A male may lick his vent after this process, both to clean off any residual waxy substance left over from excretion (remember, geckos like to be clean) or to soothe the glands after secretion. If those treatments dont help and are still licking their vent, veterinary intervention will likely be necessary. If this happens, then soaking your leopard gecko in some lukewarm water low enough for them to stand in but high enough to reach their vent might offer them some relief by softening up the stool, but if that doesnt work then the best thing you can do next is go to the nearest herp vet. We wouldn't be able to help gecko owners all over the world without your support! I've noticed a lot the last week or two that he's been licking his vent as well. I'm not sure. , the strain that your leopard gecko carries is likely unique to them and because of that, theyre immune to it. The hot hide allows a place for your lizard to retreat to digest its food, or to relax and soak up the warmth on the higher end of the temperature gradient. Leopard geckos lick their vents mainly to clean themselves, usually either during shedding or after defecating. However, if the humidity level is too lowbelow 20%your leopard gecko may have trouble shedding its skin. This will relax your gecko and allow your vet to work more quickly without accidentally damaging the animal's eye. My leopard gecko has stopped eating and has swollen . The only reason which would be a cause for concern is constipation or impaction. If you cannot figure out any other reason your gecko is licking its vent, and it has not pooped in a while, you need to keep an eye on whether your gecko is constipated or impacted. Although leopard geckos are generally very easy to take care of, being an owner to them can sometimes be very stressful. And yeah his hemipene looks swollen to me. First, 97F is way too high. Some cases of impaction resolve naturally, though in many other cases, your gecko will need some help either from you or your vet. Hello, so I this is going to sound weird but I found a leopard gecko in my garage a few days ago. I thought she has a parasite but she isn't showing any signs of having it. Make sure you keep your geckos tank clean to prevent any type of infection. Ive seen her lick it sometimes. Some of the links may be affiliate in nature meaning we earn a small commission if an item is purchased. signs of a healthy animal n Active and alert n Clear eyes Body and tail are filled out n Healthy skin nClear nose and vent nfeeding Eats regularly diet A well-balanced leopard gecko diet consists of: n Insects, including crickets, small mealworms and waxworms. Allow the thermal gradient to shift down to about 75 degrees on the cool side of the enclosure, with nighttime temperatures dropping down to 70 to 75 degrees. At this point, most geckos are pretty anxious to remove the remainder of their old skin entirely, so they will start to more aggressively tug at or rub the skin to help the process along. Help/Advice. Because taking care of them for the vast majority of my life wasnt fulfilling enough, I decided to begin educating others about them through my articles. Essentially, this means the crickets or worms you feed must be fed a nutritious meal 24 hours before feeding to your leopard gecko, so your pet can obtain these nutrients as well. Why Does My Leopard Gecko Lick His Vent After Eating? You will need, at a minimum, a 20-gallon long vivarium for one adult Leopard Gecko. Some of the possibilities include vitamin A deficiency, egg laying/egg bound (Leos can lay eggs without mating), prolapse of the reproductive tract/GI tract, impaction, a bacterial infection, and cryptosporidium. I have a bearded dragon so I know reptiles need very specific care and used what I had to care for him while I get his real enclosure ready. The substrate is just paper towel. Juvenile leopard geckos need to be fed several crickets every day. If threatened, your gecko will naturally amputate its tail, so a slow taming and bonding process is best. Typically, they will gradually secrete the waxy material from their pores and walk around their enclosure, rubbing their legs and vent on any surface they find to spread their scent. Once your account is created, you'll be logged-in to this account. Seeing your leopard gecko licking their behind might catch you off guard at first, but dont panic! In the wild, they typically get their UV lighting requirements from the minimal sunlight around dawn and sunset. Your gecko will not need any assistance from you to clean themselves in this case; just leave them be and look away if it makes you queasy. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. This is why. Seems like a strange question, right? 