stuck shed on toes and not eating

[Zoey]

My leo Nico has some stubborn stuck shed on his toes. This has been a problem the last few times he has shed and it seems to be getting worse. I can't figure out why.

I've been soaking him in a few inches of warm water every day for a few minutes as I try to scrub it off with a Qtip, but it doesn't seem to help much. I'd leave him in longer than a few minutes, but he really doesn't like it at all. He scrambles to get out which doesn't make it easy for me because he won't stay still. I'm afraid I'm stressing him out. Also, before I put him back in his enclosure, I dab a bit of mineral oil on his toes to keep his skin soft.

I do have a moist hide for him. It's a plastic margarine container with a damp sponge inside and he hangs out in there often. The temps on the warm side range from 91 to 95 degrees.

Another reason I am worried is because he is not eating. He has been off his food for about 3 weeks now and I'm not sure if it is related to his shedding problem. He's been off his food before for long stretches of time and one day all of a sudden decides to start eating again, so I'm not sure if I should be worried. He doesn't appear to be loosing weight. Any thoughts?

 

[Wolvenspawn]

Qtips work great but sometimes I have to use a pair of tweezers. If you can get a little piece of the skin up you can switch to the tweezers grabbing that little pieces. If it's soft enough it peels off like a glove. It just takes some patience to get it done but it always works for me. Also you can always place a lid over the top of the bowl. I do thin on occasion but I make sure my lid has some air holes in it. When I have used this mine settle down once that see there isn't an easy exit.

 

[Zoey]

Qtips work great but sometimes I have to use a pair of tweezers. If you can get a little piece of the skin up you can switch to the tweezers grabbing that little pieces. If it's soft enough it peels off like a glove. It just takes some patience to get it done but it always works for me. Also you can always place a lid over the top of the bowl. I do thin on occasion but I make sure my lid has some air holes in it. When I have used this mine settle down once that see there isn't an easy exit.

I'll give the tweezers a try today. Thanks. I'll also try to put something over the sink while he soaks and see if that calms him. How long should I leave him in there?

 

[cwheeler]

Hi Zoey,

I have a similar issue with one of my leopard's toes every time she sheds. I have a humid hide (a tupperware container approx 3" tall with damp paper towels inside. The lid is on this, with a hold cut out of the middle of the lid to get in and out of) on the warm side of the enclosure. When I soak her, I use another tupperware and put enough lukewarm water to cover her forearms. I place a perforated lid on top to keep her in (I always make sure I'm present when I have leopards soak, I've heard they can drown even in small measurements of water.) I try and soak for at least 15 minutes. Then I'll use the Q-tip technique to work on the loosened skin, and the tweezers. (Gotta be careful with the tweezers also). I just picked up some Zoo Meds repti shed, and have been using it liberally on her feet. I spray, rub it in and then switch back to the q-tip and tweezers technique. I hope this helps. It's what I've picked up as a noobie myself.

 

[Aurorae]

Do you have a photo of the enclosure? Have you tried sphagnum moss as a substrate for the moist hide, it usually helps when they're rubbing up against it and it holds water very well. As for your gecko not eating, what substrate is in your enclosure? Is your gecko losing weight, or is weight remaining steady? If you're not sure, you may find it an idea to weigh him once a week and keep an eye on his fat stores/tail stores. What have you tried feeding him? Either way, I'd really seek veterinary help if this persists for longer than 2 weeks at the very max but I'd try and resolve this asap. if you could answer these questions, I'd be very happy to help you...I know exactly how you feel x

Oh and before I forget, this stuff is awesome >> http://www.petco.com/product/12513/Zoo-Med-Repti-Shedding-Aid.aspx

 

[Zoey]

See below for pics of his enclosure. The photo is kind of old but it more or less looks the same. He is still on reptile carpet.

I might try the sphagnum moss instead of the sponge and see if that helps. Little by little I am getting the shed off his toes. Still doing the daily soaks and I am increasing the soaking time. I tried to use the tweezers but I am really afraid of pinching his skin and hurting him.

He doesn't seem to be loosing weight. Actually today for the first time in forever he ate a superworm! Yeah!

As for that shedding aid stuff... will it work better than the mineral oil that I am currently using?

Thanks for your advice everyone!

Nico's home.

Here is his margarine dish hide when I first constructed it.

Here he is as a tiny little thing when I first brought him home.

Here is what he looks like now. This photo about a year old, but he's still looks the same.

 

[Aurorae]

I prefer shedding aid to mineral oil. I've had geckos whos skin has not reacted well to mineral oil and it sometimes gives the skin a strange texture. Shedding aid has been trialled and tested for reptiles exclusively, rather than for humans. In terms of reliability, I think shed aid does a great job, if not a better one than mineral oil and the solution hydrates their skin too - an added bonus! Shed aid can also be used for the head and is safe for spraying on the eyes so I think it's a good thing to have in the gecko first aid box!

The only thing I'd really complain about, if I was being totally picky, would be the height of the observation post-looking structure on the left of the tank, just in case he fell, but I guess he'd walk down onto the log below.

Your gecko is mega chunky and mega cute!! I have a mack snow of a similar frame and I think it's absolutely adorable!! I'm a sucka for then and now pics! That little face in that margarine tub....awwh!!

Happy New Year for tomorrow!!!

 

[Zoey]

I prefer shedding aid to mineral oil. I've had geckos whos skin has not reacted well to mineral oil and it sometimes gives the skin a strange texture. Shedding aid has been trialled and tested for reptiles exclusively, rather than for humans. In terms of reliability, I think shed aid does a great job, if not a better one than mineral oil and the solution hydrates their skin too - an added bonus! Shed aid can also be used for the head and is safe for spraying on the eyes so I think it's a good thing to have in the gecko first aid box!

The only thing I'd really complain about, if I was being totally picky, would be the height of the observation post-looking structure on the left of the tank, just in case he fell, but I guess he'd walk down onto the log below.

Your gecko is mega chunky and mega cute!! I have a mack snow of a similar frame and I think it's absolutely adorable!! I'm a sucka for then and now pics! That little face in that margarine tub....awwh!!

Happy New Year for tomorrow!!!

Thanks for the compliments! He is a chunky guy. I can't believe how different he looks from when I got him 5 years ago!

I don't worry about him when he climbs up onto his shelf...his observation structure. He's really good about climbing up and down the log.

And I think I have successfully gotten all the stuck shed off his toes.... at least until next time. If he has problems again, I will try the shed aid stuff.

Happy New Year to you too!

 

[Aurorae]

Woo awesome! Great to hear he got it all off