Sorry if this has been answered before but I caught my gecko shedding this morning for the first time and I noticed as she grabbed some of the loose skin with her mouth and tugged it off, she also ate the skin. I didn't allow her to eat the remaining part she shed but could anyone tell me if this is normal? Should I expect her to regurgitate the skin or just digest it?
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eating its shedded skin
nimmerfroh
Apr 06, 2004 09:50 AM
Replies (4)
lostkauze
Apr 06, 2004 10:05 AM
No, its normal, she she'll eat and digest it. Its a way for them to get some nutriants. Make sure you have a moist hide to help her further in the shedding process.
nimmerfroh
Apr 06, 2004 10:14 AM
Thank you...and by the way I finally heard her chirp very quietly as I inspected her to make sure all the skin had come off. I guess she has vocal chords after all!
ew1074
Apr 06, 2004 11:58 AM
Yes it is normal. And i've got the impression that its pretty important that they get the nutrients in their skin. Every now and then i find a little hand that didnt get eaten in my tank and i just throw it by one of my geckos and they finish it off.
nimmerfroh
Apr 06, 2004 12:06 PM
Ok I'll let her chow down on the whole thing next time, I just wasn't sure if it was normal since this was her first shed with me. Also, I'm so used to how long it takes my black rat snake to shed that I was surprised she was already half way done when I checked on her this morning. I'll know better next time she does her thing.
