Bad Shed

[Concept9]

Good morning everyone.

I have a 4 1/2 ft. Mexican Black Kingsnake that I got from the SPCA about 5 weeks ago.

He was malnutrition, dehydrated and in a bad shed when I got him. After a few days of warm baths I got his shed all fixed and he looked great.

He drinks and eats like a champ now and is doing great.

His enclosure is 48”x20”x24”, he has hides at both ends, lots of logs to climb and rub against, his bedding is aspen shavings and he has a large water dish at his cool end big enough to soak in.

His temperature is 88~ at the warm end, 78~ at the cool end and the ambient temperature is about 83 with humidity at 40%. He also has a UTH at the warm end set for 85~

Four or days ago his eye went blue and his skin went dull. At this point at added a moist moss hide and started misting is enclosure twice a day.

This morning I got up to go to work and he has started shedding. It’s a complete mess coming off in patches so I’m going to have to give him warm baths for the next couple of days to get the shed off.

Sooooo, I wondering, am I doing something wrong or do some snakes just not shed well. I have had other snakes and he is the only one I have had this trouble with?

[KORBIN5895]

40% humidity seems really low but I haven't a clue on what a bmk requires.

[Concept9]

40% humidity seems really low but I haven't a clue on what a bmk requires.

Everything I have read says 40%-50% is fine. But just in case. I put the large water bowl, moss hide and mist twice a day.

[Terranaut]

I would just ensure the humidity is 60-70% until his next shed.
Clear off his current shed and wait out the next. A couple tips....
1 be sure your hygrometer is accurate.
2 be sure you don't have wild spikes and falls in humidity
3 don't expect months/years of neglect to be fixed right away.

He will be fine. Don't worry.

[Concept9]

I would just ensure the humidity is 60-70% until his next shed.
Clear off his current shed and wait out the next. A couple tips....
1 be sure your hygrometer is accurate.
2 be sure you don't have wild spikes and falls in humidity
3 don't expect months/years of neglect to be fixed right away.

He will be fine. Don't worry.

Thanks Terranaut, I will go out and buy a couple more hygrometers tomorrow to ensure a good average.

70% will not be to high for a MBK ?

Also, I'm having a hard time KEEPING my humidity above 40%, I may have to get a mister or fogger with a hygrometer sensor and set it for 60%.

[Terranaut]

Ok are you using those round dial type hygrometers?
Toss them and get one good digital. I have seen those all read different on the shelf at the store so the accuracy is horrible. Where you live ambiant should be 40ish most of the time anyway. Can you post a pic of your viv? I can help better from there.

[Concept9]

Ok are you using those round dial type hygrometers?
Toss them and get one good digital. I have seen those all read different on the shelf at the store so the accuracy is horrible. Where you live ambiant should be 40ish most of the time anyway. Can you post a pic of your viv? I can help better from there.

I have a round dial one, but I also run a Exo Terra digital.

Here is a link to my original post. Pics are there, ignore the date stamp my camera is off. Pics are only a few weeks old and the enclosure has the same setup other than he has a bigger water dish now.

http://www.ssnakess.com/forums/new-forum/99442-helloe-everyone-story-taz.html

[Terranaut]

Are you using lights to heat his viv?
If so that is why he is dry. Also if you have trouble with humidity change the substrate to cypress or reptibark.

[Concept9]

Are you using lights to heat his viv?
If so that is why he is dry. Also if you have trouble with humidity change the substrate to cypress or reptibark.


Ok, I'll change the substrate as soon as he is done shedding and clean his cage this weekend.

I am using a 8x18 24 watt heat matt, 150 watt heat emitter and 150 heat lamp on his warm side and its JUST keeping him at the proper temps.

If I drop the the heat lamps what would I use in its place ?

[Terranaut]

Wow. What is the ambiant temp of the room he is in? I heat mine with a small heat mat. The lights dry out your viv. In the mean time put his water dish right under the lights. This will evaporate the water and up the humidity. Cover as much of the screen top as possible to keep the moisture in. Is your heat mat on a thermostat? If so how often is it on? If it shuts off when the lights are on try killing the lights for one day and see what the temps are. Even a bit low won't kill him in just one day to try. Something is not adding up. Using lights for heating snakes is a bit taboo in most cases. Use one heat source only as well.

[bcr229]

Also, I'm having a hard time KEEPING my humidity above 40%, I may have to get a mister or fogger with a hygrometer sensor and set it for 60%.
We used to use aspen and had the same problem. We needed higher humidity for the ball pythons and boas. Switching to cypress mulch helped a lot, and we don't have to mist our king snake enclosures much at all to keep their humidity up.

Also as Terranaut pointed out, don't expect months/years of neglect to be fixed right away. We got a ball python last January who also had been neglected, way too dry, with multiple retained eyecaps, no UTH, no attempts to feed him in months. His first shed was awful, the next one merely bad, but each one is a little better.

[Concept9]

Wow. What is the ambiant temp of the room he is in? I heat mine with a small heat mat. The lights dry out your viv. In the mean time put his water dish right under the lights. This will evaporate the water and up the humidity. Cover as much of the screen top as possible to keep the moisture in. Is your heat mat on a thermostat? If so how often is it on? If it shuts off when the lights are on try killing the lights for one day and see what the temps are. Even a bit low won't kill him in just one day to try. Something is not adding up. Using lights for heating snakes is a bit taboo in most cases. Use one heat source only as well.

Yeah, i'm at sorta a lose too. I do have over half his tank cover with a towel. My room temp is low to mid 70s.

I seen a enclosure on this site where some one did the inside walls with cork tiles, looked really nice. I may try this, I think it may help hold more heat in.

[Concept9]

We used to use aspen and had the same problem. We needed higher humidity for the ball pythons and boas. Switching to cypress mulch helped a lot, and we don't have to mist our king snake enclosures much at all to keep their humidity up.

Also as Terranaut pointed out, don't expect months/years of neglect to be fixed right away. We got a ball python last January who also had been neglected, way too dry, with multiple retained eyecaps, no UTH, no attempts to feed him in months. His first shed was awful, the next one merely bad, but each one is a little better.

I'm going to change his substrate this weekend. Thanks mate. :)

[Concept9]

AWESOME news.

My wife just called and Taz has TOTAL shed clean. Although he had a rough start he has completely shed. :)

I can breath again LOL.

Thank for all the info guys, i'm still going make some changes based on the help you gave me.

[Ourobouros]

Thanks Terranaut, I will go out and buy a couple more hygrometers tomorrow to ensure a good average.

70% will not be to high for a MBK ?

Also, I'm having a hard time KEEPING my humidity above 40%, I may have to get a mister or fogger with a hygrometer sensor and set it for 60%.

Holy cow no 70% it's too high. 30-50% is the range. Too much and he could get a lung infection.. Plus more bacterial growth in the tank. I know I'm posting this late but.... >_>