my gekko

Question
its shedding its skin but the bit over its head wont shed and
is causing problems its strugling to open its eyes and isnt
looking very happy atall

Answer
Hi James,

Shedding problems are often caused by dryness which tends to cause the old skin to break up into small pieces and continue adhering to the new skin underneath rather then coming off completely and cleanly.
Sometimes just increasing the humidity through extra misting can remedy the problem but in my experience, physical intervention is often needed. This is particularly true if the old skin is caught on areas like the toes or around the folds of the eyes. Retained skin around the eyes can interfere with feeding and lead to infections so it is important to gently remove it.

You didn't happen to mention what species you have, I hope it is one that can tolerate the little bit of handling that may be involved.

Remoistening the old skin is the first step. That will soften it and loosen the attachment to the new skin below making the removal easier for you and less uncomfortable for your gecko.

Try misting him with tepid water a few times over the course of 20 minutes or so. That should loosen it enough to allow you to gently roll the old skin off his head with your finger. For the area around the eyes I would recommend gently swabbing at it with a cotton-tipped swab. If it is moist enough, the old skin should catch on the swab and allow you to roll it off. Obviously, anything done around the eyes needs to be done with great care.