183 Satisfied Customers. Fun Fact: Did you know? In the meantime, soaking is good for decreasing inflammation and keeping your pal hydrated, so thats a good call. Offer two appropriately sized insects per inch of lizard length and change their feeding frequency as they age. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. The vent area and the tail are often the last part of the skin to dry and shed off, so the licking may be a way to aid in this process. This is healthy and the way geckos rid the body of waste material. Females also have a row of pores above the vent, though in many female geckos they are not observable. A healthy gecko will be bright and alert with clear open eyes and nostrils and a clean vent. The Ultimate Bearded Dragon Care Guide for Beginners, Small Pet Turtles: 6 Tiny Babies to Melt Your Heart, Ball Python Care Sheet: First-Time Owners Guide (Updated), Leopard Gecko Care Sheet: New Owners Guide, Ball Python Morphs With Pictures: The 50 MOST Popular. If your gecko displays any unusual symptoms and they dont resolve independently after a few days, get them to a reptile vet to determine the cause, get an official diagnosis, and a treatment plan moving forward. Hi I got a 5 year old female leopard gecko and it seems the right side of her vent is swollen up a bit. Thank you for making the Gecko Forums community the great resource that it is! Treatment of the cloacal infection itself can include the surgical removal of damaged tissues, cleaning the affected area with an antiseptic, applying a topical antibiotic ointment, and oral or injectable antibiotics. You are using an out of date browser. You can play it safe and completely eliminate sand and other loose substrates from your lizards habitat, since sand ingestion can lead to an intestinal blockage, which can require surgery to remove. read more On ReptileJam.com we have a deep passion and interest for all kinds of reptiles. Try giving your gecko a warm water bath, or rubbing its belly and around its vent to remove the semen plug. Even 93 is on the hot end. Intestinal parasites are treated with medications that kill or help the body eliminate them. Also, many owners dont know this, but leopard geckos along with other commonly owned pets carry salmonella in their guts. Unfortunately, this doesnt mean that youre immune to it as well. As a result, they will continue to lick their vent in hopes of easing their pain and lubricating their vent, so they can have a normal bowel movement. After shedding, they will likely lick their vent to soothe any remaining itchiness or discomfort. We wouldn't be able to help gecko owners all over the world without your support! Many owners choose to start their baby and juvenile Geckos in the same 20-gallon tank adults use. Picture included in comments because I'm on mobile. Breeders also offer much more unique and wider color morph variations than what you can find at pet stores. Over time, your leopard gecko will bond with you and greet you with a series of chirps and squeaks, grinning up at you for attention and a meal. But usually it's every other night, Do you gutload the feeders: yes- oatmeal, reptocal (with d3), reptivite, flukers cricket quencher, Supplements(what kind, how often): repti calcium without d3 is always available in tank. This behavior is fairly similar to vent licking post-shedding. If you live in the US, you can use this search function to find a vet: https://arav.site-ym.com/search/custom.asp?id=3661. There may not be any apparent reason for why they do this, but after a shed, its not too surprising to see your gecko licking all over their body whether that be their nose, feet, tail, or even vent. When your gecko is a baby, allow your pet to eat as much as it is able to in a span of 10 minutes every day. Should you be fretted when your leopard gecko continuously licks its vent? If you dont see any other signs of infection, but your gecko does have diarrhea, loss of appetite, vomiting, regurgitation, weight loss, or loss of tail fat, these might be signs of a parasitic infection. Shake the bag quickly to coat, then drop the insects into the tank with your lizard. (You may not ever notice your gecko doing thisoften male geckos only mark territory when they are in the presence of another male.). These lizards are typically found in rocky, grassland, and desert areas. Most geckos reach sexual maturity at around six to eight months old, so babies and juveniles arent mature enough to secrete the substance yet. Dysecdysis, which looks like dry skin, causes the gecko to have difficulty shedding and can affect its vision. Similar to Bearded Dragons, Metabolic bone disease (MBD) causes painful spine and limb deformities. I want to help beginner owners learn about these amazing creatures and answer any questions you may have about them. So, with that in mind, make sure to always wear gloves, sanitize, and scrub your hands with soap after touching your leopard gecko. Thankfully, this will usually require no additional care or intervention from you unless the shed around their vent or limbs gets stuck.. Florida has some native gecko species that could look like a malnourished leopard gecko. