3 Reasons Why Your Gargoyle Gecko Has a Wavy Tail

Typically, gargoyle geckos have a prehensile and slightly curved tail. However, a few gecko species may exhibit a phenomenon wherein the tail looks wavy. In fact, this scenario is more prevalent in gargoyle geckos. But, what is the reason for this? Is it anything serious? 

Wavy tails in gargoyle geckos can be caused due to three main reasons – a growth spurt, producing eggs, or even dehydration. A wavy tail is not a severe problem in gargoyle geckos. 

Read on to know more about wavy tails in gargoyle geckos, and what you can do about it.

Why Does Your Gargoyle Gecko Have a Wavy Tail?

The primary reason why a gargoyle gecko’s tail turns wavy is due to the lack of sufficient calcium in the tail. Now, there could be several reasons for it as discussed below.

Growth Spurt

Young gargoyle geckos often go through a growth spurt where their body structure may change dramatically. 

For instance, gargoyle geckos have a bit of a “rounded body” in normal cases. However, when they’re going through a growth spurt, they will exhibit a lankier body. 

Additionally, your gargoyle gecko’s tail may become wavy. It happens as when your gargoyle gecko is going through a growth spurt, the body may suck the nutrients from the tail to keep up with the growing requirements. This may lead to a sudden loss of nutrients from the tail – leading to a wavy appearance. 

Now, usually, according to a lot of gargoyle gecko owners, this wavy tail appearance seems to go away as the gecko grows older. 

But, there are a few ways to ensure this doesn’t happen such as: 

• You need to feed your gargoyle gecko nutrient-rich food and properly-dusted feeder insects. 
• If there’s a lack of insects, add a little amount of calcium to the gecko diet food at least once or twice. Don’t go overboard with it.
• Ensure that you’re consistent with the feedings. 

Additional Tip: You need to feed gecko diet food at least 4 to 5 times a week to a growing gargoyle gecko. Also, give them insects at least once or twice a week. 

Producing Eggs 

The production of eggs could be a probable reason for a wavy tail if you have a female gargoyle gecko who recently mated with a male gargoyle gecko. 

When a female gargoyle gecko starts the production of eggs, the body needs as much calcium as possible. Therefore, it will start absorbing the calcium from the tail to keep up with the requirements. This may lead to a wavy tail. 

You can also look for other signs that your gargoyle gecko is producing eggs, such as – an enlarged lower belly, hanging belly, and increased weight. 

If you want the wavy tail to go away, the solution remains the same. Give your gecko calcium supplements (in a limited quantity) and dusted insects to meet their nutrient requirements. 

Note: Keep in mind that some gargoyle geckos may produce infertile eggs. So, there’s a little chance that it might happen even if you haven’t mated your gargoyle gecko with another one.

Dehydration

Dehydration is an uncommon cause of a wavy tail, but it is still a sign that your gargoyle gecko might be dehydrated. There’s no proper explanation as to why this happens. 

However, you can check the other signs of dehydration if you want to confirm whether the wavy tail is caused due to dehydration or not. These include:

• Dry/wrinkled skin
• Sunken eyes
• Lethargy
• No shedding
• Stretchy appearance

There are several ways to treat dehydration. Given below are the best solutions. 

• Provide Adequate Water: Gargoyle geckos drink water from a shallow bowl available in their cage. So, ensure that you keep it filled at all times.

• Go For Misting: Misting allows the gecko’s body to absorb the mist and stay hydrated. It’s a great technique to ensure that your gargoyle gecko stays hydrated, even if they don’t drink adequate water. Ensure that you mist the enclosure at the start and end of the day. 

• Warm Soaks: Gargoyle geckos don’t usually need a bath. However, warm soaks/baths are a great idea to keep them hydrated. You can give them one once or twice a week. 

• See a Vet: If the dehydration seems serious, your best option is to visit an exotic vet to get your little buddy checked. They may suggest I.V. fluids. 

Is Wavy Tail An Indication of Metabolic Bone Disease?

Metabolic Bone Disease or MBD is quite common in pet geckos, including gargoyle geckos. It is caused due to improper calcium to phosphorus ratio and can damage bones by softening them. 

If your gargoyle gecko has a kinked/wavy tail, it doesn’t need to be an indication of MBD. After all, MBD has various other symptoms other than a wavy tail too such as – bowed legs, limping, continuous fatigue, hard lumps near the legs, and many more. 

If you’re scared that it might be MBD, check if your gargoyle gecko has other MBD symptoms or not. 

Final Thoughts

Usually, a gargoyle gecko having a wavy tail isn’t a cause of concern. 

As mentioned in the article, the major reason is calcium depletion in the tail and dehydration. You need to solve these problems by feeding your little buddy a calcium-rich diet and providing sufficient hydration. 

It’s also highly unlikely that a wavy tail is an indication of MBD. In this case, look out for other symptoms.