Molting
Abnormal skin shedding, or shedding, is one of the most common health problems in pet reptiles. Some snake and lizard species shed their entire skin in one piece, while other reptiles shed in parts. In either case, however, once shedding is complete, your reptile should be completely covered with a new layer of skin.
Symptoms and types
When shedding is incomplete, flakes of old skin often remain attached around the toes and tail, or on the surface of the eyes. The bands of unshed skin act like a tourniquet, causing tissue to die and parts of the toes or tail may be lost. Infection may develop under the patches of unshed skin, causing pus to leak from the red, inflamed areas. Unshed spectacles make the reptile’s eyes look milky and sometimes wrinkled.
Cause
The most common cause of abnormal shedding is too low humidity in the terrarium. Other contributing factors include a lack of a surface to rub on, poor health, external parasites, and an inadequate diet.
diagnosis
Abnormal skin shedding can be diagnosed by closely examining your reptile. To determine the cause of this condition, you may need to determine your reptile’s preferred humidity levels, nutritional requirements, analyze the environmental conditions in the terrarium, and perform a thorough medical examination.
process
Many cases of abnormal skin shedding in reptiles can be treated in the comfort of your own home. Spray or soak the animal in warm water for 10 to 15 minutes and gently scrub or peel the skin. If the ointment hasn’t fallen off, apply artificial tear ointment, wait about 10 minutes, and then gently rub the ointment off the eye or lift it with your fingernail. If you repeat this treatment for several days and see no improvement, or if the skin underneath looks red or unhealthy, take your reptile to the vet.
Life and Management
If you need to keep the humidity level low in your terrarium, add a hiding box with a layer of damp sphagnum moss to create a relatively humid area.
Prevention
Abnormal skin shedding can often be prevented by maintaining the proper humidity in your reptile’s enclosure, providing a surface for rubbing and a water bowl for soaking, and keeping your pet healthy.
