Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My new male tokay is currently shedding. He is having some trouble...i believe...getting all of the shed off. I was informed that maybe I could place him in a container with some wet paper towels for a while. Any other suggestions on what to do? It has been 3 or 4 days with the loose skin now, and it is not all coming off.

How do they shed anyway. Do they simply rub up against things as a snake would do, or do they use their mouth and feet to pick the shed away? I helped him out a little with some wooden tongs, and got some pieces off.

Also...one last thing. The male sometimes makes a clicking sound, especially when he is feeling threatened I believe (like when I was helping him shed, or when I am messing about in the enclosure spot cleaning, adding things, etc.). Is this a normal sound, or could this be a sign of a respiratory infection? He shows no signs of open mouth breathing, and his nose looks clear. Whats the deal?

Matt

tokays are fairly vocal for geckos. the sounds are normal. they will do it to guard territory, when they feel threatened, and for courtship reasons. as for the skin, i usually don't have any issues, if i did i would probably do what was suggested with the humid box. i would also use some small metal tweezers and just be carefull with them. many times when geckos go into a new, better environment they will shed quite often, the first time or two may be somewhat problematic but after awhile he should be able to get it all off himself by biting at it. they will commonly eat the skin after they bite it off as well.

So instead of stressing him out by handling him to get him to soak for a while in the humid box, and/or picking the skin off by hand, should I just let him be to his own devices? Or will the skin left on cause health problems if not fully shed?

Matt

removing shed will be one of those times handling may be needed. if there is shed left on the feet or toes you will want to help remove it, specially if there is any on there from before you aquired it. if there is just a few smaller pieces hanging on its body and not constricting anything it will prob be fine and come off the next shed. as noted you may experience a couple bad sheds. whenever you help remove shed be sure it is moistened, humid deli cup or dabbing with warm water and qtip, etc. when the gecko begins to shed it will rub against a surface to break a area free and then work it off by scraping and pulling with it mouth and normally eating it. providing something like a rock they can rub against helps them.
the clicking noise you descibe is a warning it is feeling threatened and about to bite.
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My posts and replies are my experiences only
1.2.15 Tokays
1.4.10 Leos(13 albino)
1.2.0 AFT's(amel male)
0.2.0 Stenodactylus Petrii(Dune Geckos)