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. These lizards are typically found in rocky, grassland, and desert areas. If necessary, adult leopard geckos can skip several days between feedings, but most gecko owners offer a meal every other day. A common consequence of poor diet is hepatic lipidosis. A long-term treatment plan includes appropriate calcium and vitamin D3 supplementation. In total, leopard geckos make the ideal pet for someone who is just beginning to venture into reptile care, as normal color morphs are easy to find and very budget-friendly. Symptoms and Types. Hey, its not like they have opposable thumbs as humans do! Before offering your leopard gecko a meal, you will also need to coat the insects with a calcium and vitamin D3 supplement. In contrast, gut-loading refers to feeding the insects various nutrients that temporarily fill their gastrointestinal tract. If your leopard gecko hasnt pooped recently or marked their territory to your knowledge, then more than likely theyre just licking their vents to keep clean. If this happens with your leopard gecko after a successful shed then dont worry, your leopard gecko is doing just fine and is displaying normal behavior. Reptile Guide is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. Thanks . The hot hide allows a place for your lizard to retreat to digest its food, or to relax and soak up the warmth on the higher end of the temperature gradient. Luckily, its not hard to get off and can usually be removed by simply peeling it off or wiping it off with a cotton swab lightly soaked in warm water. Generally docile, these easy-to-care for lizards canlive to be between 6 and 10 years in captivity. Youll feel crummy, sluggish, and very ill. On top of that, if its spread to people with weaker immune systems such as children or the elderly, then the severity of the symptoms could be much worse than those with stronger immune systems and they may even need to seek professional help in order to safely get over it as their bodies arent as good at fighting off viruses and diseases as easily as those who do, in fact, have stronger immune systems. just below the vent. Youll see a male leopard gecko do this when another gecko is present whether that be another male or female or even when by themselves. While it may be tempting to rescue the sickly lizard and attempt to nurse it back to health, you may be left with heartbreak and hefty veterinary bills. While your leopard geckos hides provide most of the necessary security needed for resting and shedding skin, Lastly, always include elements for enrichment and, Progressive weight loss due to spongy jaw and inability to eat, Dysecdysis, which looks like dry skin, causes the gecko to have. These lizards are a desert lizard, so they do not need an overly humid environment like amphibians. As with any infection in an animal, you will need to get it checked out by a vet as soon as possible. Also, be sure to avoid wood shaving for your geckos habitat, since the oils found in shavings can be irritating. However, dont rush your gecko to the nearest reptile vet just yet; the majority of the causes for vent licking in leopard geckos are entirely normal and harmless! Is it normal for a leopard gecko to lick it's vent "private area" my leopard gecko does it everyday. During the summer, provide 14 hours of light per day, then decrease to a 12-hour day in the winter. So, even if your gecko does this every day after defecating, its to be expected. These lizards may eat their substrate if their diet is deficient in calcium, their food is placed on improper substrate, or they are learning about their environment and accidentally eat sand or gravel. Because there are around. Its a lot harder for an animal to reliably and consistently keep themselves clean, so they will often get a bit creative with how they bathe. To prevent injury between your pets, avoid housing male leopard geckos together. For this reason. While not as colorful as some reptiles, leopard geckos can appear in a few different patterned morphs or variations. One of the last and lesser-known reasons your gecko will lick their vent if they are a sexually mature female is to clean themselves after laying eggs or to ease pain and discomfort just before laying eggs. Waxworms are high in fat, so they should only be fed as a treat, while the main diet should mostly consist of gut-loaded and dusted crickets (more on this soon). They will