I need help with one of my leos

[Kinra]

As some of you may know, me and my leos don't exactly get along. Most of them usually want to bite me. Well I recently made peace with one of the prettier ones.

Here is where I need help. I don't interact with things that sit in my QT room very often. I go in every few days for cleaning or feeding. Most of my leos are in my QT room because that is where there is space for them.

Well I was cleaning leo cages tonight and since I can finally hold this gecko without him biting me or defecating on me I took the time to actually examine him. I found out he hasn't been shedding well. He has stuck shed on all of the fingers on one hand. I set him aside to soak while I cleaned cages and then I tried to help work it off.

It turns out it wasn't just one layer of stuck shed on his fingers, it was at least 2. One of his fingers is dark red almost black now that the shed is off of it. I'm guessing the shed constricted blood flow to the end of the finger.

I feel horrible that I allowed this to happen but I can't go back in time and undo what has been done. Is there anything I can do to help him now? Is the finger going to start to rot? Is a vet visit in order? What can I do to help him?

[Nick_bp]

If it was me I would call the vet first cause they usually dont charge for a phone call but they might recommend you come in but thats totaly up to your discretion but you could never go wrong with a vet visit. I hope this helps and that he is fine. Good Luck

[heathers*bps]

If it is turning black, it most likely will fall off. I'm not at all sure what a vet can do at this point, other than prescribe an antibiotic. Unfortunately, this is a common problem with leos that aren't shedding properly.

[Kinra]

Thanks everyone.

I think all hope is lost for the finger, but I'm going to e-mail my vet to see what he thinks.

Here is what the hand looks like, this is the only hand that looks like this, all of the others are fine. Will he be fine if he loses the finger?

[Homegrownscales]

Yup that will fall right off. Nothing to be concerned about actually. It's really common with leos to have shedding issues along the ends of the toes, end of the tail. If its left too long... well you see the consequences.
I would go in there a little more often to make sure their humid hide is moist and to check if there are any shedding to see if all is going well. I check on my Leo's cages every other day and that seems to be a good schedule for them.


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