Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Today, I noticed Bruce ate some of his shedded skin. I've never seen this before, and I'm certain that he did in fact eat it as opposed to just licking it. Just wondered if this is "normal" and if so what the scientifice reason (if any) is behind it. I'm not concerned about it, but just thought it was interesting.

JR
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BRUCELIZARD.COM Curious? Thought So.

Uro's eating their shed skin is normal.I believe they eat it to recycle the nutrients so to speak, at least that's what I've heard.My uro will eat every little peice of his shed skin.
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Cajit
Clearwater,Florida,USA
URO'S RULE ALL!!!

1.0 Mali Uromastyx (OZ) DOUG DIX

i have noticed that hugo, my male mali will eat shed but helga does not go anywhere near it. i wonder if it's a boy thing? hugo really freaked me out one day when he walked up to helga and ate the shedding skin right off her back. i couldn't look at him for the rest of the day
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vonnie
***The first law of dietetics seems to be: if it tastes good, it's bad for you. — Issac Asimov ***

Leopard Geckos do it as well, it's to return lost nutrients.. if your uro Doesn't do it, I'm not totally surprised, but if it does, I wouldn't be surprise either... Perhaps it's the individual? Or even a marker for something lacking in their diet?
I'm not saying anything against anyone's husbandry, just trying to figure out what would cause it's consumption..

Either way, it means one less worry.. I wish my other herps would do the same.. Snakes especially.
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2.3 Leos
2.0 Beardie
1.1 Common Boa
0.1 Sav (Bosc) Monitor
1.1 Ackies
0.1 Giant BW Tegu
Thousands of Roaches, T's, and Scorps.
Wish for: Candoia Sp, Frilled D

I noticed the same thing the other day. Niko has been shedding but I never noticed any dead skin in the enclosure. Sure enough a couple days ago I seen her rip a big piece off her side and munch it down.