Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I just got my first Leopard Gecko, but I'm not new to reptiles. The very tip of it's tail (about 2-3mm) and one of it's toes (about 1-2 mm) still has old skin attached. It came like this, I just got it yesterday so I don't know when its last shed was or how long it's been like this. I dipped its tail and toe in water, but it didn't help. Should I try baby oil? I'm writting this in a hurry in hopes that I'll get a response before you all go out for new year's, I'm a little worried. Thanks for you help! Also, it's about 6 inches, so not a baby. Should it be eating every day. I offered it a bowl of 4 mealworms and 1 wax worms last night and it hasn't eaten.

Here are some links that might help

Leopard Geckos Food and Feeding

Dysecdysis (Shedding Problems)
-----
Leo Land
The best and biggest leopard gecko site on the net!

It might take your leo some time to adjust to it's new environment/living quarters. So for awhile (maybe a couple days, I know with uromastyx it can take up to 2 weeks for them to be comfortable enough to eat) your leo may not eat until it feels secure enough in its new home to let it's guard down and eat food.

As for the shed, I've heard of people using mineral oil on a uromastyx (another reptile) to get the shed off. And it's worked for them, but you may want to consult a vet or someone who is more experienced with leopard geckos.
-----
2 Mali Uromastyx-Ares & Apollo
2 Bearded Dragons- Draco & Hades
1 Saharan Uromastyx-Iris
1 Leopard Gecko-Kalypso
1 Tokay Gecko-Sid Vicious
1 Tarantula-Peter Parker
1 Amazon Red Head Parrot-Pancho
1 African Gray Parrot-Keya
1 Dog-Cheeka
3 Fish-no names
1 Beta Fish-also no name
1 Zebra Finch-Beeps (we used to have 5, but some went on a killing spree).

I'm gonna talk about the shedding problem and leave the eating problem for others. You're right that water isnt gonna be enough to fix the bad shed spots now that its gotten to the problem stage. baby oil is thinking in the right direction but I would use Neosporin. Its my tried and true method. Look down this forum a few days for some posts about Neosporin. Keep a thin film of Neosporin on the bad shed areas until he sheds again. If you try to remove the shed skin and it looks like you're pulling good skin off too, STOP!!! just leave it, and Neosporin it until he sheds again! If you pull off good skin with the shed he is guaranteed to lose the toe/tail tip Experience talking.

THANKS to all for your QUICK replies. I feel soooooo much better now. I soaked her in warm water and very gently massaged with a q-tip, soaked, massaged, soaked, massaged and the skin came off in both spots. Then applied just a bit of neosporan. I examined her with a jeweler's loop and she seems ok now. I could tell that I got to the tail just in time though.

good for you!

a jeweler's loop, what a good idea. I need to get me one of those. I go crosseyed trying to examine baby leo toes, especially patternless, their toes are almost transparent.

Yes, I'm very relieved. I'm surprised how quickly I became attached to this creature (no name yet) as I've only had it a little more than 24 hrs and I didn't want any harm to come to it.

Rather than a jeweler's loupe, you might want to get a pair of high power magnifing eyeglasses, they are usually sold in drugstores and have differing strenghts like .05X-3X. I have a couple of pair of those and they are much easier to use, I just couldn't find them in the mess that is my home.

Oh yes. They grab hold of your heart quick. You are now also a LeoMama.