"The Billy Idol Effect"

dj_honeycuts · 07-30-04, 03:42 PM

I was just wondering if anyone else here who keeps and breeds auriculatus has noticed this as the hatchlings mature. I got my first 2 females a little over a year ago, and they are about a year and a half old now. As they grew they began to develop a "snarl", and after a trip to the vet mouth infections were ruled out, and he figured that it was probably genetic. It has never affected their appetites, so I haven't thought too much of it. Recently I've begun to notice the same thing in a different spot begin to form on my orange stripe. Has anyone else encountered this? I'm contemplating getting a second opinion, but I have noticed the same thing in some of the pics in both Rhacodactylus books I have, as well as on the internet. Here are some pics of what I'm talking about:

DragnDrop · 07-30-04, 06:52 PM

I've never noticed it in the 8 I raised from hatching. However, one of the females I got as an adult had it, along with a dropped tail. It turns out they were kept together by the previous owner and had a good old fashioned fight just before I bought them. The lip 'snarl' was from a bite she got on the lip from the other female. It did heal up for the most part, but if you looked carefully, there still was that bit of scar tissue which gave her a snarly look.

drewlowe · 07-31-04, 01:48 AM

I've seen that once in a adult female leopard gecko. I don't know it it will apply here, but it's worth a shot...

Many, many layers of shed was stuck to the inside of the mouth, over just a very small section of the (i guess you would call it) the gum line. It seem like there wasn't any infection of the sort just a "snarl" (as you described it). I could see there was some recent shed so i carefully, after soaking removed it.

To this day he still has the "scar", but no more stuck sheds.

I don't know if this will help you out or not. I doubt it's the case because you taken him to a vet, but it's what it reminds me of.

Jamie

dj_honeycuts · 07-31-04, 06:49 PM

Thank-you both for your input!
All of my gargoyles are housed seperately, and as far as I know the 2 females were housed that way when they were in the breeders care as well. The weird thing about it is that on the females the snarl is in the exact same spot, and to the same degree. They are clutchmates, which is what lead to the conclusion that it may be genetic. In the raised up part under the snarl it just looks like normal healthy pink gums. No crustiness, or indication of old shedding problems, which I think is why the vet ruled out an infection. I didn't worry too much about it until now that it is showing up on this one as well. The only thing they may ever come in contact with is I scrub down all the Rhac dishes with a quatricide at one time. I don't want eveyone snarling at me, so I think I may start doing their dishes seperately again, and try and make an appointment with a different vet for a second opinion.
Thanks once again!
James

AnthonyC · 08-01-04, 11:53 PM

It's technically known as Elvisitis (Thank you...thank you very much) and is quite common. ;-)

Seriously, I've seen that quite a bit with different types of Rhacs (leachies included) and to be honest, it's never bothered me enough to try to figure out why it's there. Jamie's mention of stuck sheds makes sense, though.

dj_honeycuts · 08-02-04, 08:48 AM

Thanks for the input Anthony!
I've never noticed it on any of my ciliatus, which is why I never worried about it too much. The fact that it is now showing up on a new juvenile seemed a little bizarre. I think a trip to the vet may be in order, just to ease my mind about it a little.
I guess I'll really start to worry when the white jumpsuits and sunglasses make appearances in the cages! :P