Lizards, like children who outgrow their old clothes, must shed their old skin to allow their bodies to expand.
For many days, the skin of most lizards falls off in pieces or flakes. The leo shedding process, on the other hand, is comparable to that of a snake: they shed the old skin all at once and practically in one piece, as if they were pulling off a worn-out suit.
Although shedding is a low-intensity event for seasoned enthusiasts, it can elicit a great deal of enthusiasm, fear, and anxiety in a new leo enthusiast. Furthermore, while the procedure is very simple, issues might arise along the way.
That is why it is important to understand what to expect when it comes time to shed.
Continue reading if you want a comprehensive guide on leopard gecko shedding…
We go through when, how, and why your gecko will shed. We also go through signs, behavioral changes, and solutions to typical shedding issues. Let’s investigate the whys and hows of leopard gecko shedding!
What Are Some Signs That My Leo Is Shedding?
Your leo will change color, which is a sure indicator of impending shedding. His hue will get duller as the date approaches, and he will finally turn grayish-white. This occurs as the old skin progressively separates from the body.
It should be noted that the phenomena is not uniformly evident in all morphs. The transformation in Blizzards and many other albinos is modest. The color shift in wild-type and melanistic leos, on the other hand, may be extremely striking, ranging from dark brown to grayish-white.
Is There a Season for Leopard Geckos to Shed?
There is no specific season for shedding. An adult leo, on the other hand, will almost never shed when brumating. Similarly, all of the resources of gravid leopard gecko females are directed toward their eggs, making shedding at this time improbable.
Some pet owners will notice no shedding concerns over their pet’s lifetime. However, knowing what to do if a health concern arises is always a good idea. Even a regular shedding cycle might be alarming for new owners.
Reptiles shed for a variety of causes. The most crucial is to assist in the formation of new skin as they grow. Shedding also aids in the removal of external parasites, the development of adult coloring, the conservation of nutrients, and the healing of injuries or skin injury.
In the wild, shedding may keep parasites such as ticks and mites at bay, which could otherwise cause disease. Shedding repeatedly over months can also aid in the recovery of bites, scratches, and other minor injuries.
Shedding, on the other hand, is not confined to wild species.
Healthy pet leopard geckos shed on a regular basis as they develop, replace skin cells, and change color.
Though most people believe a leopard gecko is “shedding its skin,” just the top layer of skin is removed. The epidermis is the name given to this layer. The epidermis is a protective layer on their skin that protects them from microscopic and macroscopic factors.
When your leopard gecko is ready to shed, there are certain behavioral and physical indications to look for. These indications differ somewhat from person to person, but they are all good markers that they may soon shed.
Leopard geckos that are about to lose their skin will become dull and their pattern will fade to a gray tone. Water and nutrients from the old skin are taken into the body at this stage, assisting in the growth of new skin.
As new skin develops, a layer of lymph fluid accumulates between the old and new layers. This removes the old skin, leaving your gecko pallid and papery.
They will brush against a hard item or use their teeth to remove the shed skin off of their body after the new layer of skin is ready and the old layer has dried off. The new skin will be vivid and vibrant.
As hatchlings and juveniles, they might shed once or twice a month.
Your lizard will shed less regularly after six months of age, at a rate of once every three weeks.
When they reach adulthood, geckos will shed every four to eight weeks. Your lizard may also cease shedding for a short period of time (e.g. brumating or incubating eggs).
A Shedding Leopard Gecko
Shedding is an everyday occurrence in the life of a leopard gecko. For a healthy lizard, it is not a tough or lengthy process.
When you realize your pet is starting a shedding cycle (i.e., its skin becomes dull), it generally takes one to three days for it to shed. However, after it begins to shed, the skin shedding process generally takes an hour, however some geckos may take up to 24 hours.
During the shed cycle, your leopard gecko may decrease its appetite. This is quite normal.
They use a lot of energy in order to build new skin and shed the old one. It is natural for your leopard gecko to feel sluggish and sleepy when the two skin layers begin to separate. This lethargy is not a concern as long as your lizard’s energy levels return to normal after shedding.
Pets who are sluggish even three days after shedding may have another health issue. You can feed your leopard gecko if it is hungry in the days coming up to shedding. However, once it begins to shed, wait until it is completed before providing more food.
The act of shedding old skin exposes them to predators. Handling or introducing food to a reptile in the middle of a shed might cause shedding difficulties. Even on good days, they will be grumpy. While your lizard sheds, it is best to let it alone in its tank.
What Is the Cause of My Leopard Gecko’s Lack of Shedding?
Leopard geckos may shed less regularly as they get older. You may not see your lizard shedding at times, especially if it sheds at night. This might give the impression that your leopard gecko is not shedding at all when, in fact, it is.
If your lizard is generally healthy, growing, and feeding, it is still shedding; you may have simply missed the real shedding season. If a person is ovulating or incubating eggs, they may temporarily cease shedding. Because growing eggs requires a lot of energy, pregnant females may delay shedding until after they have laid a clutch of eggs.
