Situation guide
Retained shed on toes, tail or eyes — humidity fixes and safe removal.
Shedding is a normal, healthy part of reptile life, but stuck or patchy shed usually points to a husbandry problem. This guide explains the shed cycle, what a good shed looks like, how humidity drives it, and the retained-shed warning signs that need a vet.
Many geckos have a clear scale over each eye that sheds with the rest of the skin. When humidity is low, that eye cap can stay stuck, causing a cloudy or crusty eye. Learn how to spot it, prevent it, and when a reptile vet should step in.
A warm soak helps reptiles hydrate, pass stuck shed, and stay comfortable. This step-by-step guide covers safe water depth and temperature, how long to soak, species differences, and the red flags that mean a stuck shed or hydration problem needs a vet rather than another bath.
Incomplete shedding (dysecdysis) can trap circulation on toes and tail tips and needs prompt care. Here's how to soften and safely remove stuck shed, why humidity is usually the cause, and the red flags that mean a vet.
