Shedding

[Colwill]

I have a leopard gecko, she recently shed her skin a few weeks ago however the past few times she has shed she has ignored her legs and haven't taken any of the skin off her legs, should this worry me or is it totally natural?

 

[Jolenels]

She hasn't dragged herself around or chewed on her feet at all? I find the toes are hard for my gecko so I lightly mist her feet and then she works hard and get the shed off. Maybe try misting?

 

[acpart]

I don't think it's outside of the realm of normal. I usually give them a day or so to do their shedding and then check them and remove anything they didn't get off themselves.

Aliza

 

[Colwill]

She hasn't dragged herself around or chewed on her feet at all? I find the toes are hard for my gecko so I lightly mist her feet and then she works hard and get the shed off. Maybe try misting?

She's really lazy and we hardly see her move. and she usually gets most of it off her feet but this time there's quite a bit still on her feet, it also took her a while to get the skin off her head as well, that's mostly why i was concerned. I will try the misting and go from there.
Thanks!

 

[Colwill]

I don't think it's outside of the realm of normal. I usually give them a day or so to do their shedding and then check them and remove anything they didn't get off themselves.

Aliza

I thought it was healthier for them to take it off themselves?

 

[Jetfire]

there's no harm in plucking off any "leftovers" that they might have missed. If enough layers of dead skin get built up on extremities (especially the feet/toes),the underlying tissue can die,and cause necrosis...usually resulting in a lizard that's missing toes or a tail-tip. The gecko might get a bit perturbed by you messing with it's feet,but it's way better for the lizard in the long run.
Slant-tip tweezers are your friend,unless you have longer fingernails.

 

[Colwill]

there's no harm in plucking off any "leftovers" that they might have missed. If enough layers of dead skin get built up on extremities (especially the feet/toes),the underlying tissue can die,and cause necrosis...usually resulting in a lizard that's missing toes or a tail-tip. The gecko might get a bit perturbed by you messing with it's feet,but it's way better for the lizard in the long run.
Slant-tip tweezers are your friend,unless you have longer fingernails.

My roommate and I are trying now to get the rest of the skin off but she is moving way too much for us to even come close to making progress. any suggestions? I even put her on a heating pad thinking it might calm her down. please help!

 

[Colwill]

there's no harm in plucking off any "leftovers" that they might have missed. If enough layers of dead skin get built up on extremities (especially the feet/toes),the underlying tissue can die,and cause necrosis...usually resulting in a lizard that's missing toes or a tail-tip. The gecko might get a bit perturbed by you messing with it's feet,but it's way better for the lizard in the long run.
Slant-tip tweezers are your friend,unless you have longer fingernails.

It also is proving really difficult to pull it off. Will it hurt her if i proceed with pulling it off?

 

[Jolenels]

I dont know if anyone else does this haha but I give our gecko a "bath" before I pull. I let her sit in a container thats got just enough water to cover her toes. The water is room temp or a smidge above. Then I try to get the skin off. If I have to force it I dont take it off but let her bathe again

 

[Jetfire]

Try providing a moist hide. that will give the gecko somewhere to stay moisturized while shedding. I've found that moist paper towels (folded to fit the hideout) or moistened sphagnum moss work great for the gecko to relax in. Just don't place the moist hide on the heatpad,though.

 

[acpart]

Best way to get shed off the toes without freaking out the gecko: as mentioned above, soak her for a minute or two in warm water (1/2"-3/4"). Sit with her in your lap and put a fold of your shirt over her head so she's kind of burrowing in your shirt. Work with your fingernails to remove the shed by "stripping" each toe. If she starts walking around let her, and then pick her up and put her in the same position with her head in your shirt. Get each leg at a time. Eventually you'll get it all off.

Aliza

 

[JoshuaW]

My leo goes into the moist hide but doesnt shed. Is there anything wrong?

 

[Jetfire]

it might just be enjoying the higher humidity. I had one female who practically lived in her moist hide,coming out to eat & poop. it might just be a personal lizard preference.