How to Assist a Leopard Gecko in Shedding
Frequency of Shedding by Age
The frequency and ease with which your et sheds is determined on age, food, and habitat. Younger species, on the other hand, develop quicker than older ones and so shed more frequently.
Shedding Behavior in Leopard Geckos
Less than three months – Every week or every two weeks
Three to six months – Once every one to two weeks
Between 6 months and 1.5 years – Once every four to eight weeks
1.5 years+ – Monthly
Leopard geckos on the verge of shedding will be uninterested in eating. However, as soon as the leopard geckos shed, they should resume feeding on a regular basis. It may also be seen devouring its lost skin. This is typical and aids your lizard’s nutrition.
During their shed, many leopard geckos become sluggish, timid, or even angry.
Between the time their skin turns gray and the time they shed, they may hide more than normal or refuse to be handled. As a result, avoid handling your lizard for three days after it has completed shedding.
Keep an eye on you pet as it shed
It is critical to keep an eye on, and occasionally assist, your pet as it sheds. Though uncommon, shedding issues might result in limb loss and damage. If you leave stuck shed, especially on the toes and tail, your leopard gecko may lose these digits because the shed constricts blood flow.
Setting up the right cage is the most important thing you can do to help your leopard gecko shed effectively.
If your leopard gecko’s environment and food are appropriate, they should shed easily. In general, you should not attempt to free a jammed shed by yourself.
Pulling off a trapped shed might cause harm to the sensitive skin beneath. Soaking, misting, and bathing assist your lizard in removing the shed.
Here are our top three recommendations for making sure your gecko sheds easily.
1. Environment
Proper temperatures, decor, and humidity levels are critical for shedding health. Leopard geckos are desert lizards that favor dry environments. As a result, several new owners fail to understand that this species still need a humid environment in order to shed effectively.
For leopard gecko shedding, 40 percent humidity is ideal; however, too much or too little humidity might cause issues. Do not allow the humidity to go below 30%. Low humidity dries up the previous skin layer, making it more harder to peel away.
It’s a good idea to provide a shed box or a hide made of coconut fiber or sphagnum moss that stays wet in the tank. The hide should be damp enough to create condensation on the edges, but not so wet that water drips from the walls or top.
This hide will create a humid atmosphere for your lizard to shed.
You should also provide your gecko some rough décor to brush against while shedding. This may be anything from a plastic hide’s edge to sticks, pebbles, and branches. These surfaces should be rough enough to release shed skin but not sharp enough to harm your gecko.
3. Diet plan
A healthy diet is an excellent method to avoid not just shedding but also a variety of other health conditions.
Leopard geckos, unlike certain lizards such as the blue-tongued skink, are insectivores. To be healthy and happy, they require an all-insect diet.
A vitamin A deficiency is a nutritional cause of irregular shedding that can be produced by consuming the incorrect food.
Crickets, Dubai cockroaches, mealworms, and super worms should be fed to leopard geckos. Insects should be sprinkled with a vitamin supplement powder.
3. Illumination
It is a popular misunderstanding that leopard geckos are nocturnal and so do not require specific illumination.
Because this species is most active at dawn and dusk, it is subjected to sunlight in the wild. They require UVB light as pets. This aids in the conversion of calcium into vitamin D.
The presence of UVB facilitates shedding in your lizard. It also aids in the complete metabolization of meals and the avoidance of vitamin shortages.
Keepers usually have nothing to worry about when it comes to shedding. The greatest thing you can do for your lizard during its shedding period is to let it alone.
Why you Leopard Gecko have shedding problems
Problems with a lizard’s habitat, food, or health can all interfere with the shedding process. The scientific word for retained or trapped shed is ‘dysecdysis.’ Stuck shed is not a sickness, but rather a side consequence of a healthy or husbandry situation.
Poor nutrition or humidity are the most common causes of stuck shed.
External parasites, a deficiency in vitamin A, or a severe injury can all cause blocked shed. Leopard geckos that have been wounded or are infected with parasites will generally exhibit additional indications of illness (e.g. thin tails or lethargy for more than a few days).
Don’t be alarmed if your reptile still has shed attached to its body after 24 hours of shedding.
There are numerous things you may do to assist your lizard in getting rid of its retained shed as soon as possible. Here are five easy techniques to assist a leopard gecko in shedding:
1. Take a bath
Fill a plastic jug halfway with lukewarm water.
Put your gecko in the container, ensuring sure the water does not reach his chin. Allow your lizard to soak for 10 minutes, or until the water cools.
Soaking helps loosen shed and make them simpler to remove.
If your leopard gecko is not shedding, there is no need to wash it. Soak your lizard only if it still has sticky shed 24 hours after shedding.
2. Spritzing
Misting your lizard might help soften stuck shed, but never splash your leopard gecko in the face.
Spray your reptile lightly with lukewarm water, then pat it dry after 10-30 minutes.
