Leopard Gecko Tail Colour

Question
QUESTION: Hi,
we are concerned about our little leopard geiko, about 13 years old. today we thought we had lost him. he appears weak and his tail from the tip to about a quarter of the way is dark and then turns deep red. we fear he will not last much longer. he has been fine up to now. eating, drinking, shedding and alert. can you tell us what is going on? i fear there isnt anything we can do for him. it saddens us deeply.
thank you.

ANSWER: Hello Sibylle,
Wow your leo is 13 years old?  That is pretty good.  
Hm, usually turning red like that indicates some type of infection or sepsis.  Have you taken him into the vet for a fecal?  
Did you get hold of some bad crickets perhaps?  What are you feeding him?
Did you recently put a new type of substrate or anything in his tank?  
What you can do now is start to assist feed him.  Get some needless syringes & some chicken or turkey babyfood.  Try to get 1-2 cc's into him along with some calcium, too.  Is he drinking any water?  
Keep me posted on him.

Tracie

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QUESTION: thank you for your response, tracie. unfortunately, he passed away last evening. he was eating and drinking up to a couple of days ago. nothing was changed but the crickets are interesting. we always got them from the pet store never outside. it seemed very sudden the night before he was fine and his tail and then he the next day he wasnt. we just hope he didnt suffer. i wish i could give more info to help anyone else. we miss him already very much. he was a wonderful pet. thank you for your help.
sibylle

ANSWER: Hello Sibylle,

You know, I was afraid that was going to happen, I am so very sorry.  The color of the tail was an indication of sepsis or blood poisoning which could have been caused by an infection of some sort which caused liver or kidney failure.  I am sorry he did not show any signs earlier but they are so small, we could have treated him with Albon or Flagyl possibly to have helped.  
How long had you been getting the crickets from the petstore, & were they ever bad before & had you had any problems with dieoffs from them?
I am sorry for your loss.  I know how terribly you miss him.  :-((

Tracie

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: thanks again. actually we thought about it and he was closer to 14 years old. if you mean were there dead ones in the bag of crickets sometimes yes or some would die shortly after in the tank. we have been getting them from the same place for years. occasionally from another pet store. they have sold it and my husband said the last time he got them there the place was not so clean because they sold it and just getting rid of stuff. i wonder if the crickets were old or something. that was the last dinner he had. ah well. thank you again for your help and concern, we really appreciated it.
sibylle

Answer
Hello Sibylle,

Oh wow at 14 years old hon, you did a great job with him, no shame in that!  
It also just could have been age too.  He lived quite a long time though didn't he?  That is awesome.  
Yes, that is very very possible the crickets could have been diseased.  It is very common in petstores that are dirty.  There is no telling what type of disease or virus they may have been carrying.  I am not positive that is what happened, but it is a pretty good probability.  :-((  I am sorry you lost a treasured family member.  Let me know if you need anything.  

Tracie