snake shedding questions

MorbidMindset · 02-17-08, 09:19 AM

ok. so far dremora is going into shed but hasnt shown anything more of the shed except for th capped eyes and like little fuzzies showing up on the body. she has mites but hoping alot will come off with the shed and then as soon as done shed treat her and tank really well is the plan. how long does the shed last? we were told not to feed dremora until after the shed and dremora was supposed to eat sometime this weekend anyway. dremora was lightly oiled with mite stuff right before she capped her eyes and so i assume the skin should be soft and supple. she stays in the hide and there is nothing rough for her to rub up against in there. i have not caught her out of the hide in days not even to drink water. i gotta check on her by opening the tank and taking the top of the hide off it and looking inside. is this normal? will the shed come off in one skin like i have seen from other snakes? what is up with the fuzzy stuff..i know its very sm. patches of scales. all this has me worried that she is not shedding right. can i get a little more info on this process and maybe some answers to my questions? this is the first shed she has done since we acquired her but we have had her for around 3 weeks to a month and she eats really well so i expected one pretty soon anyways. thanks

DaemoNox · 02-17-08, 02:16 PM

It takes around 5-7 days or so, they will cloud up then clear up then shed in a day or two. She really shouldnt be fuzzy, sometimes they can damage their scales causing the ends to kind of stick up. Its going to take a lot of heavy cleaning to clear up the mite problem, they travel a good ways out of the enclosure and lay eggs that will hatch and reinfest the snake (I suggest provent-a-mite). How the shed comes off depends on if the humidity is right.

MorbidMindset · 02-17-08, 03:06 PM

ok now that i got some answers..what do i do to help her have a healthy shed. she shouldnt be haiving fuzzys you say..well what do i do about it? should i pick her up and give her a think coat of oil? to soften her skin to shed? i was told not to handle her..but have had to since she wont come out of her hide and i need to see that she is not getting sick or anything. i mean she wont drink either and now i have noticed the fuzzies on her over the last few days but no signs of a shed but the capped eyes and the fuzzys. i am not sure what to do now. would apprecitate the answers.

oh by the way. the mite problem will be erraticated as soon as she gets done shedding! i have a herpatologist from the university here coming over after she sheds and hes gonna show me how to treat her and the tank and all around.

also..where we had the tank was staying way to cold for dremora so i had to put her in the dining room for now til i can get a heat lamp nearer to the heater so i am misting her cage down more frequently so it dont get too dry in there. but even closer to the heater its only like a steady 78 degrees for now...i cannot do anything about it til after kyle gets paid on tuesday and go to buy a heat lamp..then i moving her tank back into the living room but should be warmer after the lamp is installed. i was told not to feed her while she is shedding..its been 2 weeks since she last eat..wont she get sick if i dont feed her like i usually do..what if it takes longer than a week to shed. i know nothing about all this and would appreciate the input.thanks!!

DaemoNox · 02-17-08, 08:12 PM

Really if the humidity is good you dont have to do anything, mist the enclosure several times a day, add a humid hide, cover the top screen so humidity stays in and so on; no need at all to oil or anything. Dont know what to say about the fuzzies because I dont know exactly what it is, I hope shes not molding.

I much prefer under tank heating for these guys, lamps really dry out the enclosure and its a pain messing with them (you need heat at night too, and lights cant be on all night). With temps that low its very important that you get them raised as soon as possible especially with the high humidity, those are conditions for growing respritory infections which balls can catch fairly easily.

Many balls wont eat while in shed, but some do. She will be fine waiting untill after.

gonesnakee · 02-20-08, 02:44 PM

Again I'll say it DITCH THE OIL! (Slaps to the Vet for suggesting it in the first place) Temps are also not hot enough you need to provide a hotspot of 90-95F & the cage itself should never be lower than 80F. Define "fuzzies" I hope I'm wrong but the snake could now have some type of bacterial fungal infection as well? The snakes infested with parasites, which could be the cause of such an infection, that along with the overall stress of being infested, covered in oil

& kept far too cold is not helping this snake any health wise. Hate to be harsh but this is a perfect example of why proper research should be done in reguards to care & husbandry prior the aquisition of any new pet. The sooner buddy from the UNV comes over to help the better, Mark