Snake Shedding?

[bbor62]

Hi all. I am somewhat new to the snake world. I have kept lots and lots of lizards over the years, but snakes are a somewhat unexplored pet category for me.

I recently bought this Mexican King. It has been about a month and 4 days since I first purchased it. It is still super shy and I have been having a tough time getting it to eat. I did finally get it to take a small thawed brained pinkie over two weeks ago, but it seems like a fairly small meal for it.

Today I noticed this peeling on it's face, but it's eyes are not foggy or blue in any way. I am hoping something isn't wrong and that it is just beginning a shed, further explaining the lack of apetite. However, I don't know enough to say one way or another. I was hoping someone could lend some insight to this by the attached photos. Thanks so much!

[bbor62]

Still hoping for advice. Te eyes never did change and its face still had dead looking scales. Doesn't appear to be changing.

[Mightymouse0303]

hows humidity?

[SnakeyJay]

Definately check the humidity... What's the set up like, how are you heating it and what are the temperatures etc? Knowing how he's set up can help find the issue.

[rmfsnakes32]

Looks like retained shed

[bbor62]

Definately check the humidity... What's the set up like, how are you heating it and what are the temperatures etc? Knowing how he's set up can help find the issue.

Thanks for your replies. I had been keeping a heat lamp on him, but it was pushing one corner of the cage to above 90 degrees. Since then, I have been keeping a heat pad on the bottom of one side, near the hide. The thermometer reads 78 in the aquarium, and I assume the heat pad is boosting that area to 83ish.

I have not been misting the snake, though he does have a large bowl to soak in. I suppose I should start doing so?

[Lankyrob]

You need any heat element THERMOSTATTED to keep the snake safe and you need to be able to KNOW what the humidity is otherwise how do you know whether itis too high or too low? :)

[EmbraceCalamity]

Thanks for your replies. I had been keeping a heat lamp on him, but it was pushing one corner of the cage to above 90 degrees. Since then, I have been keeping a heat pad on the bottom of one side, near the hide. The thermometer reads 78 in the aquarium, and I assume the heat pad is boosting that area to 83ish.

I have not been misting the snake, though he does have a large bowl to soak in. I suppose I should start doing so?If you have him in a fish tank with a light, that humidity is very low. You need to buy a digital humidity gauge and cover part of the screen to keep the moisture in better. Other ways to increase humidity: certain substrates, live plants, spraying, and have the bowl near the heat source to facilitate evaporation. Or you could buy a different kind of enclosure that will hold humidity better.

~Maggot

[SnakeyJay]

Guessing with temperatures and humidity isn't the way to go mate... You need a digital thermometer at each end, or go buy an infra red temp gun. Can we see a photo of the viv?

[bbor62]

Guessing with temperatures and humidity isn't the way to go mate... You need a digital thermometer at each end, or go buy an infra red temp gun. Can we see a photo of the viv?

I have one by exoterra, rather than a aquarium. See image. I have the water under the light and aspen bedding. I will upload a photo when not at work this evening. Thanks for your help.

[EmbraceCalamity]

I have one by exoterra, rather than a aquarium. See image. I have the water under the light and aspen bedding. I will upload a photo when not at work this evening. Thanks for your help.I just got an Exo Terra, and they don't hold humidity well at all.

~Maggot

[SnakeyJay]

You could switch to a uth as bulbs dry the air out.. Maybe switch to orchid bark so you can spray (aspen moulds) and/or provide a humid hide with damp spagmum moss.

[bbor62]

Is a UHT heater the under the tank heater? That is what I currently am using instead of my small heating light that was over heating the cage. It's been 78 in the cage with the 5 degree bump from the heating pad should be just right.

Here is my current set up, per the questions and suggestions from earlier. I am going to start misting her a couple of times per day and hopefully that helps. Thank you all for your help. If anyone else has any suggestions, please lmk. I am hoping she starts getting hungry again soon.

[SnakeyJay]

I wouldn't most aspen substrate unless you want mould growing in your viv... Not good for the snake.

[EmbraceCalamity]

Is a UHT heater the under the tank heater? That is what I currently am using instead of my small heating light that was over heating the cage. It's been 78 in the cage with the 5 degree bump from the heating pad should be just right.

Here is my current set up, per the questions and suggestions from earlier. I am going to start misting her a couple of times per day and hopefully that helps. Thank you all for your help. If anyone else has any suggestions, please lmk. I am hoping she starts getting hungry again soon.Misting won't do you any good. It'll raise humidity for a few minutes, then drop right back down again. See all that screen on top? It all goes right up through there. If you want to raise humidity levels, you'll need to cover at least a portion of the top (how much depending on what the humidity should be at).

~Maggot

[Falconeer999]

I don't think it's a matter of raising humidity. King snakes in general, and mexicans in specific, don't need high humidity. Unless you house is extremely dry, I wouldn't worry about raising humidity in the entire enclosure and provide a humid hide instead.