It is better to use a thin mist.
If misting directly does not help, consider using a shedding aid.
3. Use Shedding aids
Shedding aids are often made out of water mixed with aloe, jojoba oil, and vitamin E. They are intended to be applied straight to the skin.
The majority of shedding aids work best when gently massaged onto dry skin using a Q-tip.
4. Box for Shedding
When your lizard is ready to shed, a humid hide to climb into can aid in the process.
Fill one inch of a hide with moist sphagnum moss, paper towel, or coconut fiber. This hide should be large enough to accommodate your entire lizard, but with only a small entrance to avoid evaporation.
It is unlikely that you will need to bathe your reptile if you give it with a damp hide for shedding.
5. Surroundings
A lack of rough surfaces for your lizard to rub against is one of the most prevalent causes of trapped shed.
Many leopard geckos use their teeth to remove shed from their bodies, but they will also brush against rough surfaces to reach areas that their jaws cannot reach. When they don’t have something to rub against, they might become shed on their back, nose, or tail.
Summary
Shedding is a natural part of the life cycle of all leopard geckos. The average adult sheds once every four to eight weeks.
When your lizard begins to shed, you may notice that they stop eating and become sluggish or agitated. Their hue will become dull and gray during the following two days as the old layer of skin separates from the new layer.
You will see your leopard gecko rubbing up against the tank decor or chewing at the loose shed. After that, your lizard should have a bright, new covering of skin and resume regular activity.
Sheds can become trapped if the tank humidity is too low or if they are fed the improper food. This condition, known as dysecdysis, might result in your lizard losing limbs or fingers. To aid in the removal of trapped sheds, carefully soak or spray them with water or a reptile shedding aid.
Resons why leopard geckos shed
Let’s take a look at some of the most prevalent causes of excessive skin shedding in leopard geckos so we can get your lizard pal back on track.
1. Parasitic infections
Several parasites can cause skin shedding issues.
The majority of them, such as cryptosporidium, are intestinal in nature.
These parasites feed on nutrients within the leopard gecko’s body, resulting in weight loss and a decrease of appetite.
Malnutrition can lead to severe skin issues and even death.
2. Arachnids
These blood-sucking arachnids are also known as ectoparasites.
That’s right, Draculas, spider Draculas! You only need some garlic and a wooden stick…
Okay, but honestly, these bugs are generally the size of a pepper speck and red in color.
They may cause severe skin irritation in certain leopard geckos while they eat, but they also transmit illnesses that can make your pet sick in other ways.
3. Lack of water
Dehydration is most likely the most prevalent cause of excessive skin shedding. When a leopard gecko does not have enough water, its skin might become dry, saggy, and peel.
This causes drier skin, making shedding more difficult.
As a consequence, portions of skin may fall off over time or, in rare circumstances, the skin may adhere to the layer underneath.
What’s the deal with my leopard gecko shedding so much?
Juicy feeder insects can aid in the hydration of your leopard gecko.
4. Thermal burns
Your leopard gecko’s skin can burn if it can reach up and touch its heat lamp, or if the surroundings is too hot.
Any type of burn might cause excessive shedding as it heals.
5. Low Humidity
If the humidity in your tank isn’t between 40% and 60%, your leopard gecko’s skin may dry out on a frequent basis.
As a result, the skin may shed more often.
6. There is no hiding place.
Leopard Geckos require hiding places, especially during the hottest hours of the day.
They like low-light or gloomy environments.
They do, however, require moisture-retaining hiding places.
This can be provided via caves or boxes lined with a wet substrate such as sphagnum.
This will assist to keep the skin of your leopard gecko moisturized and healthy.
7 Anxiety
Even though we all like our leopard geckos, they may be readily influenced by stressful conditions.
Being handled too frequently and competing with more aggressive geckos can create anxiety, causing them to stop eating or become sluggish and jittery.
This might eventually result in excessive skin loss.
8. Malnutrition
Abnormal skin shedding might be a concern if your leopard gecko isn’t getting the appropriate nutrients.
That is why it is critical to give the proper leopard gecko food.
How Long Does It Take for a Leopard Gecko to Shed?
It will take 1-3 days from the time you notice your pet’s dull colour to finish the shed.
Once the procedure begins, it might take as little as 10 minutes to complete. However, in rare cases, it might take up to a day to finish.
Is It Possible to Hold a Leopard Gecko While It Is Shedding?
While shedding, leopard geckos can become irritable and even violent. Unnecessary handling and straining an already agitated gecko might result in problems such as blocked sheds.
Simply give the finest circumstances for your leo and let nature take its course.
Should I Feed Food to My Leo During Shedding?
Some leos will eat regularly before and after shedding, while others may fast for several days before and 1-2 days after the procedure is completed.
You can serve food as normal – just don’t begrudge it.
Leopard geckos lose their skin throughout the rest of their life. Reptiles, unlike mammals, lose their skin all at once rather than continually.
Geckos often shed without issue if their food and habitat are appropriate.