Leopard Gecko tail partially off?!?!?

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Phil72

New member
I was getting my female leopard gecko out of her tank and set her on my shoulder to close her cage. As I was closing her cage, she fell off my shoulder, and partially dropped her tail as she hit the floor. She is still fine, but two of the triangle things that you see in a circle shape when a gecko drops their tail are sticking out at the top, like she only partially dropped her tail. The rest of her tail is still on. I put her back in her cage, where she lives alone, so that she feels at home and relaxes.
What should I do?
Should I just leave it?
Should I make her drop it completely?
Will it eventually drop completely?
Will she retract the triangle things and let it reattach?
Will she grow 2 tails?
Sorry for so many questions, I am just really worried about her. If it helps, she has dropped half of her tail before, and this is happening at the same spot on her tail.
 
Zux

Zux

New member
Chances are she will fully drop the tail sometime over the next 24 hours, unfortunately the likelihood of the tail reattaching itself is extremely low.

Leave her totally alone with no handling for 24 hours and see how she handles things.

Update this thread after that time and we can advise you further.
 
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Phil72

New member
It has been 27 hours now and nothing new has developed, the tail is still attached. What should I do now?
 
Elizabeth Freer

Elizabeth Freer

Well-known member
Phil72 said:
I was getting my female leopard gecko out of her tank and set her on my shoulder to close her cage. As I was closing her cage, she fell off my shoulder, and partially dropped her tail as she hit the floor. She is still fine, but two of the triangle things that you see in a circle shape when a gecko drops their tail are sticking out at the top, like she only partially dropped her tail. The rest of her tail is still on. I put her back in her cage, where she lives alone, so that she feels at home and relaxes.
What should I do?
Should I just leave it?
Should I make her drop it completely?
Will it eventually drop completely?
Will she retract the triangle things and let it reattach?
Will she grow 2 tails?
Sorry for so many questions, I am just really worried about her. If it helps, she has dropped half of her tail before, and this is happening at the same spot on her tail.
Click to expand...
I have not heard of a gecko tail that has been partially severed reattaching itself.

It's possible that she could regenerate a second tail at the "break". I've had a few mourning geckos do this.

Make sure to keep the wound clean and dry. That will facilitate healing. I would have the rest of the tail amputated so that she can regrow a new tail.
 
Zux

Zux

New member
Elizabeth Freer said:
I would have the rest of the tail amputated so that she can regrow a new tail.
Click to expand...

As usual all of Elizabeth's advice is worth taking, though do bear in mind I am confident Elizabeth is not recommending you attempt to perform the amputation yourself and a vet visit will be required to safely accomplish this.
 
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Phil72

New member
Sorry it's been a long time. I was very busy with work. I do have a picture. It looks as though nothing new has happened to the spot so far. Sorry for the bad quality- my phone camera is pretty bad.photo 1.jpg
photo 2 (1).jpg
 
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TheresaB.C

New member
Clean the tank as best as possible, replace the matting with some paper towl and change it every day. You do not want an infection. As for the tail itself, just leave it alone. Apply some polysporn to it every couple of days. Only do a thin layer. And yes, it is perfectly safe for them. She will be fine.
 
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Phil72

New member
No, it does not seem to be mending. However, I also do not see a new tail starting to grow. Should I just continue to wait?
 
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Phil72

New member
The tips have disappeared and there is a small piece of tail regrowth patching the partially separated segments of tail. Will this regrowth stay as is or will it grow more and become a second tail? Thanks.
 
Elizabeth Freer

Elizabeth Freer

Well-known member
Phil72 said:
The tips have disappeared and there is a small piece of tail regrowth patching the partially separated segments of tail. Will this regrowth stay as is or will it grow more and become a second tail? Thanks.
Click to expand...

Pics? Within one week you should know whether a forked tail will grow. :)
 
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thepianoguy

New member
keep feeding good diets and keep the environment clean as possible. take it to a vet if you are ensure, a qualified reptile vet can help you a lot of things. a pic please?
 
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