Severe Shedding Problems

[Sara]

I recently got a leopard gecko from an acquaintance of mine. The gecko, whom I believe is a male, has had severe shedding problems. :main_no: His toes are badly covered in stuck shed. I have been setting him in a small tub filled with shallow lukewarm water for 30 minutes everyday since Wednesday of last week, the day I got him, and that doesn't appear to be helping his poor toes. Can someone here give me advice on how to help him? If a photo is needed, let me know and I'll try to post one.

About your leo:
- Sex- I think it's a male.
- Age & Weight- I think he's around 3 years old. I don't know how much he weighs.
- How long have you owned your leo- March 26th.
- Where was he/she obtained (ex. Pet store, breeder, wild caught, friend) An acquaintance, who says she got him from a reptile expo.

A) Health/History
- How often do you handle your leo- Everyday.
- Is your leo acting any different today? If so how does he/she normally act which differs from now. I haven't had him long enough to know his behavior.
- Has he/she had any problems in the past, if so please describe. Not that I know of.
B) Fecals
- Describe (look any different than normal) They seem normal to me.
- When was the last time he/she went- A few days ago.
C) Problem
- Please briefly describe the problem and how long it has been going on- I mentioned the problem above. I don't know how long it has been going on.

Housing:
A) Enclosure
- Size- 10 gallon, I think.
- Type (ex. glass tank)- Glass.
- Type of substrate- What is this?
- Hides, how many, what kind- Three. I'm not sure what kind they are.
B) Heating
- Heat source- The person who gave me him didn't say I need one..
- Cage temps (hot side, cool side)- I don't know.
- Method of regulating heat source- I don't have a heat source so I'm not regulating it.
- What are you using to measure your temps- Nothing.
- Do you have any lights (describe)- No.
C) Cage mates
- How many (males, females)- None.
- Describe health, or previous problems

Describe Diet:
A) Typical diet
- What you're feeding (how often, how much)- Mealworms, they are in his dish all day. He hasn't eaten much though.
- How are you feeding (hand fed, left in dish, ect)- Left in dish.
B) Supplements (describe how often)
- What vitamin/minerals are you using (list brands)- What?
- What are you gut loading food with- What?

 

[scm133]

No heat?? That needs to be addressed first. You will need to get a Under tank heater small. Zoo med makes one. It needs to be attached underneath the tank in the back corner. You will need a thermostat or rheostat to regulate the heat, so it does not get too hot. Surface temp should be around 92. They need a warm and cool side to regulate their temps. Now to quickly address the stuck shed. Daily soaks are good. He needs a moist hide to shed properly. Get a small Tupperware container, and cut hole in the side. Keep a wet paper towel in this container....it will help his toes.....and keep it on the warm side. Personally, a 10 gallon is too small when you are trying to achieve a warm and cool side. 20 gallons should be the minimum.
Substrate is what is in the bottom of the tank. Use paper towels....no sand, nothing that he can swallow and get impacted.
Hides....he needs one dry on the cool side, and one dry, and one moist one on the warm side.
Mealworms are good if they are moving and active. Gut load...what you feed the worms. They need to be fed and kept in a worm chow, with a piece of carrot. If he doesn't eat, try crickets....
Supplements.....needs a small soda cap of plain reptile calcium in his enclosure at all times. The worms or crickets need to be dusted with a reptile vitamin/minerals powder....Repashy Calcium Plus is great to use.
Sorry this is so long...but it will get you going in the right direction. Research and read the care sheet on this forum....it will help. No heat, and no moist hide could be the problem with the shed.


GulfCoastGeckos

 

[tb144050]

Yuuppp!! an UTH is an ABSOLUTE MUST-HAVE. "belly-heat" to them is as important as oxygen.

And a moist hide is essential for good sheds. It can be as simple as a wet papertowel in a rubbermaid (as described above). In your situation, I would continue the soaks but add the following:

**after soaking, allow the Leo to walk "hand-to-hand" and, everytime he stops,...try to gently use your fingertip(s) to rub the shed-skin toward his own finger tips (so it rolls off like pantyhose).

