Ringo shedding?!

[SkyesRingo]

I'm getting a little excited because I think my baby is getting close to shedding! I fed him today, and I noticed that his eyes were a little cloudy, and his color isn't so bright and vivid. Now, me being the noob snake owner I am, I didn't ask when his last shed was when I bought him. But it's been a month so I'm pretty sure he's close. If the forum wishes, I'll put up some pictures through the process, and if you guys have any advice on what to do to help make it easier for him, feel free to tell me (:

[slowhite03]

Mist once a day to raise the humidity up and just let him be. He'll be done in less than 2 weeks from that point

[sweatshirt]

Congrats! I hope he has a full, healthy shed :D I love how vivid snakes look after a good shed.

[Lankyrob]

I provide my corns with a hide stuffed with damp sphagnum moss, they all shed perfectly everytime

[SkyesRingo]

I have a really big water bowl, so would that help? I mist everyday anyways because it's so dry out here and especially recently since it's so hot. Tho it's extremely humid right now. (For a desert)
How will I know if the shed is a good one or if he's having trouble?

[SkyesRingo]

Congrats! I hope he has a full, healthy shed :D I love how vivid snakes look after a good shed.

I love the bright red and orange Ringo has, and there are white stripes around the red splotches, so I think it's going to be very interesting to see it all look so bright right after!

[Starbuck]

i'd give him at least 24 hours from when you see him start to shed before you try to intervene. Generally, if it is in 1-4 pieces i'd say things are fine. If it takes longer than 24 hours or is very patchy (many pieces) you may need to bump up the humidity in the future.
A good shed should be whole (several pieces are ok in larger snakes), and you should be able to see the eye caps on the head, and the tail tip should be complete.
I'm sure he will be fine :)

[SkyesRingo]

Can getting stuck on a shed hurt the snake? O_o

[Starbuck]

it is more a sign of poor husbandry, and that something is lacking in yoru environment (and THAT is what will eventually hurt the snake).

However, stuck sheds (over time) can cause tail-tip necrosis (it constricts the tail, the tip turns black and can eventually fall off or become infected), poor eyesite due to retained eyecaps, etc....
But stuck skin in and of itself can't really hurt the snake.

[SkyesRingo]

Oh yikes. What's the chance of that even happening? I keep my tank pretty humid and I keep an eye on him to make sure he's okay.

[Starbuck]

sorry, not meant to scare you :)

It is not very likely (it is highly UNlikely) if your husbandry is correct. I would not worry at all (he hasnt even shed yet! :) ).

[sweatshirt]

Just make sure the snake has proper temperatures and a soaking place. Like LankyRob said I would give a moist hide for the snake to humidify itself. You should change it often because mine always dry up really fast.

And do you want the share some dry heat? I'll give you some of Florida's humidity. It's choking.

[Lankyrob]

Just make sure the snake has proper temperatures and a soaking place. Like LankyRob said I would give a moist hide for the snake to humidify itself. You should change it often because mine always dry up really fast.

And do you want the share some dry heat? I'll give you some of Florida's humidity. It's choking.

You change your moss? I have had the same moss in my vivs for three years, as long as you keep it damp (not wet, just moist) it stays alive.

[SkyesRingo]

Just make sure the snake has proper temperatures and a soaking place. Like LankyRob said I would give a moist hide for the snake to humidify itself. You should change it often because mine always dry up really fast.

And do you want the share some dry heat? I'll give you some of Florida's humidity. It's choking.

I guess my next buy is going to be moss xD

As for the dry heat.. I'd say it's not so much different from Florida right now. I've been there and Cali is not much better this year.

[sweatshirt]

You change your moss? I have had the same moss in my vivs for three years, as long as you keep it damp (not wet, just moist) it stays alive.

Haha that's what I meant. Mine always drys up really quick so I have to spray it a lot :P

[Starbuck]

To the OP: it can be hard to find sphagnum moss without fertilizers etc in it, so do some searching and read labels before you buy.
I was able to get plain moss with no additives in the specialty garden section of lowes.

Spanish moss and other varieties will not hold humidity as well as the sphagnum will. Best of luck!