Leopard Gecko Shedding Concerns – Retained Eyelid Lining
Hello, Frank Indiviglio here. After shedding, leopard geckos (Eublepharis macularius) sometimes exhibit a condition that superficially resembles what snake owners know as “retained eye caps”. However, the structure of a leopard gecko’s eye, and that of the closely related banded and fat-tailed geckos, is nothing like that of a snake’s, and problems following shedding must be addressed in a very different manner.
Leopard Gecko Eye Structure
Leopard, banded and fat-tailed geckos are classified in the gecko subfamily Eublepharinae, and differ from all other geckos in having movable eyelids. In fact, the genus name, Eublepharis, means “true eye lids”. The eyes of all other species in the family Gekkonidae are covered by a transparent cap, or spectacle, which is fused to the eyelids (like snakes, they cannot blink their eyes).
The eyelids of leopard geckos and their relatives are lined with a thin layer of skin. This eyelid liner is replaced along with the rest of the gecko’s skin when shedding occurs. However, if conditions are too dry in the terrarium, the eyelid lining may stick to the lid and be retained after shedding. This will lead to an irritation. Eventually, an infection will set in and cause the eye to swell.
Diagnosis and Treatment
The retained skin is thin but visible, so check your gecko carefully after it sheds. Geckos so affected will also blink a great deal, and may rub the area.
While experienced hobbyists may be able to remove retained eye caps (brille) from pet snakes, retained eyelid liners are an entirely different matter. This problem must be attended to by an experienced veterinarian only.
Avoiding Problems: Humidity and Diet
An overly-dry environment seems to be the main factor leading to retained eyelid liners. Although geckos are native to quite arid habitats, like all desert animals they are able to find moist retreats, usually below ground, when necessary. It is easy to overlook this when keeping desert animals. For years zoos kept Gila monsters, native to one of the driest places on earth, in bone-dry exhibits. Field research showed, however, that these lizards actually spend 90% of their time in burrows where humidity levels are quite high.
Shedding aids are useful for lizards of all types, especially desert-adapted species.
Low Vitamin A levels have also been implicated in gecko shedding problems. Be sure to provide your lizard with a varied diet and appropriate vitamin/mineral supplements. Please write in if you need detailed advice on feeding your gecko.
Further Reading
Please see my book Leopard Geckos and the article Breeding Leopard Geckos for further information on care and natural history.
Please write in with your questions and comments. Thanks, until next time, Frank Indiviglio.
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about 7 months ago
Hello,
My leopard gecko has had unshed skin on her toes for possibly a year now. I was wondering if I could still get rid of that skin using the shedding aids you mentioned, or if it’s now too difficult to remove without the help of a vet.
about 7 months ago
Hello Ron, Frank Indiviglio here.
Thanks for your interest in our blog. I suggest a vet – often after that length of time, the old skin constricts blood flow to the toe, causing necrosis. The toes sometimes fall off, or may need to be amputated. Geckos can survive this, but infections/fungus can also take hold beneath the skin…best to have a vet check the animal. Please let me know how all goes, and we can discuss possibly preventing this in the future.
Please let me know if you need any further information. Good luck, enjoy and please keep me posted.
Best regards, Frank Indiviglio.
about 7 months ago
I rescued a-leopard gecko . It has no eyes . We hand fed it at first now he eats on his own. He won’t eat crickets of any kind worms in a can and wax worms are all he will take .we use vitamin powder and give him plenty of fresh water . He’s now even affectionate in a way . Is there any thing else he needs to be healthy and happy ?
about 7 months ago
Hello Dawn, Frank Indiviglio here.
Thanks for your interest in our blog and my compliments on your efforts. Continue to try and tempt the lizard to eat a wider variety of foods, as waxworms alone are not suitable long term. Keep him hungry for awhile to encourage this…geckos usually have plenty of fat stored in the tail, so fasts of a week or more are of no concern. Please check this article for further info. Since he’s on a limited diet, it would be best to alternate between several supplements for now, i.e. Reptivite w/D3 and Reptocal.
Please bear in mind that leopard geckos will not usually drink from a bowl, but rather lap water from rocks and the aquarium’s glass when theses are misted.
They do not need a UVB light source, but be sure to provide a warm spot of 85F or so, with a background temperature of 74-78 F and a slight dip at night.
Please let me know if you need any further information. Good luck, enjoy and please keep me posted.
Best regards, Frank Indiviglio.
about 3 months ago
when my gecko sheds, skin gets stuck on his toes. Should i try to get it off?I know his toes are extremely delicate, but I’ve been told the skin may cause blood to not flow to his toes, and they fall of. I don’t want that!!! what should i do about this? the more he sheds, the more skin on his toes.
about 3 months ago
Hello, Frank Indiviglio here.
Thanks for your interest. Unshed skin can constrict the toes, but this takes some time to occur. Try softening the skin with a shedding aid (or a bit of olive oil) and then see if you can gently peel it back without pulling too hard. If it appears that there are several layers of skin present and it will not slide off, it would be best to see a vet. Please let me know if you need help in locating a reptile-experienced veterinarian.
Also, set up a cave or hide box and keep it ½ filled with damp sphagnum moss. Geckos will often seek damp areas before shedding, in order to loosen the old skin.
Please let me know if you need any further information. Good luck, enjoy and please keep me posted.
Best regards, Frank Indiviglio.
about 1 month ago
I have an albino gecko who just shed, but his eyes are completely covered. He also had scabs on his mouth which I treated with hydrogen peroxide and antibiotic ointment and that has resolved, however the eyes are not fixing. I have been soaking him twice daily and put vaseline on his eyes as I was told to do by a pet store near me. I live in an area with no herp vets so I am just following books and pet store people. He is not eating at all.
about 1 month ago
Hello Amy
Thanks for your interest and sorry for your troubles. Unfortunately, this is not something you can treat at home. Topical antibiotics may have helped the skin condition, but scabs etc. may indicate an internal bacterial or other infection, which must be treated by medications prescribed by a veterinarian. The fact that the animal is not eating supports this. The eye condition may be retained eyelids, or infection related. Either way, it will not resolve with vaseline. Soaking is likely stressful, and may worsen the condition if the animal becomes too chilled, as its immune system is depressed now. If you’d like, please let me know what state you are in. I’ll try to find some instate vets for you..even if they are not near, one may be able to recommend someone closer.
Best regards, Frank Indiviglio.