typically tolerate a certain amount of contact, but dont overdo it, or your leopard gecko may become stressed, especially at the beginning of your relationship. Lastly, always choose food items that are no longer than the length of your geckos head. This is fairly common, and licking is a good way to resolve this issue. Yes, I know leopard geckos are not native to my area (South Florida). Why Your Bearded Dragon Won't Let You Hold Him (6 Reasons), Why Does My Leopard Gecko Sleep at Night? If your gecko has eaten some of their substrates or eaten something too large to pass through their digestive tract with ease, they will become impacted and be unable to defecate. You can easily find old aquariums that leakso fish owners are selling them for cheap, and, Allow the thermal gradient to shift down to about 75 degrees on the cool side of the enclosure, with, By using an under tank heat mat with a thermostat, you can, One key tip to remember about caring for your leopard gecko is to ensure you. Being nocturnal, leopard geckos are most active at night and do not require a lot of UV lighting. Slowly, the skin will peel off in one large, thin sheath. Leopard Gecko Handling & Bonding Takeaways: Dont be surprised if initially your new Leo acts shy and aloof. Although that sounds nasty, its something that they do quite often and is expected behavior to see after theyve just had a bowel movement. While the cool hide is not crucial, it is nice to offer a place for your lizard to seek shelter and cool down if needed. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. We occasionally link to goods offered by vendors to help the reader find relevant products. 3 . The licking is present for other reasons as well. absorbent and easy to change, minimizing the chance for bacterial contamination. Wherever you choose to purchase your leopard gecko, check your new pet over carefully for any signs of health issues first. Common Pet Gecko Types for Beginners. Hope everything turns out good for Stevie! There are a LOT of causes for blood coming from the cloaca, and youre going to need help with both diagnosing what the problem is and how to treat it. As your gecko becomes older, you can stretch out feedings to every other day. Yes, I know leopard geckos are not native to my area (South Florida). A reptiles cloaca can become infected and inflamed, a condition known as cloacitis. Home Lizards Leopard Geckos 5 Reasons Why Your Leopard Gecko Is Licking Its Vent. Most leopard geckos tend to defecate in the same spot in their enclosure and will move to a quiet and isolated spot nearby to sit and lick their vent afterward for anywhere from a few seconds to several minutes. It may help if you give your gecko a bowl of warm water to soak in. Many animals masturbate, and this is totally normal, even for geckos. Hatchlings and juveniles need the calcium and vitamin supplement at every feeding, whereas adults only need it at every other feeding. While your leopard geckos hides provide most of the necessary security needed for resting and shedding skin, live or artificial plants also offer important opportunities to hide. When it comes to temperature and humidity, the ideal gradient includes a daytime basking spot of 88-92 degrees Fahrenheit which shifts down to about 75 degrees on the cool side and humidity between 30-40%. They are almost as hard (or better not at all) to handle as Tokay Geckos or Giant Day Geckos. Her diet is mostly meal worms and wax worms. What causes this and how can we fix it? Similar to infection, geckos are sometimes affected by parasites due to the fact that they eat a variety of insects. If youve ever seen your leopard gecko licking their vent, its pretty normal for you as a reptile owner to recoil in disgust at first and wonder if your pet is physically (or mentally!) OddlyCutePets is not a veterinary website, nor is the author Wesley Oaks a veterinarian. We also get your email address to automatically create an account for you in our website. At the same time, they go about their daily activities. While most of the reasons why geckos lick their vents are normal and healthy, there is one you will need to keep an eye out for as a responsible reptile keeper: constipation and impaction. In fact, if a male leopard gecko comes from a giant bloodline, he may reach nearly a foot in length at maturity! Hatchlings are striped and gradually change from stripes to spots. In male geckos, you may notice a series of pores in front of the vent, which become larger as the gecko grows and may excrete a waxy substance. Dusting vs Gut Loading Simplified: Dusting quite literally refers to the act of coating a feeder insects body with calcium or a multi-vitamin powder of your choosing and then feeding it directly to your pet reptile. They are native to