Healthy gecko with no illness or dieases as he's been well cared for

I didn’t really want to write this article about leopard gecko diseases and illnesses. Because it’s kind of depressing to think about.  But being aware of these symptoms and possible diseases could help save gecko lives so it’s important to know this stuff.

Before we get into the ‘heavy’ stuff, it is useful to know that leopard geckos are one of the healthiest reptiles. Since they live for up to 20 years they are one of the easiest lizards to own. I haven’t ever had to deal with a leopard gecko that had a serious health problem.

SUPER IMPORTANT: I wrote this article to help fellow gecko owners be more aware of things to look out for. But please, if you are ever unsure, always talk to a qualified vet. You can now get vet advice online – so it’s super quick to get help.

You Leopard Gecko Could Be Having Health Problems If:

  • Not very alert when you are holding them. Almost like they are in a daze and not paying attention to anything around them.
  • Their tail is losing thickness. If the leopard geckos tail is getting very thin they could be getting sick or have a disease or illness.  If you have leopard geckos housed together and notice that one of them has dropped their tail the other gecko is probably bullying the other one (see this on leopard gecko tails).
  • You notice that you can see the bones in their body.  Gecko bodies should have some thickness to them – bones should not be easily visible.
  • They have any bumps or bulges in their stomach.  Make sure they are not pregnant if you do notice a bulge.
  • Their skin is discolored. If their skin looks discolored (and they are not shedding), or they have blisters or open cuts that is a strong sign that something is wrong with them.
  • Their eyes are not clear. Make sure there is nothing draining out of their eyes and there is no swelling.
  • Drooling or pus coming from their mouth. There shouldn’t be anything draining out of their mouth. Their jaw bone should be firm. Their mouth shouldn’t be gaping or anything. This is a symptom of MBD (metabolic bone disease).
  • They are missing toes. There shouldn’t be any extra skin around them (see shedding problems).  If their toes are swelling or bleeding this could be a sign of infection.
  • Their feces are liquid or off-color. They should be solid (black, brown, and a little white).  Their feces shouldn’t be diarrhea or different colors.
Leopard Gecko Diseases

Leopard Gecko Health Problems & Illnesses

Some of these photos can be a little bit upsetting, so I’ve kept them small. But it’s important to have an idea of what to look for so you know when your gecko is healthy or ill.

Impaction

The number one problem I have seen over the years is impaction. The results of impaction can often be fatal if left untreated.

Impacted Gecko

This happens when leopard geckos eat their substrate.  Gecko stomachs have a hard time digesting sand, and I really believe calcium sand should be avoided.  Also, your leopard gecko can get impacted by eating food that is too big.

Prolapse

This is a serious health problem. Basically, an organ is trapped outside of their body. Typically, you will notice a vent under their tail which looks like there is something sticking out of it.

Prolapse Gecko

Make sure you take them to the vet immediately if you see this.  This can be fatal if not treated right away.

Skin Infections

Leopard geckos can face a variety of skin problems, including Dysecdysis (shedding problems), Bacterial Dermatitis (skin infection), Tail Necrosis (tail rot), and Ulcerative Stomatitis (mouth rot). These conditions can be caused by improper husbandry, unbalanced diet, and lack of hygiene in their habitat. Read more about leopard gecko skin infections.

Egg Binding

This is also called dystocia. This happens when leopard geckos have problems laying eggs. Their eggs are not leaving their body when it’s time to lay eggs.

Egg Binding

A lot of times this happens because they are not getting enough calcium in their diet.  You may notice your leopard gecko straining to lay eggs, is acting depressed, is not eating very much, or is very restless. This can be fatal so seek help as soon as you notice it.

Metabolic Bone Disease (MBD)

You will notice that your leopard gecko is having problems walking. Their limbs will appear ‘rubbery’. It might even appear that their limbs are completely broken. This is really one of the hardest diseases to witness as a gecko owner.

MBD Leopard Gecko

This happens because leopard geckos are not getting enough calcium in their diet or there is an imbalance between calcium and phosphorous. Leos require a diet rich in calcium for strong bones. Make sure you are dusting their food with calcium and vitamin D3 supplements (as vitamin D3 aids in calcium absorption) to prevent this. There is no cure or reversing MBD once they have it – all that can be done is stopping it progressing any further. So the best action is prevention by getting their diet right.

Read more about leopard gecko metabolic bone disease.

Parasites

A parasite is a organism that is living inside of your leopard geckos body. They can have parasites for months before you really start to notice your gecko looking sick.

Parasites Leopard Gecko

This is a pretty common gecko health problem. These parasites are breeding, feeding, and growing inside of your gecko. I know it sounds disgusting. They can cause bleeding from your geckos anus or you might see blood in their stools.

You can determine if your gecko definitely has a parasite by taking a feces sample to the vet. The vet will treat parasites by giving you a medicine that you need to feed to your gecko orally.

Read more about leopard gecko parasites.

Mouth Rot (Stomatitis)

Mouth rot, also known as stomatitis, is a bacterial infection that can be fatal if left untreated. It often occurs when leopard geckos are stressed, leading to a weakened immune system that allows bacteria in the mouth to grow rapidly.

Other causes include incorrect temperature or humidity levels, poor nutrition and hygiene. Regular cleaning of your leopard gecko’s tank and maintaining proper temperature can help prevent this disease. If your gecko shows signs of mouth rot, such as refusing to eat or drink, consult a vet as soon as you can.

Burns

Your leopard gecko can get burnt on a heated rocked, pad or even light. This can be a serious problem and can even be fatal with a bad burn.

Leopard Gecko Burn

You can take your leopard gecko to a vet and they can put some topical ointment on them or give them some antibiotics. But again, prevention is the best cure here by careful habitat setup.

Respiratory Infections

Respiratory infections in leopard geckos are typically caused by bacteria when the humidity is high and the temperature is low in their habitat.

The symptoms include heavy breathing, bubbles on their nose, unusual laziness, weight loss, and wheezing. Maintaining proper temperature and humidity levels in their tanks can help prevent respiratory infections.

Tail Rot

Tail rot is a condition where the tip of a leopard gecko’s tail starts appearing dry, skinnier, and black compared to the rest of the tail. This can occur due to stuck skin shedding on the tail, which restricts blood flow and causes the skin to die off.

Another cause could be wounds from fights with cage mates. If you notice signs of tail rot, consult a vet immediately. If the tail tip has already started to die off, it may need to be removed to prevent the necrosis (rot) from spreading.

In Conclusion

Hopefully you never have to deal with any of these problems with your leopard gecko.  But common illnesses and health problems are worth being aware of.

Important

It’s always best to take your gecko to a vet if you notice any symptoms or anything that is unexpected or different to what you are used to.  You might not notice the warning signs for quite some time because reptiles do a really good job at masking their illnesses, so don’t delay when you do notice symptoms appear.

You can also chat to a vet online now. So if you’re at all concerned, think of your gecko first and get that professional advice.