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View Full Version : Chondro seems to lazy to shed?

brooklynboy521
07-02-13, 06:56 PM
Maybe somebody with a little more GTP experience can shed some light on my problem. Mary Jane, my chondro has always had okay sheds. This last shed however, she hasn't even made an attempt to get any of it off. She is sitting there perched like she normally does with the bottom of the shed flaking off. She has been like this now for 3 days or so. I don't know but is there any way to induce shedding? I want her to get it all off. The temp in the hot spot is about 85-88 and the humidity is 75 when the mister isn't on and near 100 when it is.

TL; DR: Chondro seems to lazy to shed.
lady_bug87
07-02-13, 07:02 PM
How long has she been like that?
brooklynboy521
07-02-13, 07:06 PM
"She has been like this now for 3 days or so." ^^ lol
lady_bug87
07-02-13, 07:10 PM
Oh sorry I must have skipped that part. It's pretty weird for her to just sit like that. What you can try is getting a small bin, put a perch inside for her, fill the bottom third with water and set it over a heat mat (thermostatted)

It should loosen the skin. It may take a couple of hours or so
Aaron_S
07-02-13, 10:28 PM
I would double check your humidity and whatever instrument you use to check it.

It's probably faulty. Snakes aren't normally too lazy to shed if there's no other problems (generally they still do even with problems though). It's possible the humidity is lower than you're seeing it and she just couldn't do it when she was supposed to.
Amadeus
07-02-13, 10:48 PM
I would double check your humidity and whatever instrument you use to check it.

It's probably faulty. Snakes aren't normally too lazy to shed if there's no other problems (generally they still do even with problems though). It's possible the humidity is lower than you're seeing it and she just couldn't do it when she was supposed to.

I'd think a snake like a gtp would still try to get the shed off. At least around the eyes and head.

But yeah I'd check you cages and give the snake a good manual misting or what ladybug said with the tub and heat mat.
smy_749
07-03-13, 05:49 AM
I'd think a snake like a gtp would still try to get the shed off. At least around the eyes and head.

But yeah I'd check you cages and give the snake a good manual misting or what ladybug said with the tub and heat mat.


With low humidity levels, they still know its time to shed and often will rub the face / head part off and leave the rest and wait for proper conditions, its not that uncommon. My guess is what Aaron posted, your humidity gauge may be off. I did what Lady_bug suggested above, and the GTP I acquired with stuck shed practically slipped right out of his skin. If the humidity is right, the shed is effortless and even a 'lazy' chondro wouldn't have any issues.

Best of luck, and don't use any weird shed sprays from the petstore.
brooklynboy521
07-03-13, 09:24 AM
I tried for a few hours to do the tub thing with the heat mat. It seemed to work a little, all the shed came off of her head and most of her belly and sides. I was able to get the rest of it off her back so now she is clear. Didn't make much sense to me. I double checked the gauge and tried another one got the same reading.
lady_bug87
07-03-13, 10:19 AM
Your Husbandry was definitely off if she started to shed after you put her in there. What are you using to measure?
brooklynboy521
07-03-13, 08:54 PM
Your Husbandry was definitely off if she started to shed after you put her in there. What are you using to measure?

My thermostat is a Vivarium Electronics VE-100 (not sure the number) and for humidity I was using a household humidity gauge/ temp gauge. She also has a zoo med repti rain mister.
Aaron_S
07-03-13, 09:01 PM
My thermostat is a Vivarium Electronics VE-100 (not sure the number) and for humidity I was using a household humidity gauge/ temp gauge. She also has a zoo med repti rain mister.

Get another humidity gauge.
brooklynboy521
07-04-13, 07:43 PM
Get another humidity gauge.

Can you point me in the right direction for one than?
Chu'Wuti
07-04-13, 07:59 PM
What do you mean by a "household" humidity gauge? If it's one of those dial things, they are notoriously inaccurate. You need a digital humidity gauge.

Even an AcuRite or a La Crosse digital gauge is better than a dial brand.

Also, your humidity gauge (and thermometer) should be located where the snake spends the most time or at least at that level, as temps and humidity can both vary from the top to the bottom of an enclosure.
smy_749
07-04-13, 08:01 PM
Can you point me in the right direction for one than?

Amazon.com: AcuRite 613 Indoor Humidity Monitor: Home & Kitchen (http://www.amazon.com/AcuRite-613-Indoor-Humidity-Monitor/dp/B0013BKDO8)

Available at Walmart, Lowes, Homedepot, etc. etc. sometimes cheaper than that as well.
Chu'Wuti
07-04-13, 08:02 PM
Amazon.com: AcuRite 613 Indoor Humidity Monitor: Home & Kitchen (http://www.amazon.com/AcuRite-613-Indoor-Humidity-Monitor/dp/B0013BKDO8)

Available at Walmart, Lowes, Homedepot, etc. etc. sometimes cheaper than that as well.

Yep. That'll work.
Mikoh4792
07-04-13, 08:07 PM
Even an AcuRite or a La Crosse digital gauge is better than a dial brand.


What do you mean by "even"? Are acurites bad?
Amadeus
07-04-13, 08:08 PM
What do you mean by "even"? Are acurites bad?

That there are much more accurate humidity cages out there but an acurite will work.
smy_749
07-04-13, 08:09 PM
What do you mean by "even"? Are acurites bad?


Temps are great, humidity can be a bit off (not much at all, but not 100% accurate) . If you'd like to test it, but a few or grab the few you have, and put them side by side. Temps are the same but humidity is usually different.
Chu'Wuti
07-04-13, 08:12 PM
What do you mean by "even"? Are acurites bad?

AcuRites are reasonably good for their price. I just meant that even an inexpensive digital gauge is better than any analog gauge. I actually use AcuRites on my colubrid tanks and they're fine. For animals that need higher humidity, I'm pickier about the instrument's capabilities.
Mikoh4792
07-04-13, 08:17 PM
AcuRites are reasonably good for their price. I just meant that even an inexpensive digital gauge is better than any analog gauge. I actually use AcuRites on my colubrid tanks and they're fine. For animals that need higher humidity, I'm pickier about the instrument's capabilities.

Got it. In that case what are some good hygrometers? I use acurites right now to measure humidity. I thought they were supposed to be very accurate in terms of measuring humidity but apparently they aren't so.
smy_749
07-04-13, 08:18 PM
Got it. In that case what are some good hygrometers? I use acurites right now to measure humidity. I thought they were supposed to be very accurate in terms of measuring humidity but apparently they aren't so.


They will do the job bro, don't stress it so much. lol
Amadeus
07-04-13, 09:55 PM
They will do the job bro, don't stress it so much. lol

Uh oh my humidity should be 90% but my accurite only says 89%. What do???????????? AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
Chu'Wuti
07-04-13, 09:55 PM
If you're using an AcuRite, where is it located in the enclosure? One of the problems people have with accurate measurement is that they don't place the hygrometer or thermometer where the snake is, so while they think the humidity or temps are good, they aren't really that good where the snake actually spends its time.

Snakes won't force a shed if the skin isn't loose enough, because trying to pull the old skin off could damage the new skin if the two skins aren't separated enough.

With my BPs and other snakes that need higher humidity, I do raise the humidity to about 100% during a shed cycle, then drop it to that species' norm after they've shed. That can help, especially if the snake is having a hard time.

Good luck!