Why Isn’t My Leopard Gecko Shedding?
Every reptile goes through the process of shedding at some point in their lives. One of them is a Leopard Gecko. However, if you do not observe the same process taking place with your leopard gecko, it may cause you some anxiety, and you may wonder why your leopard gecko is not shedding.
Your Leopard Gecko might not shed because of its diet, the environment it lives in, ovulation, diseases, and more reasons. Also a lot of times, the shedding process occurs at night, or sometimes you might miss it which can make you feel that your Leopard gecko is not shedding at all.
If you want to know more about your Leopard Gecko shedding and what affects this process, keep on reading till the end!
What Happens If A Leopard Gecko Doesn’t Shed Properly?
Your Leopard Gecko will go through a process called shedding in which it will shed its old skin and then grow new skin in its place. Due to the fact that the dead skin includes a significant amount of nourishment, this procedure consumes a significant amount of energy.
As a result, in order to consume sufficient quantities of food, you might observe that your Leopard Gecko consumes its own shed skin on occasion.
There are a few potential outcomes that could take place if your Leopard Gecko does not shed correctly, for example, excess skin that hangs around the toes for an extended period can cause circulation issues, and in extreme cases, the toes themselves might even fall off.
Excessive skin on the foot and toes of leopard geckos can make it difficult for them to climb properly. Your Leopard gecko may refuse to eat if there is excess skin in this region, which can lead to a variety of other health issues.
8 Possible Reasons Why Your Leopard Gecko Is Not Shedding
Your leopard gecko may not be shedding properly for a variety of reasons, which can lead to serious issues. This is a very significant step in the process, and if for some reason your Leopard gecko does not complete it, then there is definitely cause for concern.
If you notice that your Leopard gecko is not shedding as it should, you should investigate the following possibilities to determine whether or not they are the cause of the problem:
- Nutrition deficiency
- Ovulation
- Condition of terrarium
- Injury
- Tail loss
- Infection
- Stunted development
- Missing the Gecko shedding
Nutrition deficiency
The shedding process is very stressful on the energy reserves of the leopard gecko. The process of shedding is in any case highly strenuous, and to end it, the Leopard Gecko has the highest nutritional requirements.
Your leopard gecko will most likely not shed on schedule if it is not receiving suitable food or if it is lacking the essential nutrients that should be included in its diet. Your Leopard Gecko will require a diet rich in vitamins and minerals, including vitamins A and D, in addition to proteins in its food source.
Your gecko will be able to maintain a balanced diet as a result of this, which will result in its bones becoming more robust and protect it from any ailments associated with starvation.
Ovulation
The process of ovulation in leopard geckos demands a significant amount of energy. Because of this circumstance, your Leopard gecko may not be able to shed its skin in the correct manner.
The Leopard Gecko saves the majority of its energy for ovulation and for the duration of the pregnancy, which is the primary reason why shedding does not occur at the appropriate time.
Condition of terrarium
It is imperative that the terrarium is in good condition for a successful shedding procedure. The humidity in the tank should be around 40% to ease the process of shedding skin easier and to prevent the skin from drying up and becoming tough to shed.
In order for their skin to shed properly, leopard geckos require a significant number of hiding places. Because of this, the entire terrarium needs to have a sufficient quantity of places to hide.
If the humidity level in the tank is far lower than what is required, the leopard’s skin will become adhered to its body, making the process of shedding more challenging. A leopard gecko may experience complications as a result of high humidity because it might cause respiratory problems.
Injury
There are a lot of different things that could cause harm to your Leopard Gecko. It’s possible that they’ve been injured while battling one of the other animals in the tank. There may also be sharp objects or substrates in the tank, which could be the cause of the problem.
Your Leopard gecko will require a great deal of energy to recover from an injury if it suffers one. In addition, an injury will lead to stress, both of which will have an effect on the shedding of the skin.
As an alternative to soil, you might use a substrate made of paper, which will help you avoid the problems linked to injuries. You should also avoid keeping two leopard Geckos in the same tank together if at all possible.
Because leopard geckos do not have a sociable attitude by nature, they do not enjoy being in the company of other reptiles or critters, even if they are of the same breed as them. Because of this, it is essential to ensure that your Leopard Gecko does not share its tank with another gecko, since this could interfere with the shedding process.
Tail loss
In order for Leopard Geckos to heal after having their tails severed, they need more energy and nutrients. In order to preserve their energy, Leos may choose to eat less and move more slowly. Because their strength is conserved for the purpose of tail recovery, they do not lose their skin.
Infection
In Leopard Geckos, weariness and loss of appetite are two symptoms that can be caused by parasitic illnesses. Your Leopard gecko will suffer from malnutrition or nutritional deficiency as a result of its poor appetite, which will prevent it from eating an adequate amount of food and cause it to become malnourished.
In addition, your Leopard Gecko may develop a metabolic disorder as a result of its poor appetite, which can lead to other health problems. Your Leopard gecko will experience even more stress as a result of this, and it will not be able to shed properly since its body will not have enough nutrition.
It is imperative that you maintain a clean environment for your Leopard Geckos in order to prevent the spread of diseases and parasites. You should give the tank a thorough cleaning at least once a week, if not more frequently.
In order to keep your leopard gecko healthy and prevent various diseases, you may also need to provide it with the appropriate diet, such as vitamin D and calcium.
Stunted development
If your Leopard gecko is experiencing problems with its growth, this will also have an effect on its shedding process. A poor food plan may be the cause of the slowed or stopped growth.
It is also possible for this to happen if the environmental conditions that your Leopard Gecko is exposed to, such as temperature and humidity, have a role. Your Leopard Gecko may get the same health problem if it is bullied on occasion.
Missing the Gecko shedding
The Leopard Gecko is known for shedding its skin during the nighttime hours. In addition, shedding is a process that occurs very fast in Leopard Geckos. As a result, there is a possibility that you might miss the shedding of your leopard gecko.
You might believe that your Leopard Gecko is not shedding, but in reality, the gecko might be shedding often.
Final Words
The process of shedding is something that happens to all reptiles at some point in their lives. This is a very frenetic yet natural and typical procedure that all reptiles, including your Leopard gecko, must go through.
If for some reason your Leopard Gecko does not exhibit any of these symptoms, there is a possibility that your gecko is experiencing some kind of problem, or it is possible that you are the one who is not giving it the complete attention that it requires.
Therefore, if you notice that your Leopard gecko is not shedding, it is imperative that you check and diagnose the problem as soon as possible and take appropriate action in order to maintain a healthy lifestyle for your Leopard gecko.
About Author
Hello, I’m Muntaseer Rahman, the owner of AcuarioPets.com. I’m passionate about aquarium pets like shrimps, snails, crabs, and crayfish. I’ve created this website to share my expertise and help you provide better care for these amazing pets.
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