Photo by Gargoyle Queen Reptiles

Some gargoyle geckos like to sleep upside down as a matter of personal preference. This is fine as long as their tails don’t start to ‘flop.’

Symptoms

• Tail hangs over gecko’s back or to the side when upside down
• Difficulty defecating or laying eggs

Cause

• Sleeping upside down repeatedly
• Deformity of base tail bone and hips

Treatment

Make an appointment with an exotic veterinarian. Tail amputation may necessary to prevent further deformity of the spine and/or hips.

FTS can be prevented or managed by cluttering the terrarium with lots of hiding spots and other décor, which will discourage the gecko from sleeping upside down.