Advice Needed: Dry Skin or Incomplete Shed on Head

SnowyLeopardGecko

SnowyLeopardGecko

New member
My daughter got a leopard gecko 7 days ago. It seems like it is pretty young because it is only about 5 inches long. It had a tiny speck of loose skin on its head that the store took off for us. She noticed today that there is still what looks like dry skin (or incomplete shed) on its head. I just looked at a picture when we got it, and I can see this dry skin. We just tried a wet cotton swab to loosen it, but it didn't work. My daughter now thinks it is affecting its eye, but it doesn't look like that to me. I am attaching a close-up of the head from the picture we took last week (it looks the same today). Any suggestions would be appreciated.
 

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panthergecko

panthergecko

Active member
First husbandry should be checked out..

What is your current humidity levels?
What are the temps of your hot side and cool side?
How many hides do they have?
(We want at least three => Hot Side Hide, Cool Side Hide, Moist Hide on the hot side)

I'd recommend a damp, ward q tip or cotton swap to help the shed. But if it doesn't come off, don't force. It will probably come off next shed.
 
SnowyLeopardGecko

SnowyLeopardGecko

New member
Humidity is currently at 50%, although I sprayed the walls earlier when I saw the stuck shed and humidity went up to 90% There are two hides -- and temperatures of 80 (cool side) and 90 (hot side). We tried the moist cotton swab, but it did not work (we did not force it).
 
SnowyLeopardGecko

SnowyLeopardGecko

New member
Here is another picture of the stuck shed and the eye. Do you think the eye looks OK? Do you think the little one is OK with that stuck shed on it?

Head.jpg
 
Elizabeth Freer

Elizabeth Freer

Well-known member
Welcome to Geckos Unlimited, SnowyLeopardGecko!

Especially IF stuck shed covers the eye, it's important to very carefully correct that situation soon.

  1. Punch several smallish holes in a plastic container so your leo can breathe.
  2. Line this container with wet paper towels.
  3. Spray the insides of this container.
  4. Add your leo.
  5. Carefully snap on the lid.
  6. Place this container inside Snowy's enclosure on the warm side. Be sure ground temperatures in that spot don't exceed 88-92*F.
  7. Monitor ground temps with the probe of Zoo Med's digital thermometer. Digital thermometers are more accurate than analog (circle) thermometers.
  8. After about 60 minutes try removing stuck skin.
  9. IF that's not successful, place Snowy back in the plastic container for another 60 minutes.

Good shedding also involves good supplements. Which supplements are you using? Please list exact supplement name & frequency.

Here are more tips including a Amazon's wonderful OMEM terra cotta hide.
 
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Elizabeth Freer

Elizabeth Freer

Well-known member
SnowyLeopardGecko said:
Here is another picture of the stuck shed and the eye. Do you think the eye looks OK? Do you think the little one is OK with that stuck shed on it?

View attachment 50048
Click to expand...

I can't really tell about the eye's stuck shed or the head's stuck shed from this image. :(

It's vital to keep ambient humidity increased for at least 60 minutes in an enclosed humidity box on the warm end BEFORE you try to remove this skin. If eye skin is connected with other head skin, removing stuck eye shed should be easier.
 
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Elizabeth Freer

Elizabeth Freer

Well-known member
SnowyLeopardGecko said:
Humidity is currently at 50%, although I sprayed the walls earlier when I saw the stuck shed and humidity went up to 90% There are two hides -- and temperatures of 80 (cool side) and 90 (hot side). We tried the moist cotton swab, but it did not work (we did not force it).
Click to expand...

Are these ground temps? What type hygrometer?
 
SnowyLeopardGecko

SnowyLeopardGecko

New member
I have attached a better picture of Snowy's head.

Does the eye look OK?

Is there any harm in leaving it there until the next shed?

I have read about rubbing in coconut oil or olive oil. Would that work?

Some people have recommended rubbing Zoo Med Repti Shedding Aid on the area. Would that work?
 

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Elizabeth Freer

Elizabeth Freer

Well-known member
Elizabeth Freer said:
Welcome to Geckos Unlimited, SnowyLeopardGecko!

Especially IF stuck shed covers the eye, it's important to very carefully correct that situation soon.

  1. Punch several smallish holes in a plastic container so your leo can breathe.
  2. Line this container with wet paper towels.
  3. Spray the insides of this container.
  4. Add your leo.
  5. Carefully snap on the lid.
  6. Place this container inside Snowy's enclosure on the warm side. Be sure ground temperatures in that spot don't exceed 88-92*F.
  7. Monitor ground temps with the probe of Zoo Med's digital thermometer. Digital thermometers are more accurate than analog (circle) thermometers.
  8. After about 60 minutes try removing stuck skin.
  9. IF that's not successful, place Snowy back in the plastic container for another 60 minutes.

Good shedding also involves good supplements. Which supplements are you using? Please list exact supplement name & frequency.

Here are more tips including a Amazon's wonderful OMEM terra cotta hide.
Click to expand...

SnowyLeopardGecko said:
I have attached a better picture of Snowy's head.

Does the eye look OK?

Is there any harm in leaving it there until the next shed?

I have read about rubbing in coconut oil or olive oil. Would that work?

Some people have recommended rubbing Zoo Med Repti Shedding Aid on the area. Would that work?
Click to expand...

I see stuck shed encircling Snowy's eye. It's scarcely possible to see stuck shed over the eyeball in an image. Just in case Snowy has stuck shed covering his/her eyeball too, don't leave this skin untouched until the next shed.

I have read all your messages. :)

First do my Humidity Box recommendations! Those recommendations set the stage for all other treatments like olive oil, coconut oil, or Zoo Med Repti Shed Aid. Humidity Box recommendations help loosen stuck shed first. Humidity Box recs could work alone. I can't say for certain oils will work. I'm quite certain oils will be more effective AFTER you begin with 60-120 minutes in a Shed Box on the warm end. AFTER you loosen stuck shed edges, gently grab a corner of that shed with tweezers. See whether you can lift the stuck shed off Snowy's head.

I would not place any oils or shed aid on top of the eye itself.

Please reply to my questions about supplements as well as your ground temperatures. Vitamin A (retinol) keeps eyes and skin healthy. Retinol is not found in all multivitamins.


PS:
Since Snowy's eyeball may be involved, I wouldn't chance waiting. Please try your options soon! Your alternative is visiting a specialized exotics vet.

Eye infection with possible blindness could be a scenario IF you wait.

Here's the link:
 
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A

acpart

Well-known member
If you can actually see a piece of shed near the eye (my old eyes don't see anything), use tweezers to remove it. Sometimes humidifying doesn't do anything if it's a little stuck piece.

Aliza
 
panthergecko

panthergecko

Active member
I 100% recommend the humidity box into the trying to slowly get it off.
One of my rescues came with so much stuck shed in their eyes, they developed an eye infection.
 
SnowyLeopardGecko

SnowyLeopardGecko

New member
Good News! The stuck shed came off!

I tried the humidity box, but Snowy seemed to be very nervous inside of it and was breathing heavily even though we had a lot of holes on the top. Snowy is very sweet and I didn't want to do anything to scare her.

I also noticed that Snowy looked a little pale, so I figured she would be shedding soon. I rubbed some of the Zoo Med Repti Shedding Aid on the area while holding her. I was very careful to avoid the eye.

When I woke up this morning, I saw some skin, so I knew she had shed. Snowy is awake now and she looks very vibrant -- and she doesn't have any stuck shed on her!

The stuck shed may have come off with this shed anyway, but I think the shedding aid is a good thing to have.

Thank you for your advice. :D
 
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