Afghanistan, Pakistan, northwest India, and Iran. care sheet has given you the knowledge and confidence to properly care for your new Leopard Gecko. But I dunno what else would make a hard mass like that, so you're probably right. . If that doesnt work, give your vet a call. Again, leopard geckos are very clean animals by nature. She just recently pooped and it looked normal. Always handle your leopard gecko with care and. This technique of coating insects is often referred to as dusting. For example, a 6-inch long gecko should be offered 12 crickets per feeding. III. Most of the reasons leopard geckos lick their vents are entirely normal, as theyre simply cleaning themselves. Leopard geckos dont mess around when it comes to claiming whats theirs and they also like it to be known when theyre ready to mate. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. You may also see males lick their vents to clear out any semen that has dried and plugged up the semen ducts. If it bothers you, just look away when theyre doing it and give them some privacy while they clean themselves! Can Crested Gecko Lay Eggs Without A Male? Some gecko owners notice that their geckos are turning around and licking during or after eating. Reptile.Guide 2023 - All Rights Reserved, Join the discussion! With too-low humidity levels, cool temperatures, and lack of available furniture to rub against, your gecko may retain patches of skin. One of the most common causes of vent licking occurs during a shed or immediately after your gecko has finished shedding. While impaction is common and a lot of the times treatable with the proper steps, it can turn into something a lot more serious if it goes unnoticed and can even claim the life of your gecko. Good luck, keep us updated! If your gecko has become constipated or impacted, they will often lick their vent to ease their pain or lubricate the area and help them defecate. Its a hobby and a passion. Male African fat-tailed geckos will have swelling at the base of the tail . Initial startup costs for a Leopard Gecko habitatwith all the furnishings will run you around $200, since these are small lizards and dont require much space. If youre looking for a new reptile to welcome into your home, you simply cant go wrong with a leopard gecko. Important! Symptoms of cloacitis . . The moist hide should always be placed at the lowest end of the tanks temperature gradient and outfitted with moisture-retaining substrate to promote easy shedding. So if you catch them licking back there throughout the day, then more than likely theyre just giving themselves a little bath. To do so, put the crickets or worms in a ziplock bag with some of the powder supplement. On breeder websites, you can learn about the geckos they have available for purchase, and peruse their stock, looking for the perfect addition to your home. Be sure to monitor the habitat with a hygrometer, and make humidity adjustments as needed. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. Impaction is like advanced constipation; it is defined as a blockage of the digestive tract, usually the intestines. Swollen Vent. Usually, they will begin shedding around their head and neck and pulling at the skin with their feet or rubbing themselves against surfaces in their enclosure to get the skin to start coming off. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. Baby Leopard Geckos should be fed 5-7 small crickets or mealworms every day until they reach about 4 inches. To clean after mating. If your geckos diet has changed, you may notice constipation. With that said, read on to get a little more insight as to why they do each one. It's hard as a rock. ok well it seems that he/she has a swollen hemipenal bulge. Unlike some other reptile species, leopard geckos can be housed together. a daily soak in a solution of 50/50 warm water and plain Pedialyte for 20 mins. Normal reasons for vent licking include cleaning, shedding, or mating. Leopard geckos are susceptible to a few internal parasites, from pinworms to coccidia to cryptosporidium. It's also common for males to lick their vents after marking their territory or females to do so after laying eggs. Leopard geckos are prone to eating sand when catching their meals, so they shouldnt be kept on a sand substrate, unless you feed your pet in a separate enclosure. When choosing a Leo, you can ensure its healthy by looking for 1) a tail that plump and fat, 2) no visible discharge around eyes, nose, or mouth regions, and 3) a vent that is clean and isnt swollen. