what's wrong

[LisaT]

Here I am searching for help...again!
I have a pueblan milk snake since November, she is 17 " and has never had a non problem shed...
I keep her in the same conditions as 4 corn snakes I have with sligtly higher temps. The corns shed without problems but she just keeps sheding in peaces!
Coul it be she is missing some nutrients or could there be other problems? She has a humid hide, plenty water and when I notice she is going in to shed I regulary spray her enclosure...no use...

Thanks for any suggestions

Lisa :rolleyes:

P.S.
Tried bathing before shed...she hates it, she is nervous and just loooves musking on me.
Tried the humid/wet sock...nothing to do about it...

[Tim_Cranwill]

When she sheds in pieces, does it all come off? If it's all coming off then your snake will be fine. It's not uncommon at all for snakes to shed in more than one piece.

It does sound like you are giving her all the help/humidity she might need...

Sorry I can't be of more help:)

[Big Mike]

Have you tried giving her a himid hide in her enclosure? This way she can soak up moisture on her own terms without the stress of a bath or sock.

[vanderkm]

Our Pueblan was similar - very patchy sheds and less than ideal skin condition between sheds. We have just had him since October and sheds have gotten worse through winter months, I think due to lower humidity overall in the house. Our corns are in the same conditions and do fine. I don't find that he uses a humid hide and I don't find spraying works well to raise the humidity in my tanks (and the snakes seem to hate it).

I now give him a forced humidity session daily when he is coming into a shed (basically from after the day his eyes are clearing). I put a bit of warm water (warm to him, body temp to me) into a sterlite container and add a dampened towel. I put the lid on and leave him for 1-2 hours in a location where the temp will be maintained. His shed have improved with this. There is enough water in the tub so it rises above the level of the towel, but not so that he has to swim. Seems to be helping and I plan to move him to a set up with lower ventilation as soon as he is a bit bigger.

mary v

[LisaT]

Thanks for your answers. I will try with the forced humidity session but I now she will just hate me for it ;)))
She has shed two das ago...looots of peaces, the skin has all come off but last time I had to help her with the tip of the tail and the head...at the last point she decided she had enough and just stuk to my thumb...how cute ^_^
I was starting to worry she might be missing some minerals or vitamins and that is wy she sheds like this, the skin that comes off is so...thin...I don't know if you understand what I mean...wile with the corns the skin is quite thik and resistent hers is thin and friable....
Cheers
Lisa :rolleyes:

[snakemann87]

I agree with everyone there.

[J_Riley]

without proper hydration, there is insufficient fluid to form a complete layer between old skin and new skin. Thus the shedding problems. If you have a screen top tank, I'd cover 2/3 of it with a wet (almost dripping) towel and then mist the enclosure. This will usually hold the humidity for a good 8 hours, enough time to get home from work and mist again.

Other alternatives are a larger or second water dish or you could run a humidifier in the room where the snakes are kept (can get a humidifier for $20 or less at Walmart)

[reverendsterlin]

just get a large butter tub, cut a hole in the top third, put spagnum in it and keep it moist. My pueblan always has good sheds.