Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I'm having problems keeping the cage cool for my gecko and keeping the humidity up. You really cant have humidity with out the heat.....I have him on peat moss right now with vermiculite underneath it. He has a hide box and a rough rock, plus a couple sticks to climb on. He's been having an awful time shedding recently. I believe it is because of the humidity and temperature issues.

I've put him into a separate tank to soak that has a rock in it for him to try rubbing on as well, but he doesn’t do anything but panic. I've tried everyone’s advice and still nothing. I'm a bit worried because his toes are starting to curl up. I tried using a Q-tip with water and rubbing him down, then picking pieces of skin off with tweezers, but it's his feet that I'm having a hard time with. If anyone has any advice to offer, please let me know! I'm worried about him loosing his toes.

Put him in something like a deli cup with a very wet paper towel (I've also used a styrofoam cooler with a cloth towel) and leave him for a few hours. You get the idea, something without much venilation where he can't help but be near the moisture. Then the skin should come off much much easier.
For next time, I'd make him a humid hide out of a deli cup with a hole in it and filled with peat moss or something similar- something that will actually stay moist from day to day. This should fix the problem for next time. Save those toes!
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"The serpent crams itself with animal life that is often warm and vibrant, to prolong an existence in which we detect no joy and no emotion. It reveals the depth to which evolution can sink when it takes the downward path and strips animals to the irreducible minimum able to perpetuate a predatory life in its naked horror."
Alexander Skutch

I tried something similar to that tonight. I used a sock with some hot water and put it in a small tupperwear with holes in the lid. I left him in for about an hour or so. He didn't seem to have any change in how his skin looked. Also, I added a hide box for him earlier tonight. I have a little temp sticker in his cage and it says its 80, even though in my house its about 70. I just cant seem to get that cage to cool off. It's winter in Florida and I can't even get my geckos cage to get cooler! Thanks for the advice. I'm working on saving his toes. I'd feel awful if he ended up looseing them..Thanks for your response!

If your house is 70, and your cage is 80, then there must be some heat source present. As far as shedding goes, I just put them in a kritter keeper with about 1/2 of water in it (luke warm) and just leave them in there for several hours. (had to do it today for one of my females, worked wonderfully) This especially works well for their toe pads since when they dont shed them, they usually cant stick to anything, this way they have to stand in the water. If none of these methods work, try adding a few drops of shed-ease or similar product to the water, and replace it when ever it gets cold (or put it on a heat pad)

Hmm. Sounds like a plan. I'll give it a try tomorrow night when I can find the little guy in his cage. I've got a second 10 gallon cage that I usually plop him into at night with just enough water in there to get him nice and wet. I dont keep him in there for hours though. Usually I keep him in there for an hour or so. I was wondering if it would be a good idea to put the second 10 gallon tank in the bathroom, this way after a shower its nice and humid for him. Would this help out as well?..I figure it couldnt hurt. I have a heat pad on the bottom of his current cage but it isnt plugged in. Also, I mist his cage 2 times a day, sometimes more if I see him out and about. Thanks for the advice. I'll post tomorrow to let you know if it works..

80F is not too hot for a crested gecko. Mine are in the 82 to 84 range during the day and 75 at night. They are doing just fine. I have a lot of desert lizards so the herp room tends to be warm. Mist the cage daily and reduce the cage ventilation. If it is a screen cage, put saran wrap around the outside. Leave only the top open. You can just tape the plastic wrap to the side and door.

As to soaking the crested, it should take no more than 15 minutes to soften up the dry skin enough to pull it off with tweezers. Put the crested in a deli cup with a paper towel just like the other poster said. Spray the crested directly until it and the paper towel are fairly damp. Close the lid and wait 15 minutes. Take the crested out and gently rub the old shed off. If needed use tweezers to get it off the toes. Don't jerk the shed off but pull it steady and firmly. I've never heard of a toe being pulled off ; )

Good luck,
John

I've got a glass aquarium and a screen lid for him. It's only a ten gallon tank too. I soaked him last night in his second cage with warm water for about 2 hours last night and no skin came off his feet. I tried to get it off a little bit but its tough just because hes still really little (6 months or so). I'll have to check on him tonight to see if he has shed any at all. Thanks for the help though! I appreciate all the input! I attached a picture of him soaking his little toes from last night. He kept looking up at me like "Get me out of here!"..It was too cute..So I had to take a picture..