What are essential tips for providing the best leopard gecko care?

Have him examined by your veterinarian or an experienced herp vet. Submit a stool sample to diagnose intestinal parasites. This will all give you a better idea of his health status. Barring any major illness or injury, he could be rehabbed and live a "normal" life. Set him up in an appropriate enclosure with correct parameters. Offer appropriately sized and gut loaded prey as well as some Fluker's Repti-Boost. Soak in a warm 50/50 solution of water and unflavored PediaLyte daily for 20-30 minutes to maintain hydration. It may take time, but with a healthy diet, proper environment and some care, he could recover.

Give him a good soak (20-30 minutes) in a warm 50/50 solution of water and unflavored PediaLyte. This will provide hydration and warm him up which may stimulate his appetite. An exam with your veterinarian or an experienced herp vet is always recommended for "new" pets or pets that may be ill or injured. Offer food about an hour or 2 after the heat lamp comes on in the morning. This will allow him to warm up and he will be more likely to eat what is offered. Use a variety of prey if possible. This can include crickets, dubia roaches, phoenix worms and the occasional superworm. Superworms are good to feed if you have a skinny gecko that needs to put on weight. Review additional care info here: http://www.anapsid.org/leopardgek.html

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! It is likely that you will be able to help him. However, I would recommend you consider taking him to your veterinarian for further assessment and treatment first. They can at least assess the situation and recommend therapy accordingly which you may then continue at home. Best of luck! Hoping for a speedy recovery!

Thanks for your question about Leo lela, and I am sorry that this is happening to you both! Typically leopard geckos should shed all of their skin in a short period of time, and they often eat it so owners may not realize they have shed at all. When we see shed sticking around, like in Leo lela's case, we begin to worry about dysecdysis (retained shed). This is common when there are imperfections in the husbandry that is provided. Most frequently, there is not enough humidity present. For leopard geckos, we recommend having a humid hide available for them that is lined with moist sphagnum moss. It is recommended to have a humid hide on the warm end of the enclosure as well as the cool end to provide your gecko with options regarding humidity. As far as him being lighter - I am not sure if you mean lighter in color, which may be associated with the shedding, or lighter in weight. If you mean lighter in weight, then I would be concerned that he has an underlying issue occurring. To help him with shedding, you can soak Leo lela once daily in 85-90F water. This will also help any skin around his toes, which is often hard to see, to shed as well. I would also recommend having him evaluated by a veterinarian when you can. It is beneficial for reptiles to have wellness examinations, just like dogs and cats. Your veterinarian can also provide you with detailed information on husbandry that is tailored to Leo lela after his physical examination has been performed. You can look at the ARAV website to find a reptile veterinarian in your area. I hope this gives you a place to start, and I wish you the best of luck!

Thanks for reaching out regarding Night Hawk and including photos. The pictures appear good and seems a lot of thought went into your set up. You haven't mentioned UVB radiation or diet, but everything else appears good. Even though geckos are noctunal, they are often inactive during the day but receiving radiation. Insect species need to be varied and gut loaded with a variation of fresh vegetables. Good luck.

Warm him up. Check your tank temps (ambient and basking). Low temps will affect activity and appetite. Use a timer to set a 12 hour light cycle. An infrared heat bulb can be used at night if room temp goes below 70F. See an experienced herp vet for an exam to diagnose illness or injury if symptoms persist. Follow the link for a comprehensive care sheet. http://geckoforums.net/f115-leopard-gecko-caresheets/54138.htm

Check the temperature in the enclosure. Low temps can affect appetite and digestion in reptiles. Soak her in a warm 50/50 solution of water and unflavored PediaLyte to provide warmth and hydration. Confirm appropriately sized prey, no bigger than the space between the eyes. You can offer crickets, dubia roaches, mealworms and phoenix worms. Gut load all prey for 24 hours prior to offering to maximize nutritional value. Submit a stool sample to your veterinarian to diagnose intestinal parasites. If she will allow, look in and around her mouth for any signs of injury or infection. This may include redness, swelling, discharge or bleeding. If you see anything suspicious, have her physically examined by your veterinarian or a vet experienced in treating reptiles to diagnose and treat any underlying causes.