View Full Version : Bad Shed/Wrinkly skin
greenman1867
03-07-05, 12:06 PM
Okay my trouble feeder lil girl is now a trouble shedder (??)
First thing I thought was humidity, but it is fine (I think) around 70-75% and she gets spritzed 2 times a day (since she started this shed). Her set up is exactly the same as all the other girls and they are fine.
Anyways, she is eating and has had 3 rats in a row, no problems.
I don't think she looks so hot. I would weigh her but I would rather not handle her too much while she is shedding ( I would guess 110g).
Any thoughts on her looks or the bad shed? I will soak her and try the warm damp cloth thing tonight maybe.
Her she is now;
<IMG SRC='http://usera.imagecave.com/greenman1867/Balls/NajaBadShed.JPG'>
and before I got her to eat (30 Jan 05 amd 87g);
<IMG SRC='http://usera.imagecave.com/greenman1867/Balls/Naja96g-1.JPEG'>
Shawn
she looks a little dehydrated...do you have a shallow container full of water that she can soak in?
Get her either a humid hide or mist really good for a while. Is this her first shed with you? If so my guess is she was having humidity probs at her last home. If you towel her and get most of it off then the rest should be fine when she has her next shed. Good Luck.
Although your humidity is fine, I would still recommend a soak (she does look a bit on a dehydtrated side to me).
Aside from that though, there are other factors that can relate to a bad shed. High humidity (doesn't seem like this is the case though), parasites (someone correct me if I'm wrong), and stress (being the most common when nothing else appears wrong).
I could be way off here, but my ball FREAKS OUT and runs for the nearest hide when I mist the cage. Is there anything you can think of that might be causing stress? Have you checked for mites or ticks? I'm doubting this would be the reason, but it never hurts to look.
I'm sorry... I'm fairly new to boids, but in my experience with snakes, this is the most help I can offer.
Edit: Sorry, I just realized you said your problem feeder is now a problem shedder. Have you had a fecal done? It might be completely unneccessary, but it couldn't hurt.
greenman1867
03-07-05, 03:02 PM
I thought about a fecal but I need a fresh poop :)
Anyways, I will make sure she gets a good soak and yes she always has a water dish available. Anyways thanks for the advice.
Shawn
Shawn, I would go to Shoppers and pick up some Pedialyte. She does look really dehydrated and electrolytes would help out big time, soak her in the Pedialyte. She's eating so that's good, but having had three meals, has she retained any of the weight? If not, she may have an internal parasite. Try to get a nice fresh poop in a ziploc bag to your vet. Cost is roughly $30-$40. Also, she didn't look that great coming in, looked emaciated and dehydrated then. Curious to know who would sell you a ball in that condition so that I can steer the hell clear of them (you can e-mail or PM that info to me). Good luck.
Originally posted by mykee
. Also, she didn't look that great coming in, looked emaciated and dehydrated then. Curious to know who would sell you a ball in that condition so that I can steer the hell clear of them (you can e-mail or PM that info to me).
I agree with Mykee here, looks like the ones at the LPS here. Is that where it is from?
greenman1867
03-07-05, 03:45 PM
Ya actually before she started eating she weighed 88g, after 3 rats (25g each) she is now 138g so thats a pretty good gain actually (one is still pretty fresh in her though, 2 days).
Thanks guys I will get that pedialyte and a fecal as soon as she has a nice fresh poo.
Shawn
mykee pm on its way
Well reading mykee's reply (regarding my thought of possible parasites), I would definitely say a vet visit is in order. Keep us posted.
PS. Interesting about the pedialyte. I know drinking it is good for dehydration in humans, but I didn't know it would be effective with snakes. Would soaking it be good enough, or would he have to dilute it with water? Is it safe for snakes to drink it (I would assume so, but...)? That's very interesting, Mykee. I would have never thought of that.
snakehunter
03-07-05, 04:18 PM
ok here is my advice:
Get a towel. soak it in warm water, make sure the towel is a wet damp, and not soaking wet, lightly wrap your snake in the towel, then put your snake towel ball ina rubbermaid container, leave it in his cage on the warmside over night, you will wake up with a clean and happy snake. I stole this from boidkeeper and has worked for me EVERYTIME.
