No claws!

Question
QUESTION: I have a female( at least,  I think she's a female) leopard gecko, and when I 1st got her, she had small claws. But now, when she sheds, it seems that she "sheds" them off! Her feet don't have any claws at all, just little nubs for toes. Is that all right?

ANSWER: Hello Hannah,
It almost sounds as though she has had some shedding difficulties. Has this happened just this one time? Or did she have claws and then after one of her many sheds they disappeared? If they do not have access to a humid hide (usually an upside down Tupperware hide with moist paper towels or substrate inside) then it is common they will have problems with shedding. They will shed but the shed on the toes or feet wont come off. The shed skin will then constrict as she grows and will cut off circulation to them and they will fall off. This could just be a tip of the toe or the entire toe. Or if it was all of a sudden then because of the skin not coming off she could have tried to chew it off and cause her to loose a toe. Does this seem like it could have happened? Bathing also helps. This is why you much after every shed be sure there is no left over skin on any part of the lizard's body.

It could also be a possibility a feeder insect accidently not eaten and not removed could have gnawed the toes off.

I have not heard of their claws being shed off but the claws can break. Can you give me a little more detail or perhaps a picture (you can ask the follow-up with the detail here and e-mail the picture
reptilianyex@live.com) if you can.

Good luck

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: On I think all of her feet, there's at least 1 claw one it, then all the rest of the toes are little nubs. I'll send a picture and when you see it, my name is crazymonkey777@juno.com

Answer
Hello, it looks as though the actual toes had some shedding problems. Like I stated in my first answer about them shedding and not getting all of the old skin off. It will stay on there and cut off blood flow to the toe making it fall off. It looks as though all the toes are extreme different lengths. Be sure you are providing a humid hide and keep an eye on her each time she sheds to make sure she gets it all off. If she has difficulties give her a bath. Fill up a sink or tub with enough warm water no deeper then her shoulders or at least covering her feet. And swab with a qtip at the shedding skin. This will help loosen it up. If it still doesn't work buy some Mineral oil and use a qtip to swab the oil on it to loosen it up even more.

Shedding toe problems are common with Leopard Geckos.
The picture you have sent me is a little blurry but it does look like she lost the tips of her toes from a shed.
I hope this helps if not let me know.