[Question] Just got here and already shedding

[LespaceSerpent]

Goodness, I feel bad for the poor little guy now. He had the pet store guy and me messing with him and he was getting ready for shed. His was very subtle too cause I had no idea.

But I did post this with a question in mind: He started to shed, the skin on his nose is broken already, but he hasn't finished it and I was wondering if it was because it was daytime or if I should be worried?

I might be being overly fussy but I really want to take good care of him. I made sure to spray his cage and the substrate to help make it a bit more humid. I keep a damp cloth on the top to help keep humidity up normally.

I should probably make him a special hide as well, I just need to find a tub that will fit him to edit.

[Aaron_S]

he'll shed within the day or night. Don't sweat it :)

[LespaceSerpent]

I figured I might be overreacting honestly ^-^;Thanks for the advice

[LespaceSerpent]

When should I start trying to help? I figure he already went through the first part of his shed since he was getting the piece off his nose. His scales are very obviously wrinkled and dry. I thought I had the humidity up but I'm going to go get a new hygrometer in case the cheesy one I have is busted. (I wanted to get a better one any now but now I haveore incentive)

[LespaceSerpent]

I wanted to let you guys know I talk to the guy at the petstore and he gave me a free shedding tub, so Butterscotch is in there now.

[Minkness]

A shedding...tub?

Glad it was free, he really shouldn't need it. And if there is stuck shed, you usually want to wait a day or two to let them get it off themself.

Make sure you are offering a water dish big enough to soak in as well.

If he continues to have issues, bump your humidity as well and if you do have him in a tank like mentioned, cover most of the screen to help with the humidity.

You should never 'have' to help a snake shed.

[jpsteele80]

A shedding tub? Commenly known as a water bowl. Wow it never ceases to amaze me what let shops will come up with.

[LespaceSerpent]

I do have a large water dish, and all it is is a small tub with paper towels and a fancy lid to help them. I'm working on getting my tank's humidity back up as I was right about my hygrometer not working properly. It was way too low.

[jpsteele80]

What kinda cage is it, if it's a screen top it will never hold humidity you will have to spray it constantly

[LespaceSerpent]

It does have a screen, I'm working on improvising something to help keep it up

[jpsteele80]

Using a heat lamp with a dome on top?

[Minkness]

Yeah, heat lamps also suck up humidity. Another reason to look into a CHE.

Also, for the few times I needed to help my snakes shed, I just used a tupperware, filled it half way with warm water (not too warm though) and placed it on the space in the cage that their uth is in to keep it warm. 10 mins latwr come back, and the shed sluffs off pretty easily with a gentle rub of a cloth.

[LespaceSerpent]

I do have the heat lamp on top, I heard putting a damp towel on the part of the screen not covered by the lamp can help, is that true?

And yeah that seems pretty simple to me, actually similar to what the store told me about the one I got. He said it's just to help them take it off themselves

[jpsteele80]

If you can find a cage with an rhp, I swear by them and wont use anything else now

[jpsteele80]

Dont listen to that idiot at the store when that towel dries up and it will next to a hot bulb you just creates a fire hazard, take tin foil for the time being and cover the whole top of the cage, then cut out a circle just big enough for the dome to go over (be careful not to cut the screen) that will work alot better till you can get something better

[LespaceSerpent]

I feel bad I wish I'd been more patient and waited for your guys help, Though I didn't actually buy anything I didn't need anyway.

I'm looking at some various reptile cages to try and save up for for him. Do you have some recommendations?

[jpsteele80]

Theres a lot of good cages out there, animal plastics is very popular, pvc cages is another

[macandchz]

minkness that's exactly what i do with mac when i think he's going to shed. i know a lot of you won't approve of it but i also give him a spritz with repti shedding aid. he's always had complete sheds. what's wierd though, he either sheds at night or when no one is in the house. do any of you get to see an actual shed?

[Minkness]

If you're handy you can also build your own. ^_^

That's what I'll be doing in a few months.

[Minkness]

Mac, mine do the same. I think it's because they are naturally nocturnal anyway.

Also...if you don't have to, don't use any oils, lotions, OR sprays to help with a shed. Just because it's sold with a reptile in mind, doesn't mean it's healthy.

