Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Okay, so my male has always been a bad shedder... he's lost a toe in the past. It's always taken him longer than my other two leopards. His normal cage is about the size of a 55 gallon, just shorter and wider. His current, and temporary, tank is a 15 gallon breeder. He's got a humid hide spot in the middle, a dry one under the heat lamp, and a dry one on the cool side.
He's usually a great eater. He's got a large shallow water dish where he can walk thru without being SOAKED, and i mist him once or twice a day. He normally drinks off of his cave wall.

He's been shedding for almost 2 weeks now. It's stuck around his ears, and all around his toes. He's about to lose another 2 toes. His tail is still completely covered in tight shed. He also appears to have a sore on his lower lip, towards the side. It's just a tinge of red in one spot, but it doesn't look like an open sore. I've carefully taken off whatever was hanging free, whatever i didn't have to force off. A wet q-tip didn't work with the rest. What can I do??? I've never had any problems like this before, with any of my geckos. Thanks!

well u really wanna try and go to a vet because i just brought mine to a vet and mine had shedding stuck on its eyes and mouth and he has an infection in its eye....infections can make the shedding harder.....i think urs has an infection in its mouth so u should try to bring it to a vet

I have had the same problem with leos haveing bad sheds! What I had found out to work easier, is to let the leo soak in the sink, bowl, Bath tub, w.e. it is let him soak in there for atleast an hour ( if it is as bad as it sounds) and just sit there and hold him in the water and pet him act like the water isnt even there but hold him in it! While you are holding him in the water be sher to rub, sort of pull on the shed, What i had found to help the most is to take tweezers and pull off the piece of shed! The ear shed will come off very easy with the tweezers, just be VERY VERY VERY careful that he doesnt jerk and thrash his head when you are trying to pull on the dead skin, you could hurt your leo! Anyways if this doesn't work i would soak him in the water even longer.. The mouth sore, you are going to have to go to a vet on that one, He will probably need antibonics-sp- for the sore..

Hope this helps!!!
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TLC

ok. i soaked him for close to an hour in a tuberware. warm water up to his knees. I covered it with a dark cloth so he felt alone and put a lamp a foot over him (just to keep the water warm, not to make him hot). I checked on him every 15 minutes and he was relaxed.

Then i took him out, and did the q-tip method. I got most of it off his head and tail, but the underside of his tail and some of his feet are still being stubborn. I'm not sure what to do except try it again today. He really didn't like me swabbing him, and i dont want to keep stressing him out