Pedialyte is great for deydrated snakes, it's for infants - toddlers who are dehydrated also, so it's concentration is ideal, no need to dilute it. Just toss the snake in and leave it for about 10-15 mins. and repeat every second day or so for a week. It's worked for me. You can also use Gatorade or many other sports drinks, as most contain electrolytes. Also good if you wnat to inflate the price of a normal ball you're selling, you can turn it orange, blue, green, etc. Seen it done, don't laugh....
tHeGiNo
03-07-05, 04:47 PM
PS. Interesting about the pedialyte. I know drinking it is good for dehydration in humans, but I didn't know it would be effective with snakes. Would soaking it be good enough, or would he have to dilute it with water? Is it safe for snakes to drink it (I would assume so, but...)? That's very interesting, Mykee. I would have never thought of that.
Pedialye is an electrolye solution. It simply contains some of the electrolytes of the body (sodium, chlorine, potassium) as well as citrate and dextrose (sugar). It is used to replace electrolyte levels when they are low.
Now I am not a doctor, and could be wrong, but I do not know if the use of pedialyte is applicable in this situation. I personally would use pedialytes when the snake is not eating, or has chronic diahria or vomiting, when a great deal of electrolytes are lost. Being that the snake is eating, it is receiving the proper nutrients it needs. If it is dehydrated, it does not have enough fluids in the body - would that not imply that there is already a higher concentration of the electolytes, and wouldn't adding more electrolytes increase this concentration?
Anyhow, definitely give your snake a nice soak and increase the humidity. Another thing I tend to do with dehydrated snakes is wet the feeder item so it is covered in water. This adds an extra water content as the snake eats. Some snakes, however, will not eat a wet feeder item.
I think it's fantastic. I just never would have thought to use it on snakes, is all. Drinking OR soaking. I've used it on myself plenty of times (I have/had a digestive disorder). lol
Now GATORADE, on the other hand... Colored balls? I would assume that's bad (all the dyes and additives, etc), but who knew! I've always wanted a blue snake. ;)
greenman1867
03-07-05, 05:32 PM
Okay, one other thought, could I start injecting the feeders with pedialyte? I normally soak the rats (but not with her since I can only get her to eat live ATM). LOL Which also means I probably couldn't inject the rats since they would be alive.
Hmm, off to the drawing board.
Actually after a 20 minute soak and a humid (damp towel) in her hide, she is peeling off the remainder of the skin, it's the dehydration thing now. I will do the pedialyte soak for a few days and then repost some hopefully much improved pics.
Shawn
Originally posted by Spirit
Now GATORADE, on the other hand...
When I've looked at the ingredients of gatorade, it seems like its not much more than colored sugar water. I've never seen anything added to it that would increase its electrolytes. (I don't have a bottle in front of me right now and its been awhile since I looked but since I did unofficially research it, I've never bothered to use it again for my sick kids - I just offer lots of water & herbal tea instead). Never tried the Pedialyte but I suspect it is better than Gatorade.
tHeGiNo
03-07-05, 06:23 PM
Okay, one other thought, could I start injecting the feeders with pedialyte? I normally soak the rats (but not with her since I can only get her to eat live ATM). LOL Which also means I probably couldn't inject the rats since they would be alive
I do inject feeders with additional fluids if necessary - this is also how I administer some medications. You could still wet the rat - alive or dead.
On a side note, gatorade is more then water and sugar, which is why it is considered a sports drink. It contains sodium (in the form of sodium chloride), potassium, carbohydrates (sugars), phosphorus, etc. Basically all of your electrolytes.
I think you might be confused - recall that electrolytes are simply salts. They include sodium, potassium, chloride, phosphate, magnesium, sulfate etc, all of which are lost through excersize (sweat) and sickness (through vomiting and diahhrea), hence its recommendation of use.
Anyhow, back to your snake - definitely give him a soak and wet your feeder item.
I know some people who swear by gatorade when they have a bad flu (low energy due to liquids coming from either north or south holes). My only concerns with gatorade on snakes is the coloring.
At any rate... Great thread. lol
Jeff_Favelle
03-07-05, 08:26 PM
Gatorade has WAY more than just sugar and colouring. Look at the amount of carbs in it. And those carbs aren't from the sugars alone. Gatorade rocks!
Scales Zoo
03-07-05, 08:39 PM
A friend of ours not on ssnakess.com has been using gatorade to soak imported baby b.p's since the 80's I think. He says it works amazing, turns them into eating machines most of the time. I didn't realize others had gatorade experience also - something I will have to remember if I ever have the need.
