Young retic skin

[IW17]

I'm just curious if all young retics have what I consider to be loose skin in the kinks of their body. I only have one Juvenile retic which is my only experience with the species. I was a little concerned at first but after looking at many pics of young retics it seems pretty common. I was wondering if anyone out there could shed some light on this for me.

[Mikoh4792]

How long have you had him? maybe he's going into shed? How often do you feed him and what do you feed him? What's the humidity in his enclosure?

[IW17]

I've had him since end of October and yes he is starting to go Blue, but this isn't just now starting to happen. This will be his third shed. His tub stays between 50-70% depending on how long it's been since I've misted. He gets a warm soak at least twice a week. I feed him a weaned rat every 7 days. He eats like a champ and is very active in both his enclosure and when brought out. Honestly doesn't look skinny or sick, just has a little more loose skin than what I'm used to seeing.

[Mikoh4792]

I guess he just has loose skin.

Why soak him twice a week though?

[Sublimeballs]

I guess he just has loose skin.

Why soak him twice a week though?

I heard it from other retic owners that they "enjoy" a good soaking. Out of my 3 only one of them(my jampea, havent observed this in the kalatoas)soaks in her bowl(and its not heat or humidity related). I personally don't soak mine, but I've noticed quite a few that do. But none of them could give me a real answer as to why.

[Mikoh4792]

I heard it from other retic owners that they "enjoy" a good soaking. Out of my 3 only one of them(my jampea, havent observed this in the kalatoas)soaks in her bowl(and its not heat or humidity related). I personally don't soak mine, but I've noticed quite a few that do. But none of them could give me a real answer as to why.

They won't because they can't. No one can know if a snake "enjoys" something. We just don't have the capability to read snakes like that.

There is really no reason to give snakes a soaking unless there are issues such as constipation, shedding, mites...etc

[Sublimeballs]

They won't because they can't. No one can know if a snake "enjoys" something. We just don't have the capability to read snakes like that.

There is really no reason to give snakes a soaking unless there are issues such as constipation, shedding, mites...etc

That's why I put enjoy in quotation marks, and why I don't soak mine. I assume its something that it started early in the hobby and is just still done by some.

[IW17]

I've started giving him warm soaks since a small portion of his shed just below the head stays stuck. Everything else comes off great but that spot he's been having issues. I don't soak all my animals, just the ones who have experienced stuck sheds.

But as I said above, I'm not overly concerned with his health. He eats great, sheds good other than the spot mentioned, has regular bowel movements, and is active and alert.

I've even been browsing the pics in this forum and it seems like most if not all of the pics of young retics have what I would describe as excess skin. Almost like they have to grow into it. And all of the pics of the animal a little down the road show no signs of this anymore.

[Mikoh4792]

That's why I put enjoy in quotation marks, and why I don't soak mine. I assume its something that it started early in the hobby and is just still done by some.

I know what you were getting at, I was talking to those in general who think they know what snakes "enjoy"

[Sublimeballs]

I know what you were getting at, I was talking to those in general who think they know what snakes "enjoy"

Ok, gotcha.

[millertime89]

My smaller ones get more "wrinkly" than normal when in shed. As long as she's not dehydrated you're ok.

BTW that's not an SD, at least not pure. Its a tiger. More pics?

[IW17]

My smaller ones get more "wrinkly" than normal when in shed. As long as she's not dehydrated you're ok.

BTW that's not an SD, at least not pure. Its a tiger. More pics?

Yeah he Def gets it more when he's in shed. He is 50% sd, 25% dwarf. I'll take a few more shots tomorrow when he's out. I'll try to get one with his neck straight and one with it turned to compare.

[millertime89]

Sounds good. I'll snap a few of the 75% SD Tiger and pure SD we've got here for you for comparison.

[IW17]

Awesome I'll have him out later and see if my phone will upload new pics

[Sublimeballs]

Sounds good. I'll snap a few of the 75% SD Tiger and pure SD we've got here for you for comparison.

What locale pure sd do you have? Kalatoa from Travis? Or is it a madu?

[millertime89]

What locale pure sd do you have? Kalatoa from Travis? Or is it a madu?

Yup and yup, I've got a pair and a few crosses from him as well. 75% SuperDwarf/Jampea Platty het Anery, 75% SD PH Anery, 75% SD Tiger, my brother has a pure Kalatoa as well.

[Sublimeballs]

I got my pure kalatoas from travis aswell. Such cool little retics. Ill be getting some kalatoa crosses when he's got hatchlings this year; assuming they arnt added to the Lacey act. You know of any updates on what's going on with usarks lawsuit?

[IW17]

Well no pics. My phone is crapping out on me. I'm bringing it to Verizon and getting it fixed so hopefully soon.

[millertime89]

I got my pure kalatoas from travis aswell. Such cool little retics. Ill be getting some kalatoa crosses when he's got hatchlings this year; assuming they arnt added to the Lacey act. You know of any updates on what's going on with usarks lawsuit?

Not a word yet although I'm assuming a bomb will be dropped by the end of the month. It's exactly the same scenario as two years ago.