If you notice your leopard gecko shedding more often than usual, it can be worrying. Excessive shedding is often a sign that something is off with your gecko’s health or habitat.
If you’re short on time, here’s a quick answer: Frequent shedding is usually caused by improper humidity levels, inadequate nutrition and vitamins, illness or disease, or stressful environmental factors.
In this comprehensive article, we’ll explore the top reasons for excessive leopard gecko shedding and what you can do to help minimize it.
Understanding the Leopard Gecko’s Shedding Process
Normal Shedding Frequency
Leopard geckos shed their skin about once a month as they grow. This is a natural process that allows them to get rid of their old skin and grow a new layer. Here’s some key information about the leopard gecko’s normal shedding:
- Babies and juveniles shed more frequently, around every 1-2 weeks, as they are growing rapidly.
- Adults shed much less often, around every 4-6 weeks.
- Before shedding, the coloration often becomes dull and the eyes appear cloudy as fluid builds up between the old and new skin layers.
- Shedding usually occurs overnight and takes a few hours to complete.
- Shedding starts at the nose and works back over the body and tail, normally coming off in one piece.
Frequent shedding in leopard geckos is totally normal. As long as the old skin comes off completely, there’s no need for concern. In fact, trouble shedding is much more problematic, as discussed next.
Problems With Shedding
While shedding frequently is normal for leopard geckos, they can sometimes have issues getting all of their old skin off. This is known as dysecdysis or troublesome shedding. Some common causes include:
- Low humidity – Leopard geckos need a humidity level of 40-60% to shed properly. If it’s too dry, the old skin can stick and not come off well.
- Poor nutrition – Vitamins A and D3 support healthy shedding. A lack of these key nutrients can lead to problems.
- Dehydration – Staying hydrated by having a good drinking water source is important for easy shedding.
- Small housing – Restricted space and lack of objects to rub against can make it hard to get all the old skin off.
Troublesome shedding often leaves unsightly patches of skin behind, especially on the toes, tail, and head. It can be uncomfortable for leopard geckos and lead to other issues if not remedied. Helpful solutions include:
- Increasing the humidity level – This may involve changing substrates, adding a humid hide, or misting the enclosure more often.
- Supplementing vitamins & minerals – A supplement containing vitamin A and D3 can support healthy skin.
- Soaking in shallow, lukewarm water – Loosens stuck shed so it can be gently rubbed off.
- Using shedding aids – Special reptile shedding products can also help hydrate the old skin layer.
Troublesome shedding is pretty common in pet leopard geckos, but being aware of the causes and solutions can help keep your reptile’s skin healthy and looking its best!
Top Reasons for Excessive Shedding
Improper Humidity
One of the most common reasons for frequent or incomplete shedding in leopard geckos is improper humidity levels in their habitat. Leopard geckos come from arid regions and do well at around 30-40% humidity.
If the humidity is too low (below 30%), the gecko’s skin can become overly dry, tight, and difficult to shed properly. On the other hand, humidity levels above 40% can also lead to skin and shedding problems by making the skin too moist and macerated.
To help maintain proper humidity, use a hygrometer to monitor the levels, provide a humid hide, and make adjustments as needed. Some options are adjusting the substrate, using supplemental heating/lighting, and modifying the enclosure’s ventilation.
Poor Nutrition
Nutrition plays a key role in healthy shedding. Diets lacking in certain vitamins and minerals can contribute to bad sheds by causing the new skin underneath to be underdeveloped. This leads to the old skin sticking on rather than sliding off easily in one clean piece.
To prevent nutritional deficits, feed a varied diet with enough of the right supplements. Use calcium with D3, multivitamins, and add feeder insects high in protein and fat like mealworms, crickets, dubia roaches, etc. Variable protein sources are also important.
Illness or Disease
Certain illnesses and diseases can also be behind frequent bad sheds. Skin infections, parasite infestations like mites, respiratory infections, dehydration, and mouth rot can all negatively impact the shedding process in leopard geckos.
Have an exotic vet examine geckos with recurrent shedding trouble to diagnose and properly treat any underlying medical conditions contributing to the issue. Treatments can include medications, supplements, fluid therapy, and topical creams.
Stress
Even emotional factors like chronic stress can interfere with normal shedding. Stress raises cortisol levels which can disrupt hormones, appetite, digestion, and other processes – including skin growth and ecdysis.
Causes of stress include inconsistent handling, excessive noise levels, overcrowding, bullying by cagemates, incorrect temperatures, insufficient hiding spots, and other husbandry issues. Evaluate and optimize the gecko’s environment and care routine to lower stress.
Creating the Right Habitat to Minimize Shedding
Temperature
Leopard geckos are cold-blooded, so providing proper temperatures in their habitat is crucial for healthy shedding. The ambient temperature of the tank should be between 75-85°F. One end of the tank should also have a warm hot spot reaching 88-92°F where your gecko can bask to aid the shedding process.
