Leopard Geckos Shedding
There is a natural process by which a leopard gecko sheds its skin as a part of its life cycle; all reptiles shed skin during their lifetime, as this is a natural way of getting rid of old skin and replacing it with freshly-grown skin, which is part of a reptile's life cycle.
Geckos shed their skin throughout their lifespan, so you do not need to provide them with a special shedding season. However, if you provide them with the proper diet and environment on a regular basis, then your geckos should not encounter any issues.
Why do Leopard Geckos shed?
In the world of the animal kingdom, shedding is a common phenomenon that is found among various species of animals, including geckos, who shed their skin.
Several factors cause Leopard geckos to shed their skin, a few of them are listed below:-
- This process allows them to simply grow out of their old skin and replace it with a new one as a result of this process.
- During this time, the color of the adult develops.
- As well as shedding to get rid of parasites, they also shed to heal wounds and minor injuries.
- This is the time when their adult coloration begins to develop.
Shedding frequency chart for Leopard Geckos
In the chart below, we have shown how frequently Leopard geckos shed based on their age and the frequency at which they shed.
| Gecko Stages and Ages | Shedding Frequency |
|---|---|
| Hatching (6 months ago. or less) | Every week to every two weeks |
| Juvenile (6 to 18 months) | Once a Month |
| Adults (18 months or more) | Every six to eight week |
When does the leopard gecko first skin shed after Hatchlings?
When they hatch, Leopard geckos shed their first shed 3 to 4 days after hatching, marking it as the first shed of their life cycle.
How long does the leopard gecko's shedding process last?
Leopard geckos remove their old skin within 1 to 3 hours. The whole process of shedding skin usually takes 2 to 3 days. However, if your leopard gecko is still shedding after 3 days, then it could be a sign that your leopard gecko is suffering from health problems.
Leopard geckos shedding Signs
Several leopard gecko owners have expressed concern about how they will be able to tell when their leopard gecko is shedding.
There are some indications that the leopard gecko is in the process of shedding, and that it will occur shortly.
- If you notice that the leopard gecko's color pattern has changed to a gray shade.
- When your leopard gecko becomes aggressive.
- When you give a Leopard gecko food, they leave or lose interest in it.
- When your leopard gecko spends most of the time hiding in hides.
What should I do if I want my Leopard Gecko to have a problem-free shed?
In the wild leopard geckos tend to shed freely without experiencing any problems. However, when leopard geckos are kept in captivity, they may sometimes experience difficulty with the process of shedding.
There are a lot of leopard gecko owners who are worried about how to help their geckos to give them a problem-free shed. Don't worry, because we have provided you with some tips on how to help your leopard gecko during shedding which are given below. These are some tips that you can follow before your leopard gecko comes to shed its skin.
Keep your leopard gecko hydrated
During shedding, dehydration is the most common cause of gecko trouble and poor shedding. Therefore, leopard geckos need to remain completely hydrated during the period of shedding so that there will not be any problems.
If you are interested in learning more about dehydration in leopard geckos, then you should check out Dehydration in Leopard Geckos.
Occasionally leopard geckos do not drink water directly, so for your leopard gecko to stay hydrated you should mist and bathe your leopard gecko to keep it hydrated.
You can find more information about how to mist, how to bathe Leopard geckos, and Bathing behavior of Leopard Geckos: Timing, Benefits & Drawbacks respectively.
You should make sure that your gecko has a place to hide
For leopard geckos to shed their skin properly, they need a place to hide and some substrate to hide on. This could be moss, paper, towels, coconut fiber, etc. when they shed their skin.
Your gecko tanks should have rough substrates
If you wish to make sure that your leopard gecko faces no problems during the shedding process, then you should add some rough surface substrate to the tank. This will enable them to rub off their old skin can be rubbed off easily.
Keep your gecko stress-free
There is a possibility that your Leopard geckos can have problems during shedding if it is under stress. Whenever they are under stress, don't handle them excessively so that they do not become stressed out.
If you are interested in learning more about stress in the leopard gecko then you should check out Leopard Gecko Stress Signs and Causes.
