My gecko is dry and not shedding. Should I give it a bath? Is it sick?

Soak Lelo in a warm bath for 20-30 minutes daily to aid in shedding. Clean the tip of her tail with a diluted betadine or chlorhexidine (Hibiclens) solution a couple times a day. Keep her on paper towels and change them daily. Tile or slate can also be used, just spot clean daily to keep stool off her tail. Monitor for spread or resolution. If her tail doesn't heal, have her examined by your veterinarian or a vet experienced in treating reptiles. She may need antibiotics or possibly have the affected portion amputated to prevent serious infection.

This is not uncommon for a juvenile gecko. Be sure to provide a humid hide and soak her to prevent difficult sheds. Young geckos will shed more frequently than adults simply because they are growing at a faster rate.

It is likely he was stressed. Give him some time to settle down and he should be fine. Keep an eye on his feet and toes. If there is any discoloration, have him examined by your veterinarian or a vet experienced in treating reptiles.

Two female geckos cam live together peacefully as long as the enclosure is of sufficient size. Two males should never be housed together. Gender cannot be determined by the images posted. Males can be differentiated from females by the presence of a V shaped line of pre anal pores just in front of the vent and hemipenal bulges behind it. Your gecko appears to be in the middle of a shed. This is a stressful time for geckos. Provide one or two moist hides in the cage and daily soaks to aid in shedding. Feed appropriately sized prey, no bigger than the space between the eyes, that have been gut loaded for 24 hours prior to offering to maximize nutritional value. Calcium w/D3 and Vitamin supplementation is essential to good health. Consider an exam with your veterinarian or an experienced herp vet to diagnose illness or injury. Submit a stool sample to diagnose intestinal parasites.

He may have a retained eye cap which could be the cause of those symptoms. Check temps in the cage. Low temps may affect appetite and activity in reptiles. Soak him in a warm 50/50 solution of water and unflavored PediaLyte for 15-20 minutes. This will provide warmth and may treat or prevent minor dehydration. It may also help is he has any residual shed. You can also massage his abdomen, front to back, during the soak to stimulate defecation. I see you use sand as a substrate, so an impaction is always a concern. Pick up some Fluker's Repta Boost or Oxbow Carnivore Care from the local pet store. This is a better option than baby food. If he doesn't start eating in the next few days or if the eye does not improve, have him seen by your veterinarian or a vet experienced in treating reptiles.

Most species of geckos, being nocturnal, do not require UVB lighting. Being cold blooded though, they do need a heat source. Your body temp will not be sufficient for good health. Replace the light/heat source with an appropriate bulb. You can easily buy one online or at most pet stores. Low temps will stress him which can lead to illness. Low temps also affect appetite activity and digestion. Sexing geckos is fairly easy. An adult male will have a bulge behind the vent that is very noticeable. You will also see a row of femoral pores shaped like a "V" in front of the vent in male geckos. Since he is going into a shed, provide a moist hide in the enclosure and/or increase the humidity temporarily. These two species look similar but there are differences. To help with identification, closely exam your gecko. Leos will lose their bands and develop spots, hence the name, as they mature. They also get much bigger than banded geckos. Leos also have rougher, bumpier skin as opposed to a banded gecko's smoother skin. If you post a picture of him on his profile, we can possibly determine what species of geckos you own.

GIve him a good long soak, at least 30 minutes, in a warm bath. During the bath, use cotton swabs or a washcloth to gently rub his toes. This should remove any stuck shed. If not, have him seen by your veterinarian or a vet experienced in treating reptiles. Do not pull at any stuck skin.