Bad shed for my desert king

[Desert Ambush]

can someone tell me what could be the probable cause of a bad shed? could it be the humidity level beeing to low ( 30% to 32%).
remember it's a desert kingsnake so i guess it would be o.k. to have such a humidity level. Plus she always hides and take refuge in the rocky cave i've built her. The heating mat beeing just underneath that spot. I've put a 50 watts heating lamp during daytime. Is it too much? and I also have an infrared light (50 watts) for nightime. Would it be better to take away the heating lamps and leave only the heating mat. can someone help me and tell me if my setup is good.

thanks in advance.

[Andy_G]

I suggest next shed, make a humid hide. Do this by taking a margarine container, cutting a entrance hole in the side, and filling it with damp moss. I use moss because most other things don't stay moist for long.

I also think it would be fine without the heat lamp, as long as the floor temp on one side of the cage is 86ish.

I also don't think, but am not sure, that a desert kingsnake lives in a dry desert. i would think it lives in warm places but not deserts but I am not sure on this.

[Desert Ambush]

thank you andy for the advice

[Simon R. Sansom]

D.A.
In my experience, dysecdysis (shedding problems) are usually caused by too low a humidity level. It happens sometimes in captivity, and I think, more often than we realize in the wild. I've seen lots of wild snakes with bits and pieces of stuck shed on them.
If the snake has not been able to remove all of the skin on it's own, it will need some help. I'm not sure how big your snake is, but here is what I would do;
1) Find a container with a secure lid that the snake will fit into fairly comfortably. Make sure it has a few air-holes.

2) Put just enough luke-warm water in the container so that the water level comes about half-way up the side of the snake's body. A quarter-inch of water should be enough if the snake is fairly small. Use your judgement. You don't need too much water; the skin will "wick" the moisture up by capillary action.

3) Leave the snake in the container for an hour or so, checking occasionally to make sure that the snake is okay. After about an hour, try taking the animal out. You should be able to gently remove any remaining stuck skin. Use some blunt tweezers to help, if you can't grab the bits with your fingers. Be especially careful around the eyes. If the snake has been properly hydrated, you should have few problems. You may have to soak the animal longer, or more than once, depending upon the extent of the stuck shed. Adding a single drop of mild dish soap to the water can help soften the old skin and help it absorb moisture.

I should mention that even desert animals are often able to find humid places to hide or live in, often underground.

I hope that this has been of some assistance to you.
Let us know how you make out.

Simon

[Desert Ambush]

Thank you Simon i've noted all what you wrote me and i guess it will come in handy for future bad sheds (if the occurence should ever come). Could you tell me if my setup is good, if yes, then all is good if not, tell me what's wrong.

[Vanan]

In my experience with snakes and heat lamps, I've almost always had humidity problems. Upon removing the heat lamps, and maintaining belly heat (via heat mat/tape) I've had no problem. Never needed a humidity hide with my kings either. Most healthy snakes shed well even in the lower range of humidity. My recommendation would be to remove the lights. A humidity hide won't hurt as well.

[Simon R. Sansom]

Vanan is absolutely correct about heat lamps- Nothing dries a snake out faster! In some snake set-ups they may be useful, but they are generally best for such things as large herps in big enclosures or diurnal lizards which require plenty of heat.

Simon

[Jeff_Favelle]

Ever been in a desert in the early early morning? Its not so dry. And most certainly not as dry as your cage is. Kings also burrow a TON in the wild. Its much more humid underground than it is above (unless its raining, ha ha ......humour....).

But that's all moot and you now have to deal with your situation. Bad husbandry led to your snake having a bad shed (always the case). So change the husbandry. Ditch the light for a heat source, get a UTH that heats everything adequately by itself, and if you have a screen lid, ditch that too.

And be thankful that kingsnakes are cheap and bullet-proof. Other snakes are not so forgiving.

P.S. No one can tell you if your heating and stuff is sufficient. People in Florida keep their snakes without any heat sources, and people in Greenland use multiple heat sources. It all depends and where you live, the cage itself, ambient room temp. bla bla bla. That's why there's care sheets on the Net that tell you the range of temps that your Kingsnake needs. Do whatever it takes to get those ranges. If you have to light a fire in the middle of the room, do it (kidding....)

[marylyn101]

sometimes they are clumsy and don't do very well when getting it off. just do everythin you've been told and hope all goes well