Dry skin on tail

[TheBoogieDown]

Hey everyone. I just had a quick question. I just got a beautiful corn snake, who is almost a year old (the person I got him/her from got it in October). Anyways, when I picked him up, I looked him over and he looked just fine. But when I got him home and got him in his enclosure, I was looking at him more closely and noticed his tail. The person I got him from also said he was due to shed pretty soon. I read another thread on this site (and do apologize, but I didn't find any other thread to post this in) and saw people mentioning death. I would truly hate to lose this snake. Any help would be greatly appreciated!!

(Also, I thoroughly apologize for the low quality of the picture.)

[snake man12]

If a shed is due it will come off fine.

[TheBoogieDown]

Thanks, Snake_Man. I will be keeping a close eye on it... When the shed does start, got any recommendations for me on how to keep the humidity up in his cage?

[alessia55]

got any recommendations for me on how to keep the humidity up in his cage?

Misting (spraying) with water, a larger water dish, or using a substrate (such as cypress mulch or reptibark) that holds humidity better would all help.

[snake man12]

I just mad a humidifier fro 13 bucks.
Link http://www.ssnakess.com/forums/general-discussion/94593-my-diy-humidifier.html

Do you want me to pm you the directions?

[TheBoogieDown]

I just mad a humidifier fro 13 bucks.
Link http://www.ssnakess.com/forums/general-discussion/94593-my-diy-humidifier.html

Do you want me to pm you the directions?

If you could, that would be extremely helpful. I have been looking into getting a humidifier, but don't really want to spend 50+ dollars at PetSmart (although I was going to, if it meant a healthier, happier snake).

[Jlassiter]

Looks like a stuck piece from its last shed.
I've seen snakes lose their tail tip due to this so make sure there is a humid option at all times....not just during a shed cycle......

Let it choose for itself....

[Wildside]

Looks like a stuck piece from its last shed.
I've seen snakes lose their tail tip due to this so make sure there is a humid option at all times....not just during a shed cycle......

Let it choose for itself....


Agreed. Do you know how to make a humidity box?

[TheBoogieDown]

Agreed. Do you know how to make a humidity box?

Snake Man sent me steps on how to build one like he made. I shall be using my day off wisely tomorrow. Until I can get out and get the required items, I have a moist towel over the top of the cage, and the humidity is (according to my hygrometer) 65%. I don't want to bother him too much right now. I just fed him yesterday (to me, yesterday, it's 12:40 here) and he's burrowed under the aspen bedding and I don't want to frighten him into regurging his meal.

[shaunyboy]

could you please try and get a clearer picture mate ?

i think its a retained shed on the tip of the tail,if this is the case...

you will need to remove it,incase it restricts the blood flow,causing the snakes tail to die and drop off

if its been there a while,it will most likely feel like really hard skin

you need to burst it length wise from tail to head,then pick it off (i use my finger nails)

retained shed on a tail tip can cause blood flow to be restriced or stopped altogether,causing the tip to die

sorry but,i can't tell if this is the case because your pictures too fuzzy

cheers shaun

[Lankyrob]

As he is due to shed i would let him shed first and then see what it is like, if it is still there then i would get it off asap :)

[shaunyboy]

As he is due to shed i would let him shed first and then see what it is like, if it is still there then i would get it off asap :)

imo it all depends on the colour of the tail tip,under the retained shed mate

if its going discoloured then i'd do it straight away,if its still getting blood,then there's no harm in waiting on the next shed

imo its hard to tell from the fuzzy picture though Rob

the tip looks dead to me,its the colour of it thats making me think that,it may be just theres a few lairs of retained skin and thats why it has that,white appearance to it ?

if you look at my jag in the picture you will see a very small part of the tip with retained skin

http://i429.photobucket.com/albums/qq17/spilota01/diamond1/P1000229.jpg

cheers shaun

[TheBoogieDown]

Okay, so it took about 20 minutes to actually get him calmed down enough to allow me to get a picture (he was none to happy about me digging him out of his burrow) but, I got it. The way I see it, better to have him pissed off and alive, than... well you get where I'm going. Here are some pictures I got (again, I don't have a camera, just the one on my phone, so I hope these are better for you guys).

[Jlassiter]

Yep...retained shed...as Shaun and I said...

[MoreliAddict]

if you look at my jag in the picture you will see a very small part of the tip with retained skin

http://i429.photobucket.com/albums/qq17/spilota01/diamond1/P1000229.jpg

cheers shaun
^ Spot's tail is identical to this almost every time he sheds, even if the humidity is high. I always have to grab him by the tail and work it off for him while he squirms a bit. lol

[TheBoogieDown]

Is this something I need to be getting him to a vet to take care of, or something that will come off during his next shed?

[snake man12]

It will come off next shed.

No vet needed,

[Lankyrob]

My personal opinion without seeing the snake itself is that you should wait for a shed and see whether it is still there, if it is then it needs to come off, some soaking in slightly warm water and patience and it should come off fairly easily :)

[TheBoogieDown]

Thanks a ton guys. Puts my mind at ease. After losing my first snake due to parasites I tend to freak out a bit.

[shaunyboy]

It will come off next shed.

No vet needed,


if at present,its RESTRICTING blood flow to the tip of the tail,it REQUIRES being taken off mate

the tip of the tail will die and drop off otherwise

to the op
can you take a clearer picture please ?

or

with your finger nail,simply split the retained skin length wise,from tail tip to head

if the tip of the tail looks healthy and it's obviously getting good blood flow,then you can wait and see if the next shed takes it off

the jag i posted pictures off,needs me to remove the last,5 to 10 millimetres of tail shed,everytime she goes through the shedding proccess

SORRY
i just noticed you have posted clear pic's

the tail looks ok and seems to have good blood flow

its up to you how you play it.....

personally i would just use my finger nail to split and peel the retained shed,then thats it job done

or

you could wait and see if it comes off next shed

whatever you decide either method will NOT cause harm to your snake,and for now the tail looks healthy

cheers shaun

[jaleely]

Last time i had a snake with a stuck shed on the tip of the tail, i just held the snake with a wet cloth wrapped around the tip of the tail...held it for a few minutes to moisten it, then rolled it right off the end of the tail!

You could also put a "shed box" in his enclosure. A tupperware with a lid, and with a hole in it, and some moist cloth, or moss or paper towels that he can crawl into. Put it on the warm side and he'll go right in.

: )