Baby Shedding Problems

[Ms.Hypnoherp]

I have been given a baby about 6 weeks old. He is has some serious shedding problems. His little legs are so stiff it looks as if he has a cast on his legs & he is under weight. I have tried soaking him in water to loosen the skin. It works, but I’m afraid to pull it off. Please help. Thank you in advance Ms.Hypnoherp.
:confused:

[andrea1784]

I was in a similar situation a few months ago. A gecko i had rescued had not shed one of her legs properly (at all) and the whole thing looked dead to me. I tried just soaking it too but didn't help. I decided to take drastic measures and I cut away most of the dead stuff w/ a human cuticle cutter. It looks like a regular nail clipper, only smaller and the tip is at an angle. I cut away all the dead skin (that "cast" like stuff you mentioned) and exposed all the new skin even though it was raw and made sure her enclosure was as clean as possible until it healed over. I didn't end up having to put any kind of antibiotic on it but neosporin would probably have worked. In a week she was almost normal, a little bit skinny still but she got better. Now you can't tell anything ever happened.
Hope that help, try not to use that method unless it is really bad. Good luck

~Andrea

[Alicewave]

Are you using a humid hide? A lot of new Leo owners don't realize Leos need a humid hide. Also babies can stand to be misted once in a while whereas adults don't need it. don't pull off the skin. Just gently rub it off with a q-tip dipped in warm H20

[Ms.Hypnoherp]

Hi ya'll,
I have managed to rub and pick off 99% of the dead skin with warm water. She was so bad that she was unable to open her mouth, her eyes where closed and her little ears had dead skin in them. It has taken me 2 days of slow work, but she is clean. I have gotten her to eat a cricket with repta cal. I do spray her with water reg. To make sure she is got some humity. I'm getting her a new tank with weekend. I'm going to keep my fingers crossed. I have been turning people on to this site. I have found it to be helpful. Thank you keep giving me advice, I'll need it.

[Zoe]

Thats great to hear!

lol, on a side note, I sprayed my leos tonight and one of them was right under the spray... NOT impressed. Screamed at me and everything. Cute buggers.

Zoe

[Ms.Hypnoherp]

I'll get a pic of my little one and post it, if I can. I'm not a computer person at all. I now have him in his home. Althought the furnishings are a tid on the poor side, but my first apartment was the same way. The better he gets then I'll up keep up grading. He is now running around in his tank and looking out of the glass. You have to under stand before he could not move his limbs, see or hear. Now, he hears me and he pulls his head up, he has those great leo eyes. I really love him. I may just call him lay-vuhn american's may say it as leven, which is Duch for Life.
What do you think? I'm so *!@* happy at this moment for him.
How do I post a pic of him?

[Ms.Hypnoherp]

We still have a couple of feet to do, but I think he needed a brake.
He has made a strong recovery.

[Ms.Hypnoherp]

Another photo. Well he ever grow his toes back?

[Ms.Hypnoherp]

Got a question about shedding>
I have not seen him eat and noticed that he is shedding. I know that snakes normally want eat during this time. How long should a normal shedding take?

[Tim and Julie B]

Well normal shedding should take anywhere from 20 minutes to a couple hours but sometimes it does take longer and as long as they remove all the skin it's okay. If pieces are constantly being stuck onto him then maybe if you see that he is about to shed you can place him into a well washed margarine tub, with damp paper towels and a lid with lots of holes. Keep him warm but don't add a heat source under or over the margarine tub, and let him be for a couple of hours. That should really help him out. Take care,
Julie B.
Almost forgot, normally they won't eat just prior to shedding but most will eat right away after, although you may want to wait until the next day so that the skin is digested.:D

[Ms.Hypnoherp]

Thank you,
After posting last night I went over to his tank and started with the water bottle can and slowly pulling the skin away. It went much better than last time. He still has a little, but I wanted him to start to feel better. He still has not eatten. I'll give him some time. He is fat and healthy.
Thank you again.