My leopard gecko has stuck shed after its first time. What to do?

You can soak him for 15-20 minutes in a warm bath to provide hydration as well as to aid in shedding. Do this 2 or three times weekly during a shed. Without an image or physical exam, it is difficult to determine if his coloration is due to illness or injury.

Try the following: Give your leopard gecko a bath. Make sure the water is lukewarm and not too deep. Geckos can swim, however you need to be present so he does not drown. or make a moisture chamber: use a tupperware, spray bottle, and a paper towel. Spray or wet the paper towel. Put the paper towel inside the tupperware. Put your leopard gecko inside the tupperware for 30 minutes. You can repeat this as often as you need. Take a wet q-tip and gently rub the skin off after moisturizing. you may also need to use tweezers to gently pick off the shed. Your gecko may not like it, and may get stressed, but this is not as bad as losing toes.

Thanks for your question about Leo lela, and I am sorry that this is happening to you both! Typically leopard geckos should shed all of their skin in a short period of time, and they often eat it so owners may not realize they have shed at all. When we see shed sticking around, like in Leo lela's case, we begin to worry about dysecdysis (retained shed). This is common when there are imperfections in the husbandry that is provided. Most frequently, there is not enough humidity present. For leopard geckos, we recommend having a humid hide available for them that is lined with moist sphagnum moss. It is recommended to have a humid hide on the warm end of the enclosure as well as the cool end to provide your gecko with options regarding humidity. As far as him being lighter - I am not sure if you mean lighter in color, which may be associated with the shedding, or lighter in weight. If you mean lighter in weight, then I would be concerned that he has an underlying issue occurring. To help him with shedding, you can soak Leo lela once daily in 85-90F water. This will also help any skin around his toes, which is often hard to see, to shed as well. I would also recommend having him evaluated by a veterinarian when you can. It is beneficial for reptiles to have wellness examinations, just like dogs and cats. Your veterinarian can also provide you with detailed information on husbandry that is tailored to Leo lela after his physical examination has been performed. You can look at the ARAV website to find a reptile veterinarian in your area. I hope this gives you a place to start, and I wish you the best of luck!

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.

Place him in a warm, moist hide or container for about 30 minutes. Make sure there is adequate ventilation and that he doesn't get too cold. This should help remove the eye caps. Geckos usually have problems with the eyelid liner, not caps like snakes. If this is the case or if the cloudiness persists, have him examined by your vet or an experienced herp vet.

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.

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.