A good moist hide will allow them to pull the shed off their toes in a large piece that they remove from their leg. I haven't ever seen mine go for individual toes (leftovers)...so you have to watch and help if that happens.

 

[Sara]

Thank you SO much for the replies! I got a heat pad with a thermostat, paper towels for the bedding, he has two hides that are wet inside, a dish of calcium without D3 in his tank, and some mealworms in his tank dusted with Repashy, and two digital thermometers measuring the surface temperatures. The hot side is 80 degrees (I'm trying to get it hotter) and the cool side is 70 degrees. Am I missing anything? I've been soaking him and I think he's doing better... he still hasn't eaten though so I'm so worried!

 

[Sara]

I just looked in his cave to check on him and I saw blood in his cave. A lot. I immediately took him out and looked all over him and I didn't see any fresh blood. His feet had blood but it was dried. I feel like I am such a horrible person. Please tell me what to do. I took a photo. He doesn't look like he's feeling sick, but it looks like he lost a lot of blood.

 

[scm133]

I know that had to be frighting to find!! Have you checked all his toes? He may have lost one. If shed gets stuck on the toes, they will get necrotic. Best thing to do is to keep his viv extra clean, so no infection will set in.
You need to get that temp up closer to 90. He won't eat if he can't have the heat to digest his food.

 

[tb144050]

Yuuppp!! an UTH is an ABSOLUTE MUST-HAVE. "belly-heat" to them is as important as oxygen.

And a moist hide is essential for good sheds. It can be as simple as a wet papertowel in a rubbermaid (as described above). In your situation, I would continue the soaks but add the following:

**after soaking, allow the Leo to walk "hand-to-hand" and, everytime he stops,...try to gently use your fingertip(s) to rub the shed-skin toward his own finger tips (so it rolls off like pantyhose).

A good moist hide will allow them to pull the shed off their toes in a large piece that they remove from their leg. I haven't ever seen mine go for individual toes (leftovers)...so you have to watch and help if that happens.

Hopefully the toes weren't "too far gone" already. Did you get the shed off when I posted the 'above text' a few days ago.

 

[Sara]

I know that had to be frighting to find!! Have you checked all his toes? He may have lost one. If shed gets stuck on the toes, they will get necrotic. Best thing to do is to keep his viv extra clean, so no infection will set in.
You need to get that temp up closer to 90. He won't eat if he can't have the heat to digest his food.

Yes, it was scary. But he's doing better. The hot side is 92 degrees now and he is more active. He still hasn't eaten though. I am keeping his cage really clean like you told me to.

Hopefully the toes weren't "too far gone" already. Did you get the shed off when I posted the 'above text' a few days ago.

I think they may be too far gone........the shed is still on his toes. He has the two humid hides and I am soaking him daily. I tried the hand to hand technique, but it didn't work He wouldn't stop walking and whenever I tried to get the shed off, he would try to get away. The shed is kinda close to coming off so I'll keep doing what I'm doing.

Thank you both for the help! He must of lost a toe, but I can't really tell... should I post a photo so someone can tell me if he needs vet care?

 

[tb144050]

I think they may be too far gone........the shed is still on his toes.

You need to get that shed off his toes, even if he doesn't like it. The "hand 2 hand" method works best on more tame Leo's and even they tend to walk a lot...so it will get frustrating. If he is a "runner", then you will need someone to help "cup" him in their hands WHILE you try to rub the damp (from 10minute soaking) shed skin toward the toe-tips.

He won't like it and he might try to fight it...especially if the toes are already in pain. But it is like having a dirty wound: It is gonna hurt when removing the "shrapnel" and it is gonna hurt when you pour the alcohol on the wound to sterilize it. It might not be pleasant, but sometimes treatment is NECESSARY...