White Lined Gecko Problems with shedding

Kimberly39 · #1 04-06-2010, 09:05 AM

I purchased a White Lined Gecko in January of 2010. He is about 8 inches long. I have him in a 20 gallon tank with a coconut fiber substrate. I mist the tank 3 to 4 times per day. He has a log to hide in during the day and a plastic vine hanging from the side of the tank. I use a red light to heat the tank and to watch him at night. When I first got him he did not eat for a month. I was feeding him pinhead crickets. After shedding 2 times I tried tiny meal worms and he started eating like crazy which has caused him to shed about 5 more times. The problem that I am having is that during the last two sheds he isn’t taking the shed off his feet. He has not been off the bottom of the tank since the second to last shed. I have tried to grab him to put him in a shallow bath to try and get the shed off his feet with no luck. He is very skittish and gets extremely stressed. I have placed a shallow dish with some warm water hoping that he will walk in it and help get the shed off his toes. I read that shed left on the feet can cause nerosis and the can lose his toes. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

**Riverside Reptiles** · #2 04-06-2010, 10:39 AM

You need to raise the humidity in his enclosure. If you have a screen lid, try covering part of it to help keep the humidity in. Also, make sure that you have some rough surfaces in there for him to rub on (ie rocks, branches with rough bark, etc). As for the current shed stuck on his feet, you're likely going to have to take him out and gently help him remove it.

Quote:

I read that shed left on the feet can cause nerosis and the can lose his toes

Just fyi, the term is necrosis...not nerosis.

Kimberly39 · #3 04-07-2010, 07:53 AM

Sorry about the typo.

Well yesterday my husband and I were able to pick up our gecko but had a really hard time getting the shed off his feet. Some of it is still there.

I cleaned out his entire environment and put in all new coconut substrate. I do have a screen top but keep a cloth over the side where there is no heat lamp. I also have a branch and a log in the tank. If I get a rock should it just be from my yard or buy one that has been cleaned properly?

I put my gecko in a shallow container with some luke warm water hoping that would help get the shed off. Still no good.

Any other suggestions????

Matt K · #4 04-07-2010, 09:44 AM

Lanolin in small amounts can help. If you do wipe some on let the gecko loose in its home for a few hours. If it did not rub off the shed, it will wash off pretty easily with a damp washcloth and a little water to rinse with.

Kimberly39 · #5 04-18-2010, 10:21 PM

I was able to get all the shed off of his feet. He is shedding again and hasnt eaten in a couple of days. He is losing weight and I just noticed that he is eating the coconut fiber substrate. His mouth is full of it. Please help!!!!

**Riverside Reptiles** · #6 04-18-2010, 11:26 PM

Well definitely remove all substrate and replace with paper towel for the time being if he's eating it. Make sure to mist well since he's in the process of shedding. And make sure temps are appropriate. A mouthful of substrate is not a good sign. I would get a fecal sample in to the vet to check for internal parasites as soon as possible.

Saille · #7 04-19-2010, 09:39 PM

Sounds like it could be a parasite load issue. I agree, put him on paper towel substrate for now. Do you have a good reptile vet? Try Herp Vet Connection or ARAV redirect to find one, bring in a fecal sample (if you can find some fresh poo, the fresher the better!) and have them test for parasites.
So many of these guys come in wild caught and stressed, they often have some kind of parasite or another.
the awesome thing is, because they are somewhat nervous and aggerssive geckos, they're easy to get meds into because they will gape. Best of luck with the guy, hopefully a vet can help you figure out whats up with him, and help you get him healthy!