Shedding Concern for my IJ

[RBDTerrell]

Hi all,

I have a 4-5 year old female Irian Jaya that hasn't shed in the last 3-4 months. When I picked her up, a few months back I thought she was getting ready to shed because she looked really dull. I also noticed that the enclosure she came in was incredibly dirty. There was excessive water staining and buildup on the glass. I cleaned it all out and bathed her twice and since then everything has been fine except the scales on her back are really rough and look very dry. Her sides are smooth but her entire spine looks to be very dried out. She eats whenever I offer her food and I mist her every couple of days just like with all of my other carpets. Today I removed her from her old enclosure, bathed her, and relocated her to a tub so I can better monitor her humidity. Is it possible that she retained an entire shed? Has anyone else ever witnessed this? I'll try and get pictures of her this week. Idk if it's a cause for concern matter just yet, but i'd like to get as much info as I can before possibly taking her to the vet. Any help would be appreciated

Thanks

[pdomensis]

I would double and triple check all conditions and make sure that the humidity is correct. I can't imagine retaining a whole shed. You might consider an extra large meal. I've noticed that a big bulge can induce a shed fairly quickly.

[RBDTerrell]

I am going to give her a much bigger meal this week and see if I can get her to shed. I've gone over her conditions numerous times and she's the only snake out of the 52 we have that has this problem which she had the day I got her. I cannot rule out my own error though so that's why I opted to move her to a tub and see if maybe that helps in any way. I couldn't imagine her retaining an entire shed either but I just wanted to get other opinions. Thanks so much for the response!

[GUITARZAN509]

To make sure it isn't dehydrated, soak it in Pedialyte for a little while, you can tell if its dehydrated by pinching its skin and see if it stays bunched up or goes back down

[Batessi]

Yes, it is possible to have an entire retained skin, I had a ball python that did it once...not 100% sure how though, everyone in the same rack shed flawlessly. Make a point to change your water bowl more often, fresh water will encourage her to drink more regularly and misting a little more often will help too. What temps are you reading? She may be drying too fast.

[RBDTerrell]

88-90 hotspot and 76-78 cool side. Humidity 40-60%. I have never heard of the pedialyte trick but I will try it. Since moving her to the tub after her bath this morning her skin feels a bit better. I think Batessi is right and she was dying out too fast. Going to try all these things and report back with the progress.

Thank you all

[RBDTerrell]

A picture I took off her when I got home. Upped the humidity a little as well.

[Mikoh4792]

Older snakes do not shed as often as younger snakes. I'd imagine she will get into shed soon.

What kind of enclosure are you keeping her in?

[Batessi]

88-90F is a bit warm for Morelia in my opinion, try 86-87F.

[pdomensis]

She's a beaut and looks to be in good shape from the pics. It sure doesn't look to me like there's any retained shed there. Her cycle is probably just slowing down.

[RBDTerrell]

@Miko She was in a large glass enclosure. It was what I bought her with. She will now be in a 4ft tub until I get my animal plastics cages later this year.

@Batessi Since I'm moving her to a tub, her temps won't be that high anymore. I was thinking that might be a problem as well but she never moves from under the basking site to the cooler side during the day so I never considered changing it.

@pdomensis Thank you! She's a great snake and great looking as well.

I checked on her when I got home yesterday evening and after being in the quarantine tub with a bit more humidity her skin feels much better.

[Mikoh4792]

Carpets do well in ambient temps of 80-82f. The hotspot should only take up a small portion of the cage; some keepers/breeders omit the hotspot altogether. There is also no need to mist carpets everyday. Just don't keep them too hot and they won't dehydrate.

[RBDTerrell]

Carpets do well in ambient temps of 80-82f. The hotspot should only take up a small portion of the cage; some keepers/breeders omit the hotspot altogether. There is also no need to mist carpets everyday. Just don't keep them too hot and they won't dehydrate.

Every other carpet I have except her is just provided ambient heat and they all do fine. I also don't mist them daily. Once every 3 days or so. I'm thinking by keeping her in the glass cage I wasn't making anything better. To live and learn I guess lol.

[Mikoh4792]

Every other carpet I have except her is just provided ambient heat and they all do fine. I also don't mist them daily. Once every 3 days or so. I'm thinking by keeping her in the glass cage I wasn't making anything better. To live and learn I guess lol.

I see, then I'd provide her with the same conditions as the rest of your carpets. Yeah, glass cages can be a pain. I just stick to plastic with solid tops.

[RBDTerrell]

@Mikoh I know that glass can be just as good when done right and can always stay on top of it but it isn't the most desirable of enclosure styles for me.

[shaunyboy]

its hard to tell for sure from the pictures,but.....

in that first picture it looks like there's retained shed all the way along her back,it may just be the way the pictures been took,but i'm pretty sure you can see where the retained shed stops and starts if you look at her side,imo theres a distinct line,where it goes from shiney looking scales to dull looking scales

i would just keep doing what your doing and wait and see if it comes off with her next shed

you could also bath her and peel/rub it off with your hands/fingers


cheers shaun

[RBDTerrell]

Sydney was finally able to shed. I switched her over to a tub and kept her the same way I keep all the carpets and her skin is much improved. There are no more rough spots and it came off as a complete shed and it looked to be a little retained shed on her. I am relieved to see my girl looking much better!