Having an in-tank under tank heater or ceramic heat emitter is the most effective way to create localized heat in one area of the enclosure. Getting the temperature right reduces stress, boosts immunity, increases appetite, and allows the gecko to shed its skin properly when the time comes.
Humidity and Moist Hide Box
While leopard geckos come from arid regions, having a humid hide box provides added moisture to help loosen the skin and allow your leo to shed in one clean piece. The humid hide can be made from a plastic container with an entrance hole, filled with paper towels, sphagnum moss, or coconut fiber kept moist, not wet.
Spray the inside lightly a few times per week. High humidity (50-60%) for too long can cause respiratory irritation, so balance ambient humidity around 30-40%. Having the option to use a humid hide as needed aids healthy sheds.
Substrate
Substrate that is too wet or dry also affects proper shedding ability. Geckos can potentially ingest loose substrates like sand while hunting live prey, leading to impaction. Therefore, paper towels, textured ceramic or slate tile, and non-adhesive shelf liner make the safest options that hold some humidity and provide traction for shedding.
Avoid using cedar as it causes respiratory irritation. Spot clean waste daily and fully clean out and replace the substrate every 2-3 weeks to keep bacteria at bay and your gecko’s environment clean for healthy shedding cycles.
Following temperature, humidity, and substrate recommendations tailored to leopard geckos’ native desert environment will allow your gecko to feel comfortable and shed its skin properly in one clean piece when the time comes.
Keeping its habitat conditions optimal minimizes leo skin shedding frequency and provides it a little oasis to thrive within your home.
Providing Proper Nutrition
Calcium
Calcium is crucial for leopard geckos to maintain strong bones and prevent metabolic bone disease (MBD). Leopard geckos should be provided with calcium 5 days a week in order to properly absorb it. The best calcium supplements contain vitamin D3, which aids absorption.
Popular options include Zoo Med’s Repti Calcium and Repashy’s Calcium Plus. Light dusting of feeder insects with calcium before feeding to your leo is recommended. Make sure not to over supplement calcium, as this can also cause health issues.
Vitamin A
Vitamin A is essential for proper shedding, vision, growth and reproductive health in leopard geckos. It can be provided through supplements containing beta-carotene, such as Repashy’s SuperVite multivitamin. Dusting insects with this supplement once or twice a week is sufficient.
Vegetables high in vitamin A like carrots, sweet potatoes and squash can also be offered. Always provide vitamin A in moderation, high levels over time can cause vitamin A toxicity.
Water
Providing fresh, clean water at all times is vital for hydration and proper shedding. Dehydration causes issues with shedding the skin in one whole piece. Make sure to spot clean and fully change water as needed to keep bacteria at bay.
Providing a shallow water dish that leopard geckos can soak in can further aid shedding. Consider placing moss boxes packed with damp sphagnum moss in the enclosure as well for additional humidity. Proper humidity between 40-60% will lead to clean sheds.
You can mist the enclosure once a day avoiding direct application on your gecko if struggling with dry sheds.
When to See a Vet About Excessive Shedding
Excessive shedding in leopard geckos can sometimes be a sign of an underlying health issue that requires veterinary attention. Here are some guidelines on when you should make an appointment with your exotic pet veterinarian:
Significant Increase in Shedding Frequency
Leopard geckos normally shed their skin every 1-2 weeks when young, slowing down to every 2-4 weeks as adults. If you notice your gecko is shedding way more often than that, it likely indicates a problem.
Trouble Shedding Properly
Healthy leopard geckos should be able to shed their skin in one clean piece. If your gecko is having issues getting all the dead skin off its toes, tail, or head, it needs some help from the vet.
Discoloration, Irritation, or Infection
Excessively dry, inflamed, or infected skin is not normal. Skin infections require prescription antifungal or antibiotic treatment. Red, swollen, bleeding, or ulcerated skin also warrants medical attention.
Sudden Weight Loss
If your gecko stops eating well and loses a significant amount of weight despite a good appetite previously, something systemic is going on. It should see an exotic veterinarian for blood work and other testing.
Other Signs of Illness
Increased shedding can sometimes accompany other symptoms of disease like lethargy, stress marks, abnormal feces, or neurological signs. Always get your leopard gecko checked out if you notice multiple abnormalities.
Catching medical issues promptly improves the chances of effective treatment and prevents prolonged suffering in our scaly companions. No one wants their beloved gecko friend to feel poorly for long! So seeing the vet when abnormal shedding occurs is crucial.
Conclusion
While occasional shedding is normal for leopard geckos, excessive shedding can indicate an underlying issue that needs to be addressed. By optimizing your gecko’s habitat, nutrition, and health with the help of this guide, you can get excessive shedding under control.
With the proper humidity level, temperature gradient, nutritious diet, supplements, hydration, and stress reduction, you can support healthy shedding frequency for your leopard gecko.
