Stuck shed on leo gecko (AGAIN)?

[EightLeggedFrea]

I'm sure this subject has been done to death already, but here I am with another shed-related prob regarding my adult leopard gecko. This time most of his head still has his old skin on it and he otherwise finished shedding the day or so before. I just gave him a 20 minute soak, dribbling droplets of water on his head in an attempt to loosen the old skin hoping it'll help.

This actually isn't the first time this has happened (he used to have incomplete sheds elsewhere, too), but now he doesn't even seem to be making any effort of his own to get that old skin of his face. If it doesn't improve tomorrow I will dribble some water on him again (in a small bath tote).

What I really want to also know is why this keeps happening! I keep him on paper towel substrate, with a humid hide (ALWAYS stays humid) on the cool side of his enclosure but he still encounters shed problems like this and it's really frustrating me.

 

[rexi_doll]

I have a similar issue with my little guy. It's usually only around the nostrils and mouth, and if he doesnt get it all off, i take a soft bristled tooth brush and just help him out a little. He seems to love it, and helps with the "rubbing".

I've heard that it's a common issue with them, however, if I am incorrect, someone feel free to correct me, as I am only going from what I have heard

 

[EightLeggedFrea]

I have a similar issue with my little guy. It's usually only around the nostrils and mouth, and if he doesnt get it all off, i take a soft bristled tooth brush and just help him out a little. He seems to love it, and helps with the "rubbing".

I've heard that it's a common issue with them, however, if I am incorrect, someone feel free to correct me, as I am only going from what I have heard

How do you do it? The skin I'm talking about is around his eye and by manually removing it I'm afraid of damaging his eye cause it's still stuck good there! Do you suggest talking to a vet about this if doesn't get any better? I just gave him another soak.

 

[Reptiliatus]

What I recommend doing is similar to an icu for tarantulas, offer an upside down delicup type container with moist papertowels in it as a hide. The animal will be able to get most of the shedding off.

When I was breeding crested geckos a few years ago I used to get a few hatchlings who'd have a bad shed. I'd stick'em in a critter keeper with moist to nearly wet paper towel overnight and most of the time by morning it was all off.

Your better off trying this than pulling off the shedding because even if that works you could and likely will damage the fresh scales underneath, thanks to the pulling of the stuck shedding... makes sense?

Hope this helps abit

Dayyan

 

[rexi_doll]

How do you do it? The skin I'm talking about is around his eye and by manually removing it I'm afraid of damaging his eye cause it's still stuck good there! Do you suggest talking to a vet about this if doesn't get any better? I just gave him another soak.

Oh, mine's skin is very loose. Maybe it has something to do with his diet? I feed mine crickets dusted with calcium powder, and occasionally undusted crickets, with a large water supply. And, possibly try adding more decorations to the enclosure with different textures(of course not too rough).

Is there any way to post pics of your little guy stuck in his skin?

 

[EightLeggedFrea]

Is there any way to post pics of your little guy stuck in his skin?

Here:

http://s284.photobucket.com/albums/ll6/KingBaboon_2008/?action=view&current=DSC_0001.jpg

http://s284.photobucket.com/albums/ll6/KingBaboon_2008/?action=view&current=DSC_0002.jpg

http://s284.photobucket.com/albums/ll6/KingBaboon_2008/?action=view&current=DSC_0003.jpg

It's actually a little better now, as you can see part of the skin through the middle of his face seems to have been stripped. I didn't do that. Do you think diet affects their ability to shed? Mine gets mostly with mealworms, which he seems to prefer over everything else, with calcium dust (D3-free) once or twice a week. I also supplement with appropriately sized Dubia nymphs as well.

And Rosyhaired, I've currently got him set up in the ICU-thing idea you suggested. He's in a large KK with damp paper towel substrate and for good measure a hide also with damp toweling in it. He doesn't like it one bit but I'm hoping this will help. I placed him in there a few hours ago and going to try keeping him that way overnight. What should I do if that doesn't seem to help?