Loss of color in Leopard Gecko

[Danielle Newman]

My leopard gecko has lost all his yellow color in the last few days. He
now looks almost a dirty chalk white, except for his tail and head which
are a darker gray. He still has his black spots.

He is eating well, in fact, he's eating better then before. He has two
hide boxes, one moist and one not. I keep him on reptibark and dust his
crickets with calcium powder three times a week. I mist his cage daily
and keep it at around 86 F in the day and around 75 at night (those are
the hottest areas...the cool areas are 77 F during the day and 72 F
respectively). He also has a shallow dish of water to drink from and a
rock to bask on.

So, what's up with him? I have a theory that it's something I'm doing,
since I'm new at keeping herps. Should I take him to the vet? He
had/has Metabolic bone disorder and one of his front legs is curved,
could this have something to do with it???

thanks,
Danielle

[Frogz]

Could he be getting ready to shed :)

"Danielle Newman" <qlab...@home.com> wrote in message
news:3B02E759...@home.com...

[Danielle Newman]

thanks, now that I've done a bit more research I see that you are right
on the money.

I guess I'm just worried that the little guy will contract the most
deadly disease possible.

later,
Danielle

[julian hales]

Also once it has shed, look at the toes, make sure no shedded skin is still
on the toes, not a major problem but take a look.

--
Please visit www.thesnakeshop.co.uk
Sheffields premier exotic animal store

What do the numbers mean when next to reptiles?

I have 1.4.0 Frog eyed Geckos, a total of 5

1=Males.4=Female 0=unkown sex M.F.U

-Reptiles-
Green Iguana's 1.1.0 Leopard Gecko's 1.2.1
Bearded Dragon 0.0.1 N. American Pine Snake 1.0.0
Western Hognose snake 1.0.0 Frog eyed Geckos 1.4.0
African Rock Python snake 0.1.0
-Spiders!-
Chilean Rose Tarantula 0.1.0 Trinidad Chevron T' 0.0.1
Starburst Babboon T ' 0.0.1
-Insects-
African 2 spot Assassin Bug 0.0.1
-Cockroaches-
Madagascan Hissing 1.7.40? DeathHead's 0.0.8
Golden 0.03
-Misc.-
3 Giant African Land Snails and Arthur the dog!!

"Danielle Newman" <qlab...@home.com> wrote in message

news:3B0306C4...@home.com...

[Danielle Newman]

Since I don't know much about shedding, is their anything I should put
into the tank or do to make it easier on him? I somehow don't think I
should be in there pulling his skin off :-)

thanks,
Danielle

[Ramona Fodchuk]

On Tue, 15 May 2001, Danielle Newman wrote:

> My leopard gecko has lost all his yellow color in the last few days. He
> now looks almost a dirty chalk white, except for his tail and head which
> are a darker gray. He still has his black spots.

It sounds as though he's going to shed his skin. It's a natural process.
You can mist the substrate inside of his hide box with water to help him
along.

Ramona Fodchuk

E-mail: rfod...@ucalgary.ca

[Icky Woods]

I have one of those big sand and limestone colored rocks for my little
female gecko and she will rub against that and her tree branch hiding places
to get most of it, she has trouble with her feet though..

"Danielle Newman" <qlab...@home.com> wrote in message

news:3B031D24...@home.com...

[Frogz]

