lifespan?

[_Sam_]

okay, guys. quick advice? I know what it says in the books and care sheets, anywhere from 10-20 years seems to be the general consensus for the lifespan of a leopard gecko. However, from those of you that keep leos, have you any other opinions on the lifespan?

the reason I ask is that I am getting a little paranoid. I have an adult Leopard gecko who is about 12.5 years old as far as I know (I got him from my high school biology teacher 4.5 years ago and she said he was . Well, he's always been a very large, very healthy gecko. He's always had a huge tail, about the diameter of a quarter-- one of the bigger leos I've ever seen. but he past few days I've noticed his tail is smaller and he's been acting kind of funny. he sleeps in very odd positions and squishes himself into the corners of the tanks behind his hide cave and stays there for a whole day sometimes. His tail isn't so small that he's sickly looking, but it's noticable.... the weirdest thing though is that he seems to still seems to have a good apetite. he hasn't stopped eating, and I really havent noticed him eating any less than normal... (he eats about 3-4x a week).


anywho, am I being paranoid, or is it possible that he's past his prime and is in the old age stage of life?

any suggestions?

[spike06]

well, if he has a good appetite and his losing weight, then there is a parasite problem. id say take a fecal to the vet.

[_Sam_]

well, I think I spoke too soon. I thought he had a good apetite, but now he doesnt seem to notice the crickets at all.

so now, as weird of a question this may be, is it possible that he's just getting old? and if so, if a gecko dies from old age, what does he go through?

[spike06]

im not sure. but it very well could be old age, but there i also a good chance it may be parasites. hookworms will decrease the apetite and cause ur leo to lose weight

[_Sam_]

[stupid question]
how would he get a hookworm?



also, it's not like he looks sickly or anything, he's still got good weight. just not as good as before.

[spike06]

reptiles always have a very small amount of parasites in them. the level is so low it doesnt efect them. so the hookworms may have multiplied, or he couldve gotten them from food