[jpsteele80]

I've seen it but most of the time it's at night, when mine go into shed mode I'll usually mist them once a day with regular water except for my green tree since her cage has pretty high humidity

[Minkness]

I dothe same if I catch them in shed, but I missed it last time and my big boy kinda shreded his shed in half lol. Still all came off, but still...since I like to collect perfect sheds, made me sad... XD

[LespaceSerpent]

I guess I'm just worried about the money of working on another cage for him that he'll grow out probably fairly quickly since he's young since it's a lot of money.

I set up a damp rag on part of the lid (not near the edge of the heat lamp so it wouldn't light) moved his water dish onto the uth to help and his cage is back up to what it should be. I can tell I've stressed him out and I feel horrible but now that his cage is functioning the way it should I'm going to leave him be and let him work things out for himself.

In the meantime I'll work on saving up for a better heating/humidity system for the future to upgrade him to but since I got this working it gives me time.

[LespaceSerpent]

My mom actually commented that I sound like a fussing first tme parent whose kid has a fever ><

[Minkness]

Lol we all do in the beginning. I was just as bad, if not worse. XD

[jpsteele80]

You never mentioned what kinda snake it is

[LespaceSerpent]

Lol we all do in the beginning. I was just as bad, if not worse. XD

That makes me feel a bit better then <.<;

You never mentioned what kinda snake it is

Oh, I didn't even realize that. He's a ball python.

[jpsteele80]

Wouldn't worry about it out growing out of cage they don't get that big, just buy a full size cage for an adult and throw lots of hides in there, most people keep them in a rack system in tubs so you don't need something overly big

[Minkness]

Or they can keep it in the tank for a while. It's not a big deal. Mine stayed in her 10 gallon for like...6 months (ish) before being upped to the 20 long.

Keep an eye on craigslist for deals on better enclosures. I got mine for 75$ each and they were orriginally 200$ each. They needed a bit of cleaning, but it was totally worth it. =)

[LespaceSerpent]

I will definitely be watching Craigslist for some surprise deals ^-^ I'm just happy I managed to get his home stable so he can finally relax.

[Tiny Boidae]

I'm a little late to jump on this topic, but I have a bottle of shed-aid in my reptile basket. I bought it a few years ago when one of my boa's had a piece of stuck shed. I never even used it XD
I mean I opened it and took one whiff of it and thought "they want me to put my snake in THAT? What's the two main ingredients: ammonia and lighter fluid?" I mean it smelt like I was cleaning my floors with this heavy-duty cleaner that will shrivel up and kill any living thing on contact.

Correction: just looked at the ingredients, and neither of those were listed. It did have some pretty questionable ingredients though.

[Minkness]

Lol love this. That is why I only use water. If any extra 'umph' is needed, a drop of classic dawn which is VERY animal safe.

I have used vinegar to clean snake enclosures, but it makes me gag (and yes, it's diluted!) So I just use hot water and dawn and rinse with another wet rag.

[Klaire]

My mom actually commented that I sound like a fussing first tme parent whose kid has a fever ><

yup, i'm guilty of this haha

[jpsteele80]

yup, i'm guilty of this haha


lol it happens to everyone, when i got my green tree i had to temporarly put her in a cage that was not suitable for her, she wasn't eating and i knew it was because conditions were not right but i freaked and took her to the vet just to have him tell me the exact same thing, my cage for her arrived like 4 days later and within a week she was back to being a heat seeking missle again.

[LespaceSerpent]

He guys I've been keeping the humidity up but he still hadn't gotten all of the shed off what do I do

[jpsteele80]

He guys I've been keeping the humidity up but he still hadn't gotten all of the shed off what do I do

Soak him in a container for a little bit in luke warm water, when i say luke warm i mean just a little bit above room temp

[LespaceSerpent]

Do I just plop him back in his cage after or should I be trying to assist?

[jpsteele80]

Do I just plop him back in his cage after or should I be trying to assist?

You could try and assist, they will eventually get in off them selves, i wont lie and tell you not to do it as i have thrown my retics in the tub to soak and then pulled it off when they have had on occasional bad shed.

[LespaceSerpent]

I just made some changes to his tank so I'm going to give him another day since his temperature and humidity should be more stable and if he still hasn't worked it off then I will help him

[LespaceSerpent]

Guys he's gotten everything off except his eyes and the back of his head what do I do