[EmbraceCalamity]

I don't think it's a matter of raising humidity. King snakes in general, and mexicans in specific, don't need high humidity. Unless you house is extremely dry, I wouldn't worry about raising humidity in the entire enclosure and provide a humid hide instead.Yeah, I don't know what their humidity needs are. It's hard to say without knowing what the humidity levels in the enclosure are.

~Maggot

[Falconeer999]

I think he stopped coming on here, but you can try PMing jlassiter (or go to his website: Coastal Bend Captive Breeding (http://coastalbendcaptivebreeding.com/index.html) he has a link to his email there). He's very, very knowledgeable with many years of experience. Helped me a lot when I got my kingsnake.

[bbor62]

I don't think it's a matter of raising humidity. King snakes in general, and mexicans in specific, don't need high humidity. Unless you house is extremely dry, I wouldn't worry about raising humidity in the entire enclosure and provide a humid hide instead.

Thank you. I was very confused, as everything I have read said low humidity and some care sheets don't even list the percentage. He currently has a dark cool place to hide, as well as a adequate bowl to soak in.

The strange scales are still there. My theory is that since these guys are escape artists, and he has not been comfortable in his new environment until somewhat recently, he may have rubbed his face on the upper screen trying to escape. I saw him doing it one night, but I am surprised to see that much scaling. Thanks for your help.

[bbor62]

I think he stopped coming on here, but you can try PMing jlassiter (or go to his website: Coastal Bend Captive Breeding (http://coastalbendcaptivebreeding.com/index.html) he has a link to his email there). He's very, very knowledgeable with many years of experience. Helped me a lot when I got my kingsnake.

Thanks! I will try and reach out to him.

[Jlassiter]

I'm still here.......
Actually bbor62, you got great information from everyone above.....
It is DEFINITELY a humidity problem.
Throw away the light and get a UTH. Also get a digital temp gun.

Provide a humidity "option" with a container of damp sphagnum moss that has one end on the uth and the other end not. The snake will use this when he is dehydrating......btw, he is dehydrating now...

When you get time read my caresheet on my website....You don't have to do it my way, but use what you can/want.....

Cheers and Merry Christmas,
John

[EmbraceCalamity]

I'm still here.......
Actually bbor62, you got great information from everyone above.....
It is DEFINITELY a humidity problem.
Throw away the light and get a UTH. Also get a digital temp gun.

Provide a humidity "option" with a container of damp sphagnum moss that has one end on the uth and the other end not. The snake will use this when he is dehydrating......btw, he is dehydrating now...

When you get time read my caresheet on my website....You don't have to do it my way, but use what you can/want.....

Cheers and Merry Christmas,
JohnDo you by chance have any experience with Eco Earth as a humid hide option? I know I've heard from several people that it does a better job at holding moisture than moss, but obviously I wouldn't want to suggest it if it can't be used with these snakes for whatever reason. Just out of curiosity. And thanks for clarifying for us. :)

~Maggot

[bbor62]

I'm still here.......
Actually bbor62, you got great information from everyone above.....
It is DEFINITELY a humidity problem.
Throw away the light and get a UTH. Also get a digital temp gun.

Provide a humidity "option" with a container of damp sphagnum moss that has one end on the uth and the other end not. The snake will use this when he is dehydrating......btw, he is dehydrating now...

When you get time read my caresheet on my website....You don't have to do it my way, but use what you can/want.....

Cheers and Merry Christmas,
John

thanks so much for your help. Will do for the moss. To clarify on the acronym, UTH is under take heater?

Rob

[EmbraceCalamity]

thanks so much for your help. Will do for the moss. To clarify on the acronym, UTH is under take heater?

RobYes. :)

~Maggot

[bbor62]

I'm still here.......
Actually bbor62, you got great information from everyone above.....
It is DEFINITELY a humidity problem.
Throw away the light and get a UTH. Also get a digital temp gun.

Provide a humidity "option" with a container of damp sphagnum moss that has one end on the uth and the other end not. The snake will use this when he is dehydrating......btw, he is dehydrating now...

When you get time read my caresheet on my website....You don't have to do it my way, but use what you can/want.....

Cheers and Merry Christmas,
John

Thanks so much for your help. I put a moss hide in there for the last week and a half. She spent most all of today inside of it and just shed her skin a few minutes ago. All seems to be going well. Do you recommend bringing it back every so often to be sure she is not dehydrating, or just when she is shedding? Thnx!

R

[Lankyrob]

I leave the moss hides in permanently for my snakes, just make sure the moss stays moist and doesnt dry out and go ****** :)

[EmbraceCalamity]

It's my understanding that the hides can be useful and might be utilised even when the reptile isn't in shed. I can only speak of experience with geckos, however, but I know with geckos that need moist hides to shed, they should be left in all the time. But that's geckos and might not apply to snakes. I can't think of a reason not to leave it in though.

~Maggot