Odd skin wrinkles.

[valid]

So today I took my snake outside to try to get some good pictures for fun. Upon getting my sand boa out - I notices so odd skin wrinkling going on around the neck area. I have never noticed this before, and I have not noticed any signs that he/she may be going into shed ..

Last week I did run out of moss for the humid hide, and so I left it out for the week. Since replacing the humid hide I have noticed the snake spending a great amount of time inside the hide.

Here are some pictures - should I be alarmed - or is it natural
http://i50.tinypic.com/20hytg.jpg

http://i50.tinypic.com/qyejyr.jpg
(ignore the red in my hand)

http://i50.tinypic.com/295e7mp.jpg

[RyanReptile]

Looks to be dehydrated, do you have a water bowel in there at all times. Could be also going into a shed tho.

[valid]

I saw it drinking last night ... Dehydration would affect the whole body wouldn't it ? This jus seems to be around the neck

[smy_749]

Looks to be dehydrated, do you have a water bowel in there at all times. Could be also going into a shed tho.

This might be a stupid question, but don't kenyans...live in kenya? And isn't water pretty scarce (and humidity) , if any at all, in areas that they live in? Not saying that you shouldn't provide a water bowl, just curious if they could go their entire life without it any other source aside from the water in the rat.

Could it be a burn?

[RyanReptile]

I'm really not sure I've never had any issues like this before however before my sand boas shed they seem to wrinkle up a bit but I don't think it looks as bad as yours.

[CK SandBoas]

I would say your sand boa is about to shed it's skin. So i would leave the humid hide in there, as well as keep providing fresh water for it.

I always provide fresh water for my Kenyans, though i do know of some that only offer fresh water once or twice a week. And even though some feel humid hides are unnecessary for Sand Boas, i beg to differ. They can and will use them frequently, even when they are not in a shed cycle.

So mine have humid hides offered to them at all times :)

[drewkore]

Ditto to all KKgal said. Sometimes they look awful before they shed, as if they are terribly dehydrated/emaciated. Other times you may not even notice anything at all and find a shed in the cage.

[RyanReptile]

I always provide mine with a water bowl but never thought of using a moist hide, when they go into a shed I often give them a little squirt and they shed fine :) bets are you sand boa is just in shed :)

[valid]

I hope that is what it is. I'll keep light watch on it, and if it gets worse than I'll worry. Hopefully she/he'll just go into shed and all will be good. It is about due for a shed.

[Bloedig]

My Albino KSB just shed this week and looked exactly the same with the wrinkles. The only way I can even tell he is ready to shed is the wrinkles, as it's hard to see the milky shed look on the Albino skin.

I put mine in a container with damp paper towels and put that container in his enclosure. Came back a few hours later and shedding done, wrinkles gone.

As for drinking, yes they do need a water bowl and yes they do drink (saw mine just the other day drinking).

[valid]

So ... Here is the thing.
I am 95 % sure s/he is in shed.
Problem is, it has been in shed for about 2 weeks now =/

Right after these pics the eyes started to go blue and I thought I was in the clear. I waited about 3/ days to check again, and nothing had happened. It usually takes a week for him to get it off, so I didn't worry. Checked a week later, and he still had clear signs of shedding (Body had the white skin covering) And I figured it'd be off soon again. I checked 2 days later, and didn't notice the white, but he still looked pretty dull in comparison to how he usually looks after a shed. Checked the entire enclosure for any signs of a shed and found none. Checked again today and the wrinkles are back, and I can see the skin loose again. Is there any reason why he would retain the shed for so long? He had 2/3 poor sheds after I first got him, but the last 2 have been real easy ..

I have the hot side of the tank at 96, the cool at 75. A humid hide (filled with sphagnum moss) and fresh water available.

[CK SandBoas]

Some of my Sand Boas have gone two weeks before they've shed their skin. Just keep checking, especially underneath the substrate, my younger sand boas sheds will be right under the aspen bedding, where i can't see it, unless i dig for it:D