The Claw Clipper! Safe?

[DmanXcell]

So I was recently browsing the herpsupplies website and noticed that there were some lizard nail cutters. It's pretty comical but is cutting a leo's toenails bad? If not, I might consider cutting them just to make sure they aren't overgrown. Or maybe they're like cats and file them on the furniture

THE CLAW CLIPPER (hehe)

THE HEAVY DUTY CUTTER (haha - duty!)

Thanks!
-Dylan

 

[SCGeckos]

Please do not try and cut your leopard geckos nails! You are simply asking for trouble by attempting this on such a small animal. There is no need what so ever to attempt this.

 

[DmanXcell]

I didn't think there was any harm in asking. I just wanted to find out before I even consider buying one. Now I know. Considering the fact that they need them to climb, I didn't think it would be a good thing. Maybe a little more friendly next time? I feel like I was just yelled at for asking a reasonable question.

Thanks!
-Dylan

 

[SCGeckos]

lol! No yelling involved. I could just picture the next post about snipping off a toe by mistake and I personally don't want to see that happen. No question is a dumb question.

 

[Griffinej5]

That doesn't look any different than my dog nail clippers. I did used to cut my bearded dragons nails though. Not sure I could do it on a Leo, and I can cut really small animal nails (I've done rats as well). I used baby nail clippers on the beardies and rats though.

 

[indyana]

Yeah, I've never seen a Leo with overgrown toenails... I do have that issue with my skink though, so I trim his back one in a while so they don't start curling under.

 

[DmanXcell]

Thanks guys! I didn't think it would be possible. Just thought it was interesting that they had those for reptiles. I had never heard of something like that!

Thanks!
-Dylan

 

[Olympus]

It's more for large reptiles, like iguanas or the like, that do grow some intense claws. But I think that with a proper enclosure there really shouldn't be a need to clip the nails - having natural branches or stones/tiles in the enclosure should allow them to file them down normally, so they don't get so long that they curl or anything. But leos really shouldn't be growing intense nails anyway, they have such tiny toes and even tinier nails that I can't imagine it's a problem.

And with some reptiles you definitely don't want to touch the nails. Like with chameleons, for example, females will grow longer nails in preparation to dig a tunnel and lay eggs. So you don't want to trim off those nails and then make it difficult for them to dig down the 12" they usually tunnel as part of the egg-laying process.

 

[DrCarrotTail]

They also sell freeze dried crickets as leopard gecko diet. It's a bad idea too. Where there is money to be made someone will think of something! That clipper is probably meany for much larger lizards like Tegus. If your leos nails are sharp enough to hurt you I might just have them walk across a piece of sand paper or gently use a nail file. No cutting should ever be needed