is defiantly showing signs of a floppy tail. he has an indentation at the base of the tail around the pelvis, which is mentioned in the rhacodactylus book by Philippe de Vosjoli, Frank Fast, and Allen Repashy.

I read in the book that floppy tail could be caused by several different factors. calcium deficiency, or too much time spent on vertical surfaces.

It might also be caused from calcium overload, or just simply a tail that is over weight.

I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions that weren't mentioned in the rhac book?

my cresty is in a 20 gallon screen cage. It has several repti-vines that intersect the cage, as well as a multitude of fake leaves that are rapped around the roof of the cage.

I am hesitating to start buying egg cartons and 33 gallon tupperware because it seems too un-natural.

the book suggests supplementing more calcium and giving them more climbing material. If I put any more foliage in the cage it will be solid green leaf.

Also Do you think that this is painful for the gecko?
It seems as if there is no pain associated.

I'm no expert, but I suspect that once the tail goes floppy, there is no cure. I have never had a gecko develop that condition, POSSIBLY because every enclosure I have has a number of cork tubes stacked one on top of another, some crossing at an angle, and they spend much time evenings stretched along the top of a tube, and days sleeping inside, horizontally. That's just my theory. I doubt that the condition hurts them, but don't really know. I consider it cosmetic, as the geckos in the wild often don't even HAVE their tails anymore. I have one female which I purchased who already had the condition, and it hasn't slowed her down one whit!
Terri