Leopard geckos may go without food<\/a> for a week before shedding and this is one of the signs to look out for. During the period, it is best to remove any leftover food in your geckos’ tank as dead insects are a breeding ground for bacteria.<\/p>\n\n\n\nCrawling insects may also irritate the skin of your shedding gecko and it is best to not feed your reptile during this time. If your gecko shows signs of fasting, do not be alarmed as they will pick up on their appetite after they finish shedding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Some geckos might also go for a few more days without food but this should not be reason of much concern. Geckos use the fat stored in their tail and eating the dead skin also provides them with nutrients to get them through the shedding period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The other sign that you gecko is about to shed is the sadden change of skin color to very dull colors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The reptiles replace the dead skin with a new one, which is brighter and more vibrant. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Stuck Shed<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Lack or low humidity is the major problem that causes stuck shed in leopard geckos. If stuck shed is not removed, it leads to chronic health issues. Humidity is very important to help soften the dead skin so that the gecko can easily pull it off or rub it off against rough surfaces. Stuck shed is the biggest problem geckos have during the entire shedding process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If any stuck shed is not removed early enough, it normally leads to future chronic health issues for the gecko. Dead skin tightens around certain body parts of the gecko’s and over time, forms a tight ring cutting off circulation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When stuck shed is noticed and removed early enough, there will be no much harm done to the gecko. A few weeks may cause cuts or injuries around where the shed got stuck. In very severe cases where stuck shed cuts off circulation for a longer period of time, the area around the dead skin starts turning black. This indicates dead tissue and the parts eventually fall off or get cut off. This disfigures the gecko for the rest of its life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The most common part for shed to get stuck is between the toes of the gecko. Other parts may be the tail or the eye. Stuck shed in the eyes of your leopard is a matter of concern and should be acted on immediately.<\/p>\n\n\n\n