Reptile & Amphibian Forums

They mate? I heard they lose thier tails during mating season due to over excitement or females will drop them if the male forces her to mate or something.

Just trying to expand my knowledge, a little slow in the breeding info for these creatures...

Cresteds lose their tails when frightened, generally when they think something is going to eat them.

Frankly, I'm not quite sure where you got the idea that Cresteds lose their tails during breeding season. Having said that, we've had one (and only one of two geckos lose their tails here) lose his tail during mating when he was startled by the container opening.
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female bite a newer females tail off about 10 months ago. just goes to show not only males are aggressive.

Most of the time, they will just do it to make their keepers angry.

J/K

Geckospot.com

n/t

Actually, in the wild, adult Cresteds don't have their tails anymore (according to the authors of Rhacodactylus: The Complete Guide to their Selection and Care)

Makes sense, as it really doesn't seem to come in handy for much - just kinda gets in the way while jumping.
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it's semi prehensile and they can use it to hold onto things. may also use it for balance

I was thinking that too

I heard a theory that the adults will eat the babies tails as a source of protein and fat in the wild, thus causing the adults to not have tails. As with territorail and breeding issues.

What do you think? Is that theory correct? Or are there other...more accurate phiosophies?

Dunno about those theories, they sound plausible, but I'd take the word of an actual "in the field researcher" before buying it from a couple of people keeping captive-bred Cresteds.

(ps, I'm not trying to sound snarky or anything, just that we can sit around all day and come up with explanations; but, they can only be answered for real by observance in the wild.)
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