Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My baby alligator lizard is having trouble shedding. This is his first shed (he was born sept 12) and it's taking a really long time. He has these little flaps of dead skin around his arms and cracks across his back and tail, but it's been a few days and it hasn't progressed at all. I tried pulling on the skin a little with some tweezers, but he's so small and I don't want to hurt him. I'm going to try getting him damp again, but he spends a lot of time in the water dish anyway. Please help! Any suggestions to help my little guy be able to move like normal agian would be greatly appreciated.

What kind do you have?

I have southern alligator lizards. Unless they get the shed off within 24 hrs they'er going to need help. Mine will occaisionally fail to shed a leg or a tail tip. I moisten the affected area thoroughly and remove it with a small tweezers (I use the pair in my swiss army knife).

I'd recommend doing it in stages. Start with one leg then let him rest for a couple hours, and do another. Good light is essential because it is important to make sure that you have successfully removed the skin from all the toes.

Weak / undernourished animals are more likely to have shedding problems. Lack of humidity can also lead to difficulties. I've found that my als like to hook their shed on a stick or rough edged rock and wriggle out.

Prior to a shed lymph fluid fills the space between the old and new skin. After the old skin breaks the al only has a few hours to get out before the skin dries. Since your al has had this problem for awhile, it is probably beyond him to get out of the skin on his own.

Hope this helps, and good luck
Alice

Thanks! That helps a lot. I have northern alligator lizards. I got the little guy really wet and peeled off most of it. All that's left now is one inside-out glove. It's holding all of his fingers together, but it doesn't seem to be slowing him down. He won't let me near that hand with the tweezers -- he twitches it away and tucks it underneath his body so I can't get to it. I'm afraid to hold onto his arm and pull the skin off because he's just so tiny. Any suggestions for the last glove?

I usually deal with this by getting my fingers wet and repeatedly, gentlely but firmly running them down the length of the arm. I'm usually able to get some of the skin loose enough to grab it with the tweezers.

To keep the lizard still, I usually hold it in my fist and try to position it so that the limb sticks out between my fingers. With its head in the dark it should tend to squirm less. I've noticed that mine tend to flinch more if I've inadvertently pinched them so be extra carefull.

Once you get a hold of the skin, rewet the area before and as you start pulling it off. This will help you pull it off in one peice (it's a real pain to try to get it off the individual toes).

I'd recommend increasing the humidity level in the tank. Try damp bed-a-beast or eco earth as a substrate. Northerns like it a bit humid and increasing the humidity may help prevent more shedding problems.

Good luck,
Alice