Peeling Andreas

A few days ago, I noticed that the skin on Andreas's front left foot was peeling off. My lizards don't mind being handled (though I couldn't really say they like it). However, I'd prefer for his skin to molt without any human intervention. I've been told on several lizard boards that since uromastyx prefer high temperatures, they shouldn't be out of their tanks too frequently. They need the heat and the 68 degrees in my house just doesn't cut it!

You can see from his back legs and tail that he has some skin and scales that have not molted in the almost three years we've had him. His vet said not to worry about it, but of course I do! Once it gets a bit warmer out, they'll be going back in for check-ups. Good thing he's not entering any lizard beauty contests.

But of course I think he's absolutely adorable, and it does appear as though he's striking a pose for the camera:What I was trying to photograph was his front left foot with the skin, but it didn't turn out too well. Since the skin wasn't coming off, I needed to help him out a bit. His vet told me that if the dead skin isn't removed, it can constrict around his toes. During his well-lizard check we took him to the day after we purchased him, he lost two toes that had become necrotic from bad molts.

This is all skin that came from just one foot. Pretty gross! If I'm careful, sometimes the skin around his toes comes off in tubes.

I'm guessing that he'll begin the rest of his molt shortly, so I might be able to take some pictures.

After every molt, he becomes more and more beautiful. I can't wait to see what he'll look like in a few months!