Shedding Questions

[Chris_Flowers]

Hi again peeps :)

Well tried to feed my corn snake another two pinkies last Sunday after the sucessful feeding of two the week before. However, the pinkies sat there for ages and she didn't touch them :confused:

Anyway, thought nothing of it and decided to try her again in a week.

Yesterday I was changing her water and picked her up for a second, I noticed her eyes had gone all frosty! Now I know this is a sign of shedding right? I'm guessing this is why she didn't eat?

So, can anyone give me the do's and don'ts of what to do and not to do i.e. feed, handle etc. Also any tips or advice I might need to know about my snakes first shed (well, first shed since I've had her).

Much appreciated ;)

[Smilts]

i went through the same thing i try and give mine something to eat some times they will sometimes not. In a few days its eyes will clear then not long after it will shed. I dont handle mine while there blue unless really necc. I also put a nice rough rock ine the enclosure when there shedding prob not necc but they use it anyway

[josefg]

The only precaution you should take when a snakes is shedding is just make sure that it has enough humidity

:)

[rynwilliams]

This is a similar problem i had with my hatchlings. What you will notice is that the snakes are a bit moody when shedding and mine normally try to bite (only when hatchlings, adults are normally fine). after they have shed it should eat fine.

[Colonel SB]

Best thing to do is leave the snake alone, they are vary vulnerable during shedding. I usually mist the inside of thier hide box to provide higher humidity without soaking the cage.

[Invictus]

My corns all have perfect sheds without humidity. (I live in Calgary which is notoriously bone dry). Of course, increasing the humidity is still the BEST thing to do.

Other than that, don't handle the snake, and put something in the enclosure for it to rub up against. (If you don't have something already.) They shed by attempting to snag the skin on something, and then crawling right out of it.

[Chris_Flowers]

Ok thanks for the advice guys ;)

My humidity is usually anywhere between 40% and 60%.

I'm pretty sure she's got plenty to snag the old skin on, so we'll see in a few days I guess.

Cheers,
Chris.

[vanderkm]

Two things to watch for after the shed - examine the shed skin to make sure both eye caps have been shed correctly and that the tip of the tail has shed. Often the shed will break off before the tail tip sheds and the old skin that is retained on the tail can result in constriction as the snake grows, with sloughing of the tip of the tail. If they don't shed it completely, I usually just let the snake slither through a damp towel that I hold firmly on its body and the tail skin slips off. Only usually a problem in hatchlings.

mary v.

[KingFfaj]

my snake has never had a problem in its life! i've never had to increase the humidity, i find if the snake feels dry it will soak its self in its bowel, so just make sure theres not to much water in the bowel (especially for smaller corns) as it can increase the risk of RI and get the substrate wet.
good advice from vanderkm;)
also he'll be hungry after so feed him loads and loads and loads and loads and loads and loads and loads and loads and loads and loads untill hes a big 6 foot giant:D

[drewlowe]

You don't want to feed him loads and loads. That is called powerfeeding and can cause problems down the road with several things.

[Chris_Flowers]

Hmm, is it right for a snake during shedding to just stay in one part of the viv for days? MY corn has been up on its ledge on the cold side for almost two whole days - that is, I've not seen him move. How long should it take for the shed to happen from start to finish. I'm sure his eyes had just turned frosty about two days ago.

[Smilts]

mine dont move around much when getting ready to shed my rat snake is hiding right now he'll shed in the next few days

[Chris_Flowers]

This is very strange. I am positive his eyes were frosted over a few days ago. This morning I was geting concerned as he was staying in one place for days almost. So I investigated and picked him up. Well the frosty eyes had gone and no sign of shedding. So I put him back in and let him be. Again he's just staying in one place.

Could he still be in the process of shedding? Or is something wrong?

Help!

[marisa]

Nothing is wrong. This is a natural part of a snakes shed cycle. And something commonly mentioned in most books about colubrids and caresheets online.

The snakes eyes will go cloudy. This can be for two days or even four days.

Then the eyes will CLEAR up for afew days, again this could be 3 days or 6 days.

After this clear period they will shed. And yes much less active when shedding.

Marisa

[Chris_Flowers]

Yay! She shed last night. Woke up this morning and the old was trailed through the moss tree and stretched across most of the viv :)

Hmm, nah what to do with the skin lol
Keep it I guess!? :D

[drewlowe]

whatever you want to do with the shed is up to you.

[KingFfaj]

i used too stick them in a book (scrap book with metal bindings) and write the date and shed size and snake length and feeding rate:D
this made a very acurate record and has proven to be quite usefull in predicting thigs like next shed;)
however one day the shed was in hundreds of little pieces and i stoped coz i couldnt be assed. It lasted for good two years though and still have it till this day.
also chris, it takes ages to make a snake fat or obbese, and as angwi is a little small, i'd stuff her face;)