Shedding...?

[michellegrace88]

Hello again everyone! Okay, so, update on Dexter... Since it's his first winter, I haven't hibernated him -- however, he seems to have hibernated himself! he's never out and about anymore, he's always under his log or in his dome home, and the temperature is not an issue... he's not too enthusiastic about eating, BUT he does appear to be shedding/preparing to shed. Is this normal behavior if he's in the shedding process?

ALSO, i spoke to a professional about how to go about helping him shed, since he requires very low humidity -- since then, i've been using Vitamin E oil and Repti-Shed Shedding Aid to help. He appears wrinkly almost, like leathery skin after a bad sunburn --- is any of this cause for alarm or is this normal?

every book I own lacks info about this stuff, and i can't find anything reliable on the web, so help will be appreciated!!!!:sorry:

[citysnakes]

what kind of boa is he? i dont think you should try to "hibernate" him. im not really sure what you even mean by that. you should however keep the temperatures constant and where they need to be for the type of boa that you own. also if your humidity levels are where they should be for the type of boa that you own, he should be shedding fine for you as long as hes healthy. snakes starting and during a shed cycle usually will hide and not come out until they are ready to shed their skin so its ok that hes hiding.

you dont need to help him shed unless hes got a retained shed. in that case a good soaking is the best remedy. i dont know about these products youve been recommended to use but im pretty sure you dont need em. does your snake have a retained shed at the moment?

[Smilts]

Did you notices his eyes turn blue, if so its a few days after that and they will shed on there own if some of the old skin doesnt come off after the shed then you should soak him. To help prepare for a shed just do as normal and keep the humidity and temps rite and he will shed fine.

If I misunderstood then sorry ignore me !

[Chu'Wuti]

As Julian said, snakes hide during a shed cycle. When the shed cycle begins, the outer layer of skin separates from the lower (new) layer of skin, so they can't see well; as a result, they feel very vulnerable to predation. Safest to hide then, right? ;)

Does he have a bowl that's big enough for him to soak in if he wants? That will help him shed completely.

[michellegrace88]

what kind of boa is he? i dont think you should try to "hibernate" him. im not really sure what you even mean by that. you should however keep the temperatures constant and where they need to be for the type of boa that you own. also if your humidity levels are where they should be for the type of boa that you own, he should be shedding fine for you as long as hes healthy. snakes starting and during a shed cycle usually will hide and not come out until they are ready to shed their skin so its ok that hes hiding.

you dont need to help him shed unless hes got a retained shed. in that case a good soaking is the best remedy. i dont know about these products youve been recommended to use but im pretty sure you dont need em. does your snake have a retained shed at the moment?





Dex is a baby Rosy Boa -- this is his first shed since I've had him, so I needed some help with the basics; as far as the hibernating thing, i was referring to "over-wintering" or whatever my books say, bla bla bla, but yes, I agree with you, I prefer to maintain the constant climates. I don't think he has any retained shedding, however, it seems that the actual shedding hasn't yet begun.. so i assume he's pre-shed at the moment?

[michellegrace88]

As Julian said, snakes hide during a shed cycle. When the shed cycle begins, the outer layer of skin separates from the lower (new) layer of skin, so they can't see well; as a result, they feel very vulnerable to predation. Safest to hide then, right? ;)

Does he have a bowl that's big enough for him to soak in if he wants? That will help him shed completely.




thanks so much, i feel a lot better :D
the vulnerability piece makes a lot of sense, and yes, he does have sufficient water readily available, so i guess i'll just sit back and wait for him to be his good old self again --

Ah, lastly... should I continue offering him food if it requires me to take him out of his hiding place to even notice it's there? I tried offering it in his tank so that he could eat when he pleased, but he ignored it, and i'd hate to disrupt him if it isn't necessary...?

[Kmef07]

I would continue to offer him food in his tank but I wouldn't press the issue with him. The last thing you want to do is stress the poor thing out. Wait for a day or so after he sheds though to offer food it will give his new skin a little time to toughen up.

Thank you to everyones advice in this thread. My snake is also in a shed cycle and is displaying the same behavior. It is comforting to know that my snake isn't acting odd.

[Chu'Wuti]

should I continue offering him food

No. When snakes enter the shed cycle, they can't see well, which in turn means they can't see to strike accurately, which means they won't hunt or eat. Just let him be until he completes his shed. Be prepared to feed him the next day, though--he will be hungry after he sheds.

[Kmef07]

I in all my infinite wisdom decided to clean my whole snake cage around my snake who by the way has not left her hide while i've been in the room in the last few days. her eyes have finally fogged over and she is hopefully going to shed in the next day. anyway while changing out her cage hides and water bowls and stuff i left her in her tank and i got a little close when i was turning over her substrate (to get the substrate on the bottom that was still wet to go to the top and the dryer stuff on the bottom to absorb water. i think this will help with humidity and stuff and keep the substrate cycling and keep the mold and bacteria potential down) anyway back to the point. when i got a little too close she must have seen my hand as a threat or food considering she hasn't eaten in about a week and chomped down right on my wrist. thankfully she doesn't really hurt when she bites, but i am writing this so you may learn from my mistake and not bother your reptile when they are in shed. i have come to the conclusion they really are more aggitated and best left alone lol.

[Kmef07]

yes i knew before i started it probably wasnt the best idea but i needed to clean the cage and i will be working a lot this week and won't be able to dedicate the time to cleaning it. so before you all yell at me for being stupid i would just like to say i know it was dumb and i was asking for it.

[Chu'Wuti]

so before you all yell at me for being stupid i would just like to say i know it was dumb and i was asking for it.

LOL! It happens.

Even though they can't see well, they sense the heat from something big and get scared, so do a quick strike to scare it away or kill it quickly. It's what we might call a "pre-emptive strike"--they want to get the predator before it gets them.

Live & learn!

[michellegrace88]

so this scrunchy-like skin is okay?? i don't really see any opaque-ness over the eyes, its moreso like loose skin... ugh

[Kmef07]

The "opaque-ness" (is that even a word??? lol) over the eyes usually happens after the skin gets a little shaggy my Brazilian boa looks almost like she is sick and crusty right now but supposedly thats how they look right before they shed. the skin on the ball i used to have got really shaggy to the point where it would move free in some spots from the new skin it was really gross but eventually they shed.

[citysnakes]

michelle, if your snake is entering a shed cycle then just let him be. some snakes eat while in shed and some snakes dont. it all depends on the individual animal at that time. you havent had this guy too long and theres no need to rush things. scrunchy-like skin happens sometimes and its ok just try to leave him alone and keep humidity where it should be and he should shed in one piece on his own.

[michellegrace88]

The "opaque-ness" (is that even a word??? lol) over the eyes usually happens after the skin gets a little shaggy my Brazilian boa looks almost like she is sick and crusty right now but supposedly thats how they look right before they shed. the skin on the ball i used to have got really shaggy to the point where it would move free in some spots from the new skin it was really gross but eventually they shed.




opaqueness
noun1. incomprehensibility resulting from obscurity of meaning [syn: opacity (http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/opacity)] 2. the quality of being opaque to a degree; the degree to which something reduces the passage of light [syn: opacity (http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/opacity)] [ant: clarity (http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/clarity)]




Opaqueness
O*paque"ness\, n. The state or quality of being impervious to light; opacity. --Dr. H. More.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.




:D

[dexter 1988]

cool a Rosy Boa thats a nice snake

[Kmef07]

well i have been proved wrong yet again.lol