{"id":141,"date":"2021-05-13T12:49:55","date_gmt":"2021-05-13T12:49:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/beingreptiles.com\/?p=141"},"modified":"2022-10-19T14:15:03","modified_gmt":"2022-10-19T14:15:03","slug":"leopard-gecko-tail-drop","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/beingreptiles.com\/leopard-gecko-tail-drop\/","title":{"rendered":"Leopard Gecko Tail Drop: Reasons + How to Help Regrow the Lost Tail"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Leopard geckos lose their tails when they feel threatened or in danger. Tail drop is a defense mechanism in leopard geckos and can lead to slight bleeding that should not worry you as a pet owner. Here’s a guide on why geckos drop their tails and what to do to help the lizard regrow its tail again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is leopard gecko tail drop?<\/h2>\n\n\n
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Tail drop in leopard geckos is when the tail detaches from what is called the “tail base”. The tail drop occurs as a defensive mechanism and it’s also known to occur if leopard geckos are scared.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The difference between tail drop and tail loss in leopard geckos is the purpose of shedding their tails. A leopard gecko drops its tail when it feels threatened or frightened. Tail loss, on the other hand, happens when your gecko sheds its tail involuntarily, usually because it has been injured or is ill.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The anatomy of a leopard gecko’s tail makes its tail easy to detach, which means that there isn’t much blood loss or tissue damage after detachment. There’s no need for medical attention unless you just need to put ointment on the wound to reduce the potential risk of infection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The detached tail will wiggle and twitch around, and it will eventually stop doing so after a while.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The tail can grow back on its own if you have the time to wait for that to happen: geckos regenerate their tails in 38-45 days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, as a pet owner, you should take into consideration what the causes of the drop are before deciding whether or not to let it regrow naturally.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Do leopard geckos drop their tails?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Geckos drop their tails intentionally as a form of defense. The dropped tail acts as a distraction for predators, and the loss may even save its life if it escapes unharmed from that predator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Even though leopard geckos are small lizards with relatively short tails, they can still drop their tails as an act of defense. The simple fact that their tail was broken off would also cause them to lose blood a little bit of blood.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It has been noted anecdotally by many herpetologists (reptile experts) that when encountering something threatening, leopard geckos often ‘drop’, or release themselves from under whatever holds them up so they fall on their backs onto things like rocks or branches. This can easily lead to tail loss.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tail loss can be life-threatening in some instances as the pet may lose too much blood as their tails are composed of fat and bone marrow which holds blood cells.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When dropping a tail due to illness, there’s usually a reason why the animal has lost some body weight but not more than 20%. They might also seem lethargic with trouble breathing if the problem is serious enough. If you notice any of these signs then consult your veterinarian immediately for treatment advice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Does it hurt a gecko to lose its tail?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It does not hurt the gecko to lose its tail because these lizards are adapted to breaking off naturally without any pain when in extremely threatening conditions. Therefore, you should not worry when your pet lizard loses its tail as there’s no discomfort involved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you think the pet is in pain, check the area where the tail broke off to see if there’s any infection developing in order to apply treatment soon enough.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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READ ALSO: <\/strong>Leopard Gecko Tail Rot: Causes, Symptoms and Treatments<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Why do leopard geckos lose their tails?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

There are various reasons why leopard geckos lose their tails. One of the most common reasons is tail drop, which can happen for a wide variety of reasons including stress or defense during feeding time and infection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are the main reasons why leopard geckos lose or drop their tails:<\/p>\n\n\n\n