wont stop sheding

[richie.w]

hi can anyone help i have a dwarf boa that has been sheding for about 3 month and will not eat. I have tried small feeds to make it easier but still nothing, is there anything i can put on his skin to help him.

[Lankyrob]

Can you explain what you mean by shedding for three months? Just constantly sloughing of skin or been tryong to do one shed for three months??

Also if you can post the details of his enclosure - size, temps, humidity, substrate, hides etc then we should get you an answer.

[richie.w]

hi viv is 3feet x 20inch high x 18 deep with heat mat and lamp useing newspaper right now has log with rough vine raped round it temp averaging 32c not sure about humity but spray every day. had him in here for a year feeding fine and sheding fine for about 7 month

[Jenn_06]

what do you mean? he shed like 3 times or more in 3 months, how old is he, alot of snake will stop eating around breeding season.

[richie.w]

he is about 18 month so i am told i bought it off an idiot in a pub car park. his skin is coming off in pieces so its hard to tell if its 1 2 or 3 sheds to be honest. his eyes hev constantly been milky the whole time.

[NennaMeerkat]

So his eyes have been milky for 3 months?

[kenchenzo]

sounds like he may have retained eye caps i would suggest a wet pillow case mate this norm works.

[derekcm87]

Yeah, It doesnt sound like he keeps shedding, sounds like he is having trouble shedding...

[Marica]

If one of my snakes has a bad shed I place them in a plastic container with 1/2-1" warm water and small towel, then leave them for about 1/2 an hour. If they haven't worked off the old skin or it still seems quite stuck, I'll replace the water and let them soak for another 1/2 hour. By that point if they haven't worked the shed off themselves, it's usually soggy and loose enough that I can use the towel to gently work it off.

As for a stuck eye cap, I haven't had to deal with that yet myself, but have read that some keepers will wait and see if it comes off with the following shed. Otherwise there are several methods to attempt removal yourself, one of which I believe reading was to swab the eye with a wet Q-Tip.Though if it is a stuck eye cap you should get someone's opinion who's used a reliable method.

[Damion930]

I have read about snakes going through multiple growth spurts when young and having over lapping sheds humidity in situations like this is very important along with the other very good advice id def get somthing to monitor your humidity hope everything works out and anymore info u can provide will help with more suggestions

[richie.w]

thanks for all that i will try the water tub because he dose like a bath. thanks again

[Steve'O]

This is a shedding problem. You need to monitor the temp and humidity. In the winter months you most likely need a humidifier in your reptile room. I agree it sounds as if the snake has retained eye caps. If the snake does not shed the spectacle it will build up with several layers. This can cause permanent eye injury. You can try soaking several times a day for several days as recommended. You can try using a wet wash cloth and try to gently remove the unshed skin. If you are not comfortable with this, I recommend a vet who works with exotics. Also, what are you feeding and what is your feeding schedule? Good luck and keep us informed...

[richie.w]

hi, I am feeding him small to medium rats always well defrosted and warm had just took down to once every 2 weeks tried a mouse last night even put it in his mouth still not interested.

[richie.w]

hi uppdate, happy give him a good soaking he had a good shed and last night he ate only a large mouse but he ate

[infernalis]

hi uppdate, happy give him a good soaking he had a good shed and last night he ate only a large mouse but he ate


very good news indeed.:)

[shaunyboy]

he is about 18 month so i am told i bought it off an idiot in a pub car park. his skin is coming off in pieces so its hard to tell if its 1 2 or 3 sheds to be honest. his eyes hev constantly been milky the whole time.


it sounds like he's retained a complete shed or more

can you post pictures if possible please ???

warm baths will help him get it off

after he's been in the bath a few minutes let him run through your hands and some will come off

give him 10 to 15 minute daily baths

imo its ok to peel of shed from his body if its NOT giving too much resistance

do NOT peel his eyes or vent

watch his scales as you do it if they look like they're lifting up too much from his body then leave that part of the shed

i will pm you a way to get his eye caps off without damaging his eyes please follow it to the letter and do not deviate in any way as you may scratch his lenses

hope you get it sorted as his last owner seems to have been a bit of an idiot

cheers shaun

[richie.w]

just to let everybody know all is clear nice bright eye again thanks again for the help and advice

[Steve'O]

Congrats, glad all i back to normal for you and your pet.

[richie.w]

sorry to let all know but he died at the weekend (bit of a bitch)

[Jenn_06]

awwww im so sorry, i know how it feels i had a snake die yesterday.

[Lankyrob]

Sympathies to you both.

Ritchie, at least you know he spent his last days being CARED for, unlike with his previous owner.

[mld]

Very sorry to hear about your loss!