Keep parasites away from your leopard gecko
It is well known that external parasites are one of the leading causes of shedding problems in the leopard gecko. Therefore, if you want to ensure that your leopard gecko is not suffering from parasite problems, you should inspect your leopard gecko regularly. This will ensure that it is healthy.
Ensure your leopard gecko has a healthy diet
If you feed your Leopard geckos a proper healthy diet that is filled with nutritious food, you will prevent them from shedding problems. There are several live insects that you can feed to your leopard gecko such as crickets, Superworms, etc. For more information about feeding your leopard gecko, Check out Feed your Leopard Gecko.
Is it okay for my leopard gecko to eat his old skin, and is there any benefit to doing so?
YES, it is okay for leopard geckos to eat their old skin; this is natural for all reptiles and does not cause any concern to you. So there is nothing to worry about.
Yes, there is a benefit and a reason to do so, which are listed below in the following paragraphs:
- The old skin of leopard geckos is full of an array of important minerals that help make sure their bodies remain healthy.
- It is a difficult process for geckos to shed their skin because there is a lot of energy that is lost through turning, twisting, etc. Therefore, to rebuild their energy, they eat their old skin.
- In the wild, there is a possibility that old leopard gecko skin can attract predators and permit them to detect leopard geckos in the wild. This is why leopard geckos eat their old skin in order to prevent being detected by predators.
Why is my leopard gecko not shedding?
It's important to note that as a Leopard gecko becomes older it sheds less frequently. Otherwise, a healthy young Leopard gecko often sheds.
There are times when leopard geckos shed without you being present or they shed without being visible to you. This occurs most often at night, and you might think they haven't shed when in fact they have.
Is it safe to hold a leopard gecko during its shedding period?
It is not safe for leopard geckos to be held during their shed period. This is because if they are held during this time, they are more likely to become aggressive and stressed.
There is only one time when you can hold them when they are in the phase of shedding and when you help them to shed their skin.
What causes my leopard gecko to shed so much?
Occasionally, some geckos shed so much that the main cause of their excessive shedding is their growth. Compared to adult leopard geckos, young leopard geckos shed much more than older geckos.
There are various reasons for an excessive shed in leopard geckos, some of which are as follows:
- When their diet is poor
- When they suffer from dehydration
- When the humidity and temperature of their habitat are unsuitable
- When a gecko is infected with parasites
- When there are no hides in their habitat
Can I help my gecko shed?
Yes, you can help your leopard gecko shed, but only if they are having difficulty doing so. If they do not have any trouble shedding, you should not disturb them and leave them alone to do so.
What are the signs of trouble in a leopard gecko shed and what are the remedies for these problems?
Leopard geckos can suffer some problems while shedding. During this time, they need your assistance.
There are a few signs that indicate trouble during shedding in leopard geckos, and the solutions to these problems are given below.
Whenever the shedding process takes longer than three days
If leopard geckos take longer than 3 days to shed usually means they have a health issue such as sickness or other issues that are interfering with their shedding process.
Solution
There is only one way to solve this problem, and that is to take your Leopard geckos to a veterinarian to be treated for it.
When a gecko is still lethargic after shedding and refuses to eat
In some cases, when shedding is complete in a leopard gecko, it remains lethargic and stressed, causing it to refuse to eat for some time afterward.
Solution
You must schedule an appointment with your pet's veterinarian as soon as possible.
When they cannot remove some old skin from their body
Sometimes some old skin gets stuck near the toes, tail, vent, and eyes of the leopard gecko, in that time they need your help.
Solution
If you want to help your leopard gecko that is stuck in a shed, you can do it yourself by doing the following:
- Firstly, soak your Leopard geckos for about 20 to 30 minutes in the container with warm water. You need to be careful that the container is not too deep so that your gecko does not drown.
- You must rub the stuck skin of your gecko gently with paper towels or a Q-tip after you have removed it from the water. Don't press too hard because it can harm your leopard gecko's sensitive skin.
- In case their skin doesn't come off in two attempts, you should stop and do it the following day. Their sensitive skin can be damaged by regular rubbing.
- If repeated soaking doesn't work, you should take your geckos to a vet.
NOTE- Whenever you handle your leopard gecko, rub very gently on the sensitive parts such as the eyes, since these areas are easily injured.