Make a humidity box for your leopard gecko. It's easy to do with a
margarine tub and lid. Make a hole in the tub. Make sure there are no
sharp edges, you can even put tape over them to make sure. Now, find you
some sponge, I have used a really thin sponge that is supposed to be used as
a cleanup rag...or you can use moistened sphagnum moss. Either will work
fine. Moistened whichever you have chosen, not dripping wet, just moist.
Place it in the tub and place the tub in the tank. You can remoisten it
when needed by just lifting up the lid and sprizting some water in it. Your
gecko can run in there when it feels the need and should prevent him from
having any toe problems.
Please keep an eye on him though. Unshed skin has the same effect on his
toes as a rubber band around your finger has. Eventually the circulation
will stop and the toe will rot off. I have a blue tongue skink that came to
me with no claws on one whole foot once. If you notice that he still isn't
shedding his toes, fill a container with warm (not hot) water, just deep
enough to cover the tops of his feet. Drop 10 or so drops of oil (mineral,
olive or vegetable) in the water also. Place the gecko in the tank and let
him walk around in there for about ten minutes. After that, the skin will
be soft enough for you to pull off, you may a pair of tweezers. Just be
careful not to pinch him.
You are right about not pulling of his skin though, at least not dry.
That can be very painful and sometimes even cause a small amount of
bleeding. It's sounds like you are doing fine though. Keep up the reading
and the good work.

"Danielle Newman" <qlab...@home.com> wrote in message

news:3B031D24...@home.com...

[Danielle Newman]

When I looked at him tonight, he had gotten most of his color back, but
I couldn't see any skin fragments etc... How long does it take for them
to shed and should I be looking for any signs?

Should I be prepared for a change in appetite or anything like that?

thanks again,
Danielle

[Frogz]

You may never find a shed, all of my leopard geckos eat the shed
afterwards. I have only had one female that would leave bits and peices
from time to time, the rest are pretty fastidous. Once, they go really
white, they usually shed that night. If there is any left on the toes, you
should be able to see it, it will look cloudy on the toes, just like it did
on the body.
My guys (I have nine) eat up until they are very cloudy. They might not
eat the very last day of shed, but a lot of times, they really don't care.
The little pigs.
Shedding doesn't really seem to effect lizards the way it does snakes,
it's quite as intensive for the lizard.

"Danielle Newman" <qlab...@home.com> wrote in message

news:3B039039...@home.com...

[Beverly Erlebacher]

In article <3B039039...@home.com>,

Danielle Newman <qlab...@home.com> wrote:
>When I looked at him tonight, he had gotten most of his color back, but
>I couldn't see any skin fragments etc... How long does it take for them
>to shed and should I be looking for any signs?

If they really work at it, they can do a complete shed in less than
half an hour. Mostly they take it slower - leos are very laid back
lizards. The skin on the head is usually last to loosen.

>Should I be prepared for a change in appetite or anything like that?

Shedding is no big deal as long as they have a humidity box. If your
gecko is still growing, he may shed every week or two. They gradually
slow down as they get full size, and adults may shed only every month
or so.

It's interesting to watch them shed. They pull the skin off with their
jaws. They usually eat the skin as they pull it off, but sometimes you
find these gecko gloves and socks and tail covers lying around
afterwards, inside out with a faint pattern of spots. If your gecko is
a juvenile, you will see his pattern gradually change with each shed
from the banded hatchling pattern to the adult (usually) spotted pattern.

[julian hales]

A damp box, they eat the skin and its ok to watch, sometimes a bit may get
stuck, if you can have a rough stone or peice of bark for them to rub
against.

--
Please visit www.thesnakeshop.co.uk
Sheffields premier exotic animal store

What do the numbers mean when next to reptiles?

I have 1.4.0 Frog eyed Geckos, a total of 5

1=Males.4=Female 0=unkown sex M.F.U

-Reptiles-
Green Iguana's 1.1.0 Leopard Gecko's 1.2.1
Bearded Dragon 0.0.1 N. American Pine Snake 1.0.0
Western Hognose snake 1.0.0 Frog eyed Geckos 1.4.0
African Rock Python snake 0.1.0
-Spiders!-
Chilean Rose Tarantula 0.1.0 Trinidad Chevron T' 0.0.1
Starburst Babboon T ' 0.0.1
-Insects-
African 2 spot Assassin Bug 0.0.1
-Cockroaches-
Madagascan Hissing 1.7.40? DeathHead's 0.0.8
Golden 0.03
-Misc.-
3 Giant African Land Snails and Arthur the dog!!
"Danielle Newman" <qlab...@home.com> wrote in message

news:3B031D24...@home.com...