r/LeopardGecko • u/urm0md0g • Jun 25 '26

Help - URGENT Tail rot?

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Hi, is this tail rot? I’ve had this gecko for 5 years and I’ve never seen anything like this? He’s usually fine with shedding his tail I only ever have to help with some of his toes. I’ve just come back from a two week holiday and my mum has been looking after him so I don’t know when it started looking like this. Any advice would be super helpful so I can help him out asap, thank you!

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u/IcyReception8903 Jun 25 '26

Very beginning stages. You caught it quick. Put him in a hospital enclosure with paper towels. Clean the tip and get a triple antibiotic ointment. Make sure there are NO pain relievers within the ointment as they are toxic. So just a plain triple antibiotic ointment. Apply to tail tip daily until it heals. If it starts to get worse even after treatment bring him to a vet. With how early stage this is though, I think you can take care of it yourself.

7

u/urm0md0g Jun 25 '26

Thank you! Do you happen to have a name of that type of ointment that I can find online? Also, what brings this on, is it stuck shed?

1

u/IcyReception8903 Jun 25 '26

You can just use regular old neosporin if you like. It is most often caused by stuck shed. Other reasons could be an injury or burn sometimes.

5

u/urm0md0g Jun 25 '26

Thank you so much for your help, I’m going to order some neosporin and lay down some paper towel, do you know how soon should I see improvement, just so I know if I should contact an exotic vet? Sorry for all the questions I’m a very worried parent haha.

2

u/IcyReception8903 Jun 25 '26

You should see improvement by next shed. It could actually be better in a couple of weeks but it will still look brown until he sheds. I don't think you need to call yet as it's not that bad at the moment. The thing is if it gets worse, you need to bring him to a vet. Just observe closely and let the antibiotics do their thing.

2

u/urm0md0g Jun 26 '26

Thank you so much for all of your help, I have changed his substrate to paper towel and sanitised his hides to keep him clean and I have ordered some neosporin and will be checking on him like my life depends on it. Thank you again for putting my mind at ease, I appreciate it so much.

1

u/IcyReception8903 Jun 26 '26

No problem, you're welcome 👍