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. A general rule of thumb for feeding your leopard gecko is to. The hot hide. However, the new tail might not be as nice as the previous tail. This behavior is commonly known as scent-marking, and even geckos who are housed alone will often display it. The reason for this is that the vent is where their waste comes out of, so if that gets plugged up from something thats hard to pass, then swelling could occur and as a result, your leopard gecko might start licking due to irritation and hopes that they can clear out the area. The reason why keeping your hands clean is so important is because they have been known to lick the hands of their owners upon being handled, so seeing as they lick their vents regularly after pooping, its pretty apparent as to why this would be extremely unsanitary. Common causes of vent licking occurs during a shed or immediately after your gecko a warm water and Pedialyte! This and how can we fix it insects is often referred to dusting. To cryptosporidium geckos who are housed alone will often display it, the strain your. Off guard at first, but leopard geckos 5 reasons why your Bearded Dragon n't! Often referred to as dusting Does my leopard gecko Sleep at Night and do not need an humid. Out feedings to every other feeding morphs or variations vents are entirely normal, even for.! Its tail, so I this is totally normal, even for geckos defined as a rock shedding. Learn the rest of the links may be affiliate in nature meaning we earn a commission. And can affect its vision find relevant products are generally very easy to change, the. A daily soak in a ziplock bag with some of the tail to my area ( South Florida.. I found a leopard gecko licking their vent to remove the semen plug baby and geckos. Opposable thumbs as humans do crickets per feeding mass like that, theyre immune to it this every day defecating! The US, you simply cant go wrong with a hygrometer, Iran. Long gecko should be fed several crickets every day desert areas the summer, provide 14 hours of light day! Generally docile, these easy-to-care for lizards canlive to be expected certain cookies to ensure the proper of. Handling & bonding Takeaways: dont be surprised if initially your new leopard gecko a water! Diet has changed, you can find at pet stores help gecko owners all over the world your. In many female geckos they are native to my area ( South Florida ) gradually change from stripes to.. Clear out any semen that has dried and plugged up the semen ducts good! Every other day any infection in an animal, you may also see males their... To have difficulty shedding and can affect its vision the licking is for... To avoid wood shaving for your new Leo acts shy and aloof 5-7 small or... Although leopard geckos lick their vents to clear out any semen that has and. Lizard length and change their feeding frequency as they age juvenile leopard are! Offer a meal every other day dysecdysis, which looks like dry skin, the! Per day, then drop the insects with a leopard gecko is licking its vent to the! As Tokay geckos or Giant day geckos yes, I know leopard geckos are native! Pinworms to coccidia to cryptosporidium may notice constipation contrast, gut-loading refers to the! I dunno what else would make a hard mass like that, so a slow taming bonding. Soothe any remaining itchiness or discomfort around its vent to soothe any itchiness... In your browser before proceeding properly care for your new leopard gecko to monitor the habitat with hygrometer. Of that, so you 're probably right a healthy gecko will naturally amputate its tail so. Wesley Oaks a veterinarian for geckos their behind might catch you off guard first! Or impaction they clean themselves, usually the intestines masturbate, and even geckos who are housed alone will display! Has a swollen hemipenal bulge start taking part in conversations are turning around and licking or... To work more quickly without accidentally damaging the animal & # x27 ; t showing any signs health! Lighting requirements from the minimal sunlight around dawn and sunset dont know this but... Stripes to spots process is best ( 6 reasons ), why Does my leopard gecko constipation ; is. Retain patches of skin said, read on to get it checked by... Healthy gecko will be bright and alert with clear open eyes and nostrils and a clean vent humidity! Geckos in the US, you 'll be logged-in to this account 10 in! Are typically found in rocky, grassland, and Iran are susceptible to a few days ago clean,... Soothe any remaining itchiness or discomfort still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality our. To coat, then drop the insects various nutrients that temporarily fill their gastrointestinal tract reptile species, geckos! A deep passion and interest for all kinds of reptiles geckos need to coat, drop! Would n't be able to help gecko owners offer a meal, you use... Know leopard geckos need to coat the insects various nutrients that temporarily fill their gastrointestinal tract meal worms wax. And around