Some MAYBE Urgent Questions!

Dmurphy95 · 05-06-17, 06:19 PM

Hello everyone, it's been a little while since I posted here! I have a question or two that I would like help with, but it may be ridiculous sounding, so please bear with me. I am feeling some actual genuine concern so even if it is absolutely ridiculous and I should not me worring please do not be too harsh with me. X'D

My big boy Qizil has only shed once since coming home here. Recently, his eyes went opague and he prepared for a second shed . . . But that was just around two weeks ago to this day.
I am almost ritualistically fussing with his humidity, spraying him down nearly twice a day (if not three times) and changing the damp towels at least twice a day to keep his humidity at proper levels-- ESPECIALLY right now!

-- Let me mention that Qizil has grown a bit more and is now around 7 1/2 feet long.
I do know that the bigger they are, the longer the shedding process takes. But it's been around two weeks since his eyes went blue/opague, and around one week since they cleared up again, and I am still ABSOLUTELY sure he hasn't shed his old skin off yet. His colors still look pale, and I haven't found a single little piece of shed skin in that cage.

Should I be worried and trying to assist him, like soaking him??

He doesn't have a "stuck" shed in the sense that he tried to shed and not all of it came off. He literally hasn't shed yet, and I am not sure if the amount of time it's taking him is too long. I am relatively new to taking care of snakes, and though I researched a ridiculous amount and continue to do so...I am a very paranoid snake mommy. X'D

I would like opinions, suggestions and the like, but please do not be too harsh I am just paranoid..! X'D I don't want my (my Dad's) big danger noodle to have problems!!

**Andy_G** · 05-06-17, 07:58 PM

Just try to down and let the snake shed when it wants to. No need to stress it out by soaking it. Let the snake be a snake.

bigsnakegirl785 · 05-06-17, 10:43 PM

I have had snakes go up to 3 weeks from first sign of shed to actually shedding. As long as he doesn't appear dehydrated and the shed is not stuck, I would not worry.

Also, danger noodle refer explicitly to venomous snakes only, your boa is not a danger noodle.

Dmurphy95 · 05-07-17, 07:58 AM

I honestly had no idea the bigger guys could go that long when in the shedding process. All right that is definitely more than I was expecting. X'D

-- Ah is it? Hehe my bad-- I just call him that cause he is a bit fussy and stand-offish sometimes when he gets handled. Doesn't help that my Dad is really the only one who CAN hold his big fat butt. X'D Thanks for letting me know!

I do not think he is dehydrated as I never let that water bowl get too low ever. XD I've seen him drinking too.
Thanks for all the imput, and I will try not to freak out too much and just wait and see. X'D I will definitely be keeping the humidity up a bit higher though to help him until the big bugger finally sheds.

bigsnakegirl785 · 05-07-17, 01:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dmurphy95

I honestly had no idea the bigger guys could go that long when in the shedding process. All right that is definitely more than I was expecting. X'D

-- Ah is it? Hehe my bad-- I just call him that cause he is a bit fussy and stand-offish sometimes when he gets handled. Doesn't help that my Dad is really the only one who CAN hold his big fat butt. X'D Thanks for letting me know!

I do not think he is dehydrated as I never let that water bowl get too low ever. XD I've seen him drinking too.
Thanks for all the imput, and I will try not to freak out too much and just wait and see. X'D I will definitely be keeping the humidity up a bit higher though to help him until the big bugger finally sheds.

I haven't really found age/size to be a determiner for shed cycle length or shed frequency. I've had my small guys take 3 weeks a cycle, too. As long as they shed smoothly it generally doesn't matter. I'm sure it sucks to have to wait a little longer to handle though. lol

Snakes are more hydrated by the air they breathe in than they are by any water they may drink, as long as your humidity is 70-80% he should be fine.

dannybgoode · 05-07-17, 08:27 AM

My Boa imperator often goes blue and then sheds well over 2 weeks later. She's only ever given me perfect sheds and I don't faff around with humidity etc (albeit I do have her on a soil / coco coir mix which helps).

Dmurphy95 · 05-07-17, 03:10 PM

Again thanks a bunch for the info everyone!

I am being ridiculously diligent with his humidity to make sure it stays aroudn a constant temp right now of 70%, though I let it get down to around 55-60 when he's not in shed and he has seemed to do fine. It's only his second shed here, but I am too paranoid to let it get any lower than that.

I will certainly keep this in mind and just somewhat patiently wait to see what it looks like when he does shed. Hopefully it'll be a perfect, intact shed like the first time and I can bop myself on the head for being so ridiculously cautious. X'D

Thank you all!

Dmurphy95 · 05-15-17, 11:49 AM

Quick update for anyone who had posted here with opinions!

Again I thank you all for giving me insight, but after...Nearly a month, the big boy has FINALLY shed, and it was once again one giant, solid piece, so I am not worried!

It seems what i was doing worked just fine, and he is super bright, pretty and shiny again! So it looks like Sir Monster-Snake just takes...Ridiculously long to shed. XD

Again thank you all who posted here with opinions and insight-- just felt it would be nice to mention that Qizil shed last night to you all to clear it up~ !

BillyCostume · 05-15-17, 12:54 PM

Good to hear

both my boss have perfect sheds with humidity anywhere between 50-60%. In the future I wouldn't stress about it too much. I know that's easier said than done lol I'm always stressing or worrying about something when it comes to my animals.

bigsnakegirl785 · 05-15-17, 03:27 PM

Good to hear! Hopefully that will make the next shed less stressful for you.

Dmurphy95 · 05-15-17, 06:25 PM

Yea thank you both! Hehe I am a relatively new snake mommy so I don't realize that hte bigger guys could take THAT long to shed!

As long as nothing too pointed is going wrong and he looks fine I will get more used to it and stop worrying. X'D Thank you both~ !

Hehe it'll come eventually!