shedding

[ballpython1717]

my little pastel oscar came out of his blue stage 2 weeks ago and is STILL in shed. before the problem was humidity, but i fixed it and he still wont shed!

[Lankyrob]

Have you checked the WHOLE enclosure? My royal sometimes rolls his shed up into a tiny ball in his substrate.

Also you say you had humidity issues, was this before this shed process or during this shed process? If it is was during this current shed then that could be a problem.

[rmfsnakes32]

After you check for a balled up shed if you dont find any soak in warm water for an hour and see if that helps loosen the shed you may have to assit in getting the shed off

[Skumbo]

Try this, Get warm (hand temperature) water and get a bunch of paper towels pretty well wet. Handle him with the paper towels, and have him "run through" them to try to get the shed off.

Do you have pics of him?

[h3h]

Have you checked the WHOLE enclosure?

^^Look again^^

One of my milks likes to use the weight of the water dish after she breaks the shed to help her get it off. I usually find it under the bowl.



I used to keep all my snakes on that Eco-Earth shredded coconut fiber stuff, but it's had to see doo doo, so I switched to paper towels a while back. I still buy the Eco-Earth and I put it 1-2" deep (depending on the snake) in a tupperware container with an entry hole for a humidity hide. Snakes can and will regulate themselves if they have the option in their enclosure.

I have somewhere between 5-8 snakes at any one time, and one brick last me a month +. Personal experience says if you create a humidity hide you wont have a shed problem again, or not a major one. My snakes also use this as the bathroom, which makes clean up a breeze, dump it, refill, done. I don't have to move the snake, water, hides, ect to change the paper towels out.

My point is, at the very least if you see your snake(s) in blue and you provide a humidity hide until they shed you should greatly reduce any chance of a shedding problem.

- h3

[ballpython1717]

i dont need to check the whole enclosure. the shed is still kinda on the top of his head and all over his back. the humidity was fixed right after his blue stage

[rmfsnakes32]

Ok then a good soak is in order! Once you soak at least 30 min you will have to assist in getting the shed off start at the head using your thumb push down with a little pressure and work your way down the snake pay close attention to the eyecaps make sure they come off this will be a little tedious at 1st. If you start having a harder time peeling the shed off soak some more. Your snake will not be happy about this but it has to be done soon you dont want to have retained shed. Also the humidity level still needs some work ideal shoot for 75% when in shed

[shaunyboy]

i would put him in the bath,then rub/peel the shed off his body,make sure you get all the shed of the tip of the tail,as retained shed can cut blood circulation,causing the tip to die and drop off

eye caps i would use viscotears gell,do NOT attempt to peel or rub eye caps

i will pm you the viscotears method mate

cheers shaun

[Lankyrob]

Fixing the humidity that "late" wouldnt have helped THIS shed, it will definitely help the next one tho :) do as the others say, bathe the snake and use a facecloth or papertowel to GENTLY remove the stuck shed.

[Terranaut]

My male boa had a bad shed when we first got him. We put him in a warm bath and peeled it off. Took a half hour but was worth it to help the poor guy out. We used a cloth and "pet" it off. Never a bad shed since.
http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j9/terranaut0/photo-33.jpg

[ballpython1717]

thanks for all the great advice! ill try the paper towel thing first thing tomorrow! this is gonna sound stupid, but how do you reccomend i soak the snake? (this is my first reptile and this isnt exactly what i was prepared for)

[Terranaut]

Bath tub. :)

[ballpython1717]

should i hold it inside the water or just let it move around on its own? how deep should the water be?

[Terranaut]

It will try to get out. My boas are big enough to reach over the edge but a ball should be fine. Just let it lurk about and wipe it as it moves around.

[ballpython1717]

ok thanks! im getting right on it and i will post a picture tomorrow when he is hopefully done with the shed :)

[Lankyrob]

Use warm but not hot water and i only ever put enough water to cover about three quarters of the height of the snake, NEVER leave the snake alone whilst it is in the water!! :)

[Aaron_S]

I use a simpler method. Or did way back in the day when I ever needed to assist a snake with a shed at the pet store I worked at. We simply soaked a pillowcase in warm water. Put the snake in and tied it up. Left it for a bit and that would solve any problems. The snake will move about the bag and get the shed off itself.

[DavethePython]

I keep a pile of miss in my snake enclosures big enough they can burrow under . When they are in shed I keep it nice and moist . They will usually stay there until they are ready to shed . Since I started that I have always found a perfect shed when they are done. This way I never have to handle them during shed and the humidity stays nice and high . Just be sure to keep it in a warm section of the enclosure.

[ballpython1717]

this is oscar after i took your advice and soaked him. hes so cute! https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/#inbox/13a13b987ea25d4e

[Terranaut]

Cant link a pic from your email

[rmfsnakes32]

How did the assit shed go did you get all the retained shed off?

[ballpython1717]

the assist shed went great! it only took about 30 minutes and oscar has even better coloring then i remembered. shortly after the shed i gave him his first meal with me and got most of it on video. i want to post it on the thread but i dont know how.

[rmfsnakes32]

Im glad it went well hopefully you dont have to go thru that again but if you do you will be a champ at it!