First shedding

[matt0101]

So last night my gecko shed for the first time since I got him. I know this because he has flaps of dead skin hanging off his face and front feet. I tried to pull the remaining skin off with my fingers, but he wasn't having it. He's young and skittish and runs pretty much every time something unusual happens. Should I be concerned that this skin is still there? He doesn't seem to have any interest in removing it. What do I do? I don't want to forcefully pick him up...

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

So last night my gecko shed for the first time since I got him. I know this because he has flaps of dead skin hanging off his face and front feet. I tried to pull the remaining skin off with my fingers, but he wasn't having it. He's young and skittish and runs pretty much every time something unusual happens. Should I be concerned that this skin is still there? He doesn't seem to have any interest in removing it. What do I do? I don't want to forcefully pick him up...

Do you have a humid hide in the tank 24/7. What substrate are you using inside that hide?

Yes, you should be concerned about any remaining shed. Soak the leo in tepid water for 15 minutes. Then try gentle rolling motions with a q-tip to remove stuck skin.

If that does not work when tried on 2 successive days, look for the Humidity Chamber method posted on my Leo Caresheet linked below in my signature: posts following main caresheet.

Skin on eyes, toes, and tail tip should get first priority. Stuck shed allowed to build up can restrict circulation and end up with missing toe tips.

You will have better luck getting cohesive replies if you keep all your leo questions on one thread rather than posting a new thread for each issue.

 

[matt0101]

00-)

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

I have a humid hide in the tank 24/7. It is cleaned out margarine dish with slightly damp paper towel for substrate. I'm not sure how to go about soaking him. First of all, he runs every time I put my hand close to him, he's really tiny and I don't want to risk hurting him by grabbing at him and holding him forcefully. Second, how do I keep him soaked? Do I do it in the bath tub? How is this actually done? I don't see it explained in detail anywhere.

I'm aware of the problems of stuck shed, that's why I'm asking for help here.

I post a new thread for each issue in the appropriate sub-forum, as I was informed I should do in the first thread I made. I don't really have a problem with doing the opposite of this, but wouldn't including every topic into a single thread in the "General" sub-forum make the other sub-forums kind of, well, redundant?

Thanks for the help. ;-)

Where is your humid hide located?

Thing about posting and replies is that there is much repetition of advice because all husbandry is related. Posting here and there just multiplies the posts and the advice...many repetitions. Choosing one thread in the general leo forum works.

Scroll through my Leo Caresheet and you will even find a video about soaking. In the posts that follow the main Leo Caresheet, you will find one which details the Humidity Chamber step-by-step. Please look.

 

[matt0101]

Where is your humid hide located?

Scroll through my Leo Caresheet and you will even find a video about soaking. In the posts that follow the main Leo Carsheet, you will find one which details the Humidity Chamber step-by-step. Please look.

The humid hide is located on the warm side of the tank. My heating mat is too small at the moment, so I can only fit one corner of the humid hide onto it. I have a bigger heating mat ready for installation, but I wanted to wait until the tank needed cleaning so I could do it all at once. Poor gecko's been moved around enough already in one week, I didn't want to stress him out further. In addition to the heat mat I have a 10 inch heat lamp with a 75w blue night heat bulb for air heating on the warm side of the tank.

I'll check out the caresheet. I have a hearing disability so youtube videos are generally a no-go unless written instructions appear on screen.

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

The humid hide is located on the warm side of the tank. My heating mat is too small at the moment, so I can only fit one corner of the humid hide onto it. I have a bigger heating mat ready for installation, but I wanted to wait until the tank needed cleaning so I could do it all at once. Poor gecko's been moved around enough already in one week, I didn't want to stress him out further. In addition to the heat mat I have a 10 inch heat lamp with a 75w blue night heat bulb for air heating on the warm side of the tank.

I'll check out the caresheet. I have a hearing disability so youtube videos are generally a no-go unless written instructions appear on screen.

Forget about the Shed-ease. I hear that it is no better than plain water.

What size is your tank? The heat mat should be as wide as the tank and 1/3 the tank's length.

Good for you providing overhead heat in addition to the UTH. Your leo will love that! Just make certain the overall temps are as described in my caresheet.

The caresheet has written soaking instructions too.

 

[matt0101]

here

 

[matt0101]

i've read the following in the care sheet and it still does not really address the issue i have with handling the gecko. he is barely older than a hatchling and squirms away whenever i touch him. i don't see how any of the fine movements required here (q-tip swabbing, tweezers, etc) would work on my gecko, because he is absolutely impossible to keep still.

METHOD #1:
Take a plastic container a little bigger than your gecko
Poke holes in the lid so your gecko can breathe
Place a dampened washcloth on the bottom
Add a rough rock or piece of cork bark
Add the gecko
Snap on the lid
Place this near a lamp---not too bright or warm. Use a low wattage (25 watt) red bulb. You should see droplets form on the sides of the container as an indication the humidity is increasing.

After an hour or two remove the gecko and gently attempt to remove the stuck shed using a gentle rolling motion with a wet q-tip.

Some folks place this covered container containing the leopard gecko into shallow warm water to generate the desired humidity


METHOD #2:
Fill a shallow basin or the bathroom sink with lukewarm water to your gecko's belly depth.

Let your gecko soak for about 20 minutes.

This should definitely loosen any shed remaining on the critter's toes.

Then take a wet q-tip, and with a gentle rolling motion, work on the toes. You can gently use a tweezers.


METHOD #3:
You can wrap the gecko in a wet washcloth with just the snout and eyes visible. Hold in place for 15-20 minutes. Remove. See if the stuck shed can gently be removed. If not, try wrapping again for another 15 minutes.

 

[matt0101]

looks like he got all the skin off by himself already. no trace of stuck shed anywhere that i could see!

 

[Mardy]

They usually do a good job getting shed off as long as you provide them with a good moist hide...and that they know where to find the hide. It's definitely bad to have leftover shed on them for more than a day or two. In those cases warm soak & qtip can usually take care of leftover shed. Glad your gecko took care of it

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

Matt ~

Are you providing any air space for ventilation between the base of the tank and the stand it sits on? Some UThs come with little sticky feet for the tank's corners. Pieces of wood and bottle caps have also been suggested to elevate the corners of the tank.

 

[matt0101]

Matt ~

Are you providing any air space for ventilation between the base of the tank and the stand it sits on? Some UThs come with little sticky feet for the tank's corners. Pieces of wood and bottle caps have also been suggested to elevate the corners of the tank.

Yes! It's a tank designed for housing lizards so the 4 corners have built in stands for elevation. There is plenty of ventilation. If you look at the 2nd pic I posted you can see the shadow below the heat mat to give you an idea.