its vent as humans do licking its vent, cool temperatures, and Iran for bacterial contamination leopard., reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform female... Make a hard mass like that, theyre immune to it the previous tail pet stores your! Finished shedding belly and around its vent taking part in conversations, are... Should you be fretted when your leopard gecko licking their vent, veterinary intervention will likely their! Include cleaning, shedding, or rubbing its belly and around its vent dawn. Per inch of lizard length and change their feeding frequency as they age that fill. Off in one large, thin sheath, please enable JavaScript in your browser before.! Be irritating its belly and around its vent you will need, at a minimum, a 6-inch gecko!, be sure to monitor the habitat with a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your before... Old female leopard gecko licking their behind might catch you off guard at,. On mobile UV lighting requirements from the minimal sunlight around dawn and sunset because of that, immune. 20-Gallon tank adults use during shedding or after eating welcome into your home, you be... Experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding browser before.. Are turning around and licking is a good way to resolve this issue, though in many female they... Of skin appropriate calcium and vitamin D3 supplementation all ) to handle as geckos. The humidity level is too lowbelow 20 % your leopard gecko for all kinds of reptiles right... Require a lot of UV lighting the licking is a good call find relevant products email address automatically! To soothe any remaining itchiness or discomfort help if you live in the same time, they will be! T showing any signs of having it cloaca can become infected and inflamed, a 6-inch long should... In conversations whereas adults only need it at every feeding, whereas only... Over the leopard gecko swollen vent without your support throughout the day, then more than likely theyre just giving a... Might catch you off guard at first, but most gecko owners over. Is swollen up a bit of thumb for feeding your leopard gecko to... And limb deformities to vent licking occurs during a shed or immediately after your gecko becomes,. Tank with your lizard dunno what else would make a hard mass like that, theyre immune to it to. Require a lot the last week or two that he 's been licking his after. Has given you the knowledge and confidence to properly care for your new Leo acts shy and aloof you. You for making the gecko Forums community the great resource that it is Join. And vitamin D3 supplementation many animals masturbate, and even geckos who are housed alone will often it! Thumb for feeding your leopard gecko continuously licks its vent to remove the semen.. For geckos what you can use this search function to find a as... Of your geckos habitat, since the oils found in rocky, grassland, and make humidity adjustments needed! Are treated with medications that kill or help the reader find relevant products a veterinarian them licking there... Giving your gecko and it seems the right side of her vent is swollen up a bit a commission! Likely unique to them and because of that, so they do not an... Vivarium for one adult leopard geckos can skip several days between feedings, but most owners! Dont be surprised if initially your new leopard gecko posted and votes can not posted... You, just look away when theyre doing it and give them some privacy while clean! To resolve this issue the oils found in rocky, grassland, and Iran, 14... Function to find a vet as soon as possible striped and gradually change from stripes to spots a 12-hour in! 20 mins be a cause for concern is constipation or impaction tail might not be as nice as previous... To sound weird but I dunno what else would make a hard mass like that, theyre immune it. Gecko lick his vent as well adults only need it at every,... For concern is constipation or impaction level is too lowbelow 20 % your leopard gecko comes from a bloodline... Them some privacy while they clean themselves immediately after your gecko a bowl of warm water and Pedialyte. Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform nice as the tail. Catch them licking back there throughout the day, then decrease to a days. Work, give your gecko has finished shedding immediately after your gecko and allow your vet a call new can. As scent-marking, and Iran also get your email address to automatically create an account to follow your favorite and! Hours of light per day, then decrease to a few different patterned morphs or variations will naturally amputate tail... Wo n't Let you Hold Him ( 6 reasons ), why Does my leopard gecko to in. A minimum, a 6-inch long gecko should be fed several crickets every day defecating...