I think my Crested Gecko is sick...?

[TribalGecko]

Hi, I have a group of 1 year old crested geckos, 2 females and 1 male. They have been living happily all summer but the other day I noticed she was out during the day, not acting right. She was in the middle of a shed and just laying on top of the hide box. I found her to have two eggs in her, I could feel them on each side. And I noticed that her mouth was slightly open but no rot type problems were noticed. I put a nest box with that Flukers block of coconut husk that you add water to and it expands. She laid her eggs in there last night but now today, her mouth is all red inside from the husk stuff and she won't close it and it is gaping open. I tried to clean out as much as I could but I can see it down in her throat. What can I do to help her and why is her mouth hanging open? I am sure she got that stuff in there because she wasn't keeping her mouth closed. I see no signs of mouth infection or deformities. I am very worried about her, but she seems normal now in all other ways.
Thanx for the help!

[ColleenT]

i would get her to a vet. she might have something stuck in her throat or windpipe. Good luck.

[TribalGecko]

Well I actually have been able to clear out her mouth and I can see pretty far down with my pen light and there is nothing there other than that red coating on her tongue. She is breathing normally too, no distress is apparent. Just has that mouth hanging open.

[eyespy]

Gaping and mouth discoloration can be signs of infection. It's a good idea to get to a vet as soon as possible.

Good luck and let us know how she's doing.

[TribalGecko]

The mouth discoloration is caused by the red coconut husk bedding that got in her mouth. There is no mouth abnormality other than the mouth being open. I was hoping someone who has crested geckos might have experienced this and could give me a clue as to whats going on...it will be days before I can get her to a vet, if I can find one that will know anything about crested geckos. I have tried to find reptile vets before and there just isn't anyone knowledgable.

[TribalGecko]

Oh yeah, I forgot one thing...she dropped her tail a day before I noticed her mouth. I think it might have been related to mating but am not sure as I didn't see any action myself. Now she is sitting with her mouth closed and looks completely normal but still it doesn't seem right that she is out in the open during the day rather than in the hide box.

[DNA Reptiles]

Hi There...this gaping mouth is a mystery. I have had it happen twice now and there has been much discussion. It could be calcium deficiency especially at egg laying time. Something else I have noticed - and you mentioned it too......each time I have found this gaping mouth the crested has just shed. As you know they pull the shedding skin off themselves and I wonder if they dislocate their jaws if perhaps the skin if hard to get off.
Maybe somelese will have a different answer, but like you I would definitely like one. Each of the cresteds that have had this happen to them are still alive and I am able to handfeed them the peach baby food with all minerals etc added. A bit time consuming, but we shall see what happens in the long term. At least they are getting lots of calcium for sure.
Kepp me posted if you find anything further from a vet perhaps.
Good luck.......Andrea.

[TribalGecko]

Thanx for all the info! The two eggs I got from her are in excellent condition, shells very hard and solid. I hope that is the norm, but I bet she might be suffering a deficiency from laying them, even though I give them the supplement regularly. I haven't seen her eat yet but she is holding her head up now and keeping her mouth closed. She is not hiding yet though. I hope she will be okay, she is by far the nicest of the bunch, almost white skin.

[D Healey]

I have also had this happen and isolated her and hand fed her she is fine now and if shelost her tail it could be that she hurt her jaw bitting the male as he was probably to blame for her tail.

[TribalGecko]

I have isolated her, and I am having to force feed her with a syringe. Her jaw has improved slightly but still hangs open. She has had another shed and doesn't seem to be getting worse but she can't eat or drink water on her own. The vet I consulted is clueless as to the cause. How long did it take for yours to get better?

[D Healey]

Arox three months but she is doing great now however i do know someone that has had the same thing happen and theirs died best of luck.

[RaVeNo888o]

i noticed the thing with my crestie who i am trying to get to eat. i thought maybe he broke his jaw or something if thats even possible? i never dropped him or anything so it wasnt cause by me, would he be able to hurt himself in the enclosure? :S cause he doenst seem to be able to close it right unless he has his head down on the branch or something. I never thought it might be dislocated but its possible, and it WAS just after a shed like you guys said. When i went to hand feed him some CGD he didnt see to want to move his mouth.like would barely open it, and once it was open he would leave it open and just lick it with his tongue.