shedding and eating problems

Question
QUESTION: Hi.  My gecko is about 8-9 months old and is shedding constantly!!  it has not eaten in a few weeks except one time and only pooped one time.  We thinkwe know why, there is shedding skin stuck on its mouth and it can only stick it's tongue out of one side?  Any suggestions??
Also I am having trouble getting the tank to stay warm enough.  About 68 degrees is the highest I am getting.  We use a under tank heater and desk lamp(daytime for a few hours--when someone is home).  Any suggestions on that too would be great.
I am unable to take it to a vet, so I am on my own--with your help I hope-- to try and save this sweet leapord gecko.
Thank you,
Jayme

ANSWER: Hello Jayme,

Oh you definitely need more heating.  So you only use an undertank heater part of the time?  It needs to stay on 24/7, otherwise he cannot digest food, & will get too cold.  What type of tank are you using, a glass tank, a 10 or 20 gallon?
Also, use either a low wattage household lightbulb or a ceramic heat emitter to help boost the temps.  He needs a hotspot of around 88-90 & a cool area around 80.  What are you measuring the temps with?   
The stuck shed needs to come off or he will get a mouth infection.  Try to give him a bath & gently see if it will come off, if possible.
Let me know how he is doing.
What type of substrate are you using?  

Tracie

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

QUESTION: Thanks so much. The under tank heater is on 24/7, but the desk lamp may only get 3-5 hours a day--depending on when someone is home.  He is on the reptile carpet with a humid shelter on the heated side and another shelter on the cooler side.  there is actually one in between too.  He really stays on the cooler side more, even with the low temps.  He is so cold to touch!! :0(  We have a round gage (2) for temps and one for humidity that came with the heating pad (for under the tank).  Do we need some thing better?  As for the bath, what temp should the water be?  How deep, and how long can we work on it?  Do we dry him afterwards?  This little one has never been held.  As a juvy, when we got him, we were told not to hold him.  Once he/she got bigger and we thought it was okay it was too fast. Now it is unbelievably slow, kinda lethargic, so holding him is no problem.  
I really want to save this little one.  I have done many things and will try whatever I can.  Any more help will be appreciated!!!
Thanks,
Jayme

ANSWER: Hello Jayme,
Ok, great the undertank heater is on 24/7.  Can you look for a ceramic heat emitter that you can use, or just use a regular household lightbulb to put on the end where his undertank heater & his humid hide is.  Focus a warm spot on one end where he can be warmer & then the other side with a half log, etc, for him to go lay under or on top of to cool off if needed.  It sounds like the setup inside is fine, since you have the humid hide over the undertank heater that is great.  Do you have any moss in there to hold humidity?  
Great you have him on carpet instead of sand.  Have you felt how warm the area on top of the undertank heater is getting?  Sometimes though, if the carpet is thick enough all of the heat may not go through the carpet.  If it is not getting warm enough you should consider using felt, which is thinner & a good condunctor of heat.
I would get a digital probe or a temp gun to monitor the temps more accurately.  The stickons are ok for measuring the ambient temps, but that is about it.  The ambient temp should be roughly 78-85.  
The water doesn't need to be real deep, but just enough so you can splash some water on him gently.  He needs to get that retained shed off before it becomes a problem.  The water should be at least 85 degrees, or so, not too hot.  Test the water on the back of your wrist as you would baby formula.
Holding him is no problem, as they can be quickly tamed down.   
If he is not eating, you are going to have to get some needless syringes & some chicken or turkey babyfood, & get some food into him.  You could get some jumpstart from online at  www.reptilesupply.com  which is basically an appetite stimulant.  Or, you can go to your local healthfood store to get some bee pollen, royal jelly & brewer's yeast which are appetite stimulants, also.  Just use a small pinch of each & mix in with the babyfood.  Start with 1-2 cc's of food, daily.  Mix calcium in with it also.  This should help him begin to regain some strength.
Let me know how he is doing.

Tracie

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

QUESTION: Okay, so here is the update.  I gave him a bath yesterday and got LOTS of skin off.  Including his head, which had 4-5 layers built up.  He was so happy to have that gone.  On his legs, i got more than 4-5 layers removed, but still need to get more off his little toes.  I had to stop as I started loosing him.  I kept the temp right, but it may have stressed him too much.  I spent two hours holding him in a towel under the lights as he seemed "deadly" cold.  He kept fading out so I just rubbed on him and snuggled him.  honestly, it did not look good.

GREAT NEWS NOW.... He became alert again last night.   I still thought he might not be okay by morning....but much to my surprise he was.  He is so alert and all over his tank now!!!!!

i did get some baby food with calcium and vit. d3 added to it in him yesterday.  not much, but a great start.  I am getting red bulbs, for night light, and jumpstart from someone coming to town today or tomorrow.  I ahve a 40 for humidity now(by adding a wet washcloth on top of a hideaway) and my temp is staying between 80-88 now.  Are those all correct??
it is all getting better and he is so much happier. thanks for all your help and advice as i think he would have not made it without your input!!!
Jayme

Answer
Hello Jayme,

GREAT that you have been able to have gotten all of that shed off.  Wow he really retained alot of shed.  Did you get it all off of his toes & feet?  Did he lose any toes from retained shed?  Yes, I am sure that did stress him, but it had to come off.  
Wow so it is that much of an improvement that quickly huh?  That is very good news.
Yes, that is good on the heating now, no higher than 90, so the 80-88 is fine.  The heatbulbs will need to stay on 24/7 also.
The humidity is much better.  The undertank heater, is that underneath a cave or hide for him?  If so, you can get some spahgmum moss to put in the cave & keep that moist.  That will evaporate & you can mist it daily for moisture.  He was not shedding because he didn't have any humidity in his tank.  Do you have a water dish in there too?
I am so glad you got some food into him with vitamins & calcium with D3 in it too.  You can also leave a little dish with calcium in there for him.  They will instinctively lick the calcium when they need or want it.  The jumpstart will help alot also!
I hope he continues to get better.

Tracie