If you have a crested gecko, seeing blackened teeth or light brown or yellow pus coming out of its mouth can cause great concern. It’s not wrong if you think that your gecko’s mouth has rotted. So, what is crested gecko mouth rot?
Mouth rot which is also known as Ulcerative stomatitis. It happens due to bacterial infection, which your crested gecko could come in contact with due to a wound that is left untreated or some particles of food which get stuck in your crested gecko’s teeth or mouth. If you see swollen gums, puss coming out, reduced appetite, or blackening in your crested gecko’s teeth, you should immediately take your pet to a vet as it can put your crested gecko’s life at risk.
Below we explain more about the causes of mouth rot in your crested gecko, all the symptoms you may see of mouth rot, and how you can treat it well.
Top 5 Symptoms Of Crested Gecko Mouth Rot
Below are the most common symptoms of mouth rot that you can observe in your crested gecko.
- Yellow Pus
Pus is an extract that comes out of white blood cells. It looks pale, yellow, or sometimes light brown, as it is protein-rich.
When your crested gecko body has contracted any infection, these white blood cells fight them to protect your cresties body, and a thick liquid comes out during the fight, known as pus. It usually gets deposited on the teeth of your gecko or around its mouth.
- Swollen Gums
Tissue inflammation is very common in the case of your crested gecko. Whenever they get ill with some infection or a bacterial infection, it irritates them and makes their gums swollen and maybe turn red too.
- Reduced Appetite For Food And Water
If your crested gecko has dropped its appetite or reduced eating or drinking water, it can be possible because of mouth rot. When they have an infection in their mouth, they usually face a problem while chewing or eating and eventually lose their appetite.
- Blackened Teeth
You may notice that your crested gecko’s teeth have turned black. This is an extreme situation where your crested gecko has had its teeth or mouth infected for a long time. A blackened tooth signals you to take your crested gecko to a vet.
- Others
There are many other symptoms like a few cuts near your grated gecko’s mouth, excessive saliva coming out of it, inability to shut their mouths, etc., which you may see as a symptom of mouth rots in your crested gecko.
Top 5 Causes Of Mouth Rot In Your Crested Gecko
Wondering how your crested gecko got its mouth rot? Well, below are a few of the main reasons:
- Weakening Of the Immune System Of Your Crested Gecko
One of the leading causes of the weakening of your crested gecko’s immune system is stress. When your crested gecko is under a lot of stress, its immune system becomes so weak that it may get bacterial infection very quickly in its mouth and develop a condition known as mouth rot.
Another reason for a weak immune system is the wrong temperature inside the tank or the captivity of your crested gecko. If the temperature is too high in your gecko’s tank, it may get dehydrated quickly and show symptoms of mouth rot.
One more reason for your crested gecko’s stress is an improper habitat. If your gecko is not feeling happy or not playing, not being active, not sleeping well, eating well, etc., it may show a rotten mouth. They may feel stressed and show signs of mouth rot if they don’t have enough hiding space.
- Parasites
Parasites may attack your crested gecko very frequently if the captivity they are living in is not sanitized regularly or the food you provide to them is not of adequate quality.
These parasites may get stuck in their food pipe, and your crested gecko may vomit. These parasites also are well known for various infections inside your gecko’s mouth, one of which can be mouth rot.
- Injury
If your crested gecko is pacing a lot inside the tank or rubbing its head against the walls of their captivity, it may end up hurting itself or catching various viruses like salmonella, etc. If contracted by your crested gecko, these viruses may cause mouth rot.
- Deficiency In Nutrients They Are Consuming
If your crested gecko is eating food lacking vitamins like vitamin C, they are too prone to bacterial and virus attacks. One of the main results that a virus attack can leave on your crested gecko’s body is mouth rot.
If they consume less calcium, they can also develop a condition of mouth rot very quickly.
- Substrate
The substrate in your crested gecko’s captivity is of great importance. If this substrate is of poor quality or has fibrous substances like coconut fiber, your crested gecko may consume this low-quality substrate and have a rotten mouth.
How Can You Treat Mouth Rot in Crested Gecko?
Treatment for mouth rot in crested gecko’s mouths highly depends on what caused this situation. But regardless of the cause, if you notice any symptoms of mouth rot in your crested gecko, you should immediately take them to a vet.
If you take your crested gecko to a vet in the early stage, then this situation may be treated with essential antibiotics prescribed by the vet. Your gecko’s doctor may also clean the teeth or mouth of your gecko in case of any pus or excessive salivation.
However, if your gecko’s mouth rot has reached its extreme stage by the time you take it to a vet, it may have to undergo surgery.
By surgery, your gecko’s vet can get rid of all the damaged tissues or tissues attacked by bacteria completely and may suggest some other medicines to keep your gecko free from post-surgery pain.
How To Prevent Your Crested Gecko From Developing Mouth Rot?
Below are a few simple ways that can help you prevent your crested gecko from developing mouth rot:
- Proper Habitat
Set your gecko’s habitat, i.e., temperature ( usually 70 to 75 degrees) and humidity levels ( different at night, maybe around 80% and about 60% in the day) should be appropriate.
Your gecko should have many hiding spots in their habitat and a lot of space to play. You should get them food every day according to their schedule.
They should be happy so they can eat properly, consume a lot of nutrients, and are not too prone to bacterial infections that eventually lead to mouth rot.
- Cleanliness
If the tank or captivity in which your crested gecko is living is not cleaned correctly, it may come in contact with bacteria. These bacteria are responsible for causing a lot of infections in your crested gecko’s body, especially the mouth.
One of the main symptoms your crested can show after having these bacterial infections is mouth rot.
You should sanitize your crested gecko tank regularly and get it appropriately cleaned.
- Reduce Stress
You should always try to keep your gecko cheerful and active. You should sometimes take them out of their tank and play with them, making them comfortable at home.
It’s essential that you give them proper exercise and provide them with toys to play with for mental stimulation. Moreover, it would be best to keep feeding them insects like mealworms, crickets, etc.
Conclusion
While concluding, first, you should remember that you can’t treat the mouth rot situation of your crested gecko. It would be best to take it to a vet as it can only be treated with antibiotics and proper medicines.
If your crested gecko is salivating a lot or you see a puss coming out of your gecko’s teeth, then it is a situation of mouth rot, and you should take your crested gecko to a vet.
Parasites and bacteria are significant causes of mouth rot in your crested gecko. Stress is also another potential cause for mouth Rot in your crested gecko.
To prevent a situation like mouth rot in your crested gecko, you should feed them food that contains many nutrients. This way, they can have a robust immune system, are less prone to bacterial infection, and be safe against mouth rot. You should also keep their habitat clean with proper temperature, humidity, and lighting.