Ryan
greenman1867
03-07-05, 09:27 PM
Well here she is after a 30 minute soak in warm water, 2 hours in a humid hide, and another 30 minutes in pedialyte. She looks much better. A Couple more soaks and maybe she will be Okay.
before
<IMG SRC='http://usera.imagecave.com/greenman1867/Balls/NajaBadShed.JPG'>
after
<IMG SRC='http://usera.imagecave.com/greenman1867/Balls/NajaAfterShed_2.JPG'>
<IMG SRC='http://usera.imagecave.com/greenman1867/Balls/NajaAfterShed_1.JPG'>
Thanks again for all the advice
Shawn
Wow... hard to tell from the pics. Did the shed come off? She looks way better.
BAFlathead
03-08-05, 01:24 AM
is that the same snake?lol that looks so much better. i had heard of soaking snakes that were dehydrated in pedialyte or gatorade, but had never seen the results. i will definately remember that one.
Jeff_Favelle
03-08-05, 02:40 AM
That snakes looks 180 degrees better! Amazing what a little water can do. Also amazing how delicate the balance is between a living thing being on the brink and being 100% healthy. And to think hydration is only one factor in that delicate balance. Amazing how resiliant life is.
Keep us updated. Try not to stress the little dude too much either.
greenman1867
03-08-05, 06:12 AM
Jeff, she will be left alone a few days (except an odd peek in to check for poo) and I will soak her again in a few days as well.
Thanks,
Shawn
bighillreptiles
03-08-05, 07:17 AM
Wow congrats ont the recovery of the little one she or he is 100% better looking then in the first pic Please keep us posted
Bristen
03-08-05, 07:24 AM
whoa!! Talk about dramatic results!! I've purchased a small male once that pretty much looked like the first picture.. I kept his enclosure fairly well misted for a few days and he was great after a couple of days... I got the same results, but just not as fast as you did! Great stuff! I'll remember Gatorade, that's for sure...
Bristen.
tHeGiNo
03-08-05, 11:29 AM
Gatorade has WAY more than just sugar and colouring. Look at the amount of carbs in it. And those carbs aren't from the sugars alone. Gatorade rocks!
Definitely, just labelled sugar for simplicities sake. I am too a huge gatorade fan, for both myself and malnourished animals :).
The snake looks GREAT man, good job.
Since we're talking baths, what temp should the water be? I've always stuck wtih 80F because I know that's safe for my corn (and within the correct temp range for a ball), but I've often wondered if that's a bit low, since balls require a hot spot of 90-95 (and corns only 83-ish).
Congrats on how much better your snake is looking.
Interesting post. I decided to google search Gatorade to see what I could find out (thanks for offering that I might be confused but in fact, I wasn't - I know very well that Gatorade is a sports drink :)) It turns out, I was basically right - sugar and water - but I'm also happy to admit when I'm wrong, and whoever posted that there is also sodium in it, is correct. According to the study I found, the purpose of the sodium is to induce thirst, so that more fluid is ingested, which aids in rehydration. The purpose of the sugars is to boost energy (duh). Sports drinks have rapidly become a part of American life, but my belief remains, that drinking enough good ol water will serve just as well in rehydrating, and if I were involved in a sport where rapid energy was required, I would rather ingest it via a power bar or something, than drink gallons of sugar water. But - to each their own.
Actually, for sereve dehydration, a body needs salts, not sugars. Water is fine to stay hydrated, but if you're (for example) going hiking on a warm day, your body loses a lot of salt, and that salt must be replenished. Having said that, do not drink "salt water" (table or ocean). lol Adding table salt to your meals helps as well. Sugar will help boost your energy (carbs) but not much else.
Also, cotton kills. (How to survive in the wilderness... old habits die hard). LOL
BAFlathead
03-09-05, 04:02 AM
i take it you have never been in a factory where it gets REALLY hot and humid. i haven't heard of anyone doing it in the last 10 years , but it used to be common practice to have a water table with salt tablets available to keep you from having a heat stroke from dehydration. same principal.
In fact, every outdoors survival/first aid kit that i owned growing up came with salt tablets in case you started to become dehydrated.
They don't advise the use of salt tablets anymore. Can't remember why but when I took my first aide course they said they are no longer used. My dad though had a guy go into convulsions on a job site due to heat stroke, the kid had been drinking water all day but since he had not eaten anything he still got heat stroke and the first thing the paramedics did when they got there was give him 2 bags of salt water through the IV, he was up and talking before they carted him off to the hospital.
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