Snake Shedding?

bbor62 · 12-15-12, 05:39 PM

Hi all. I am somewhat new to the snake world. I have kept lots and lots of lizards over the years, but snakes are a somewhat unexplored pet category for me.

I recently bought this Mexican King. It has been about a month and 4 days since I first purchased it. It is still super shy and I have been having a tough time getting it to eat. I did finally get it to take a small thawed brained pinkie over two weeks ago, but it seems like a fairly small meal for it.

Today I noticed this peeling on it's face, but it's eyes are not foggy or blue in any way. I am hoping something isn't wrong and that it is just beginning a shed, further explaining the lack of apetite. However, I don't know enough to say one way or another. I was hoping someone could lend some insight to this by the attached photos. Thanks so much!

bbor62 · 12-19-12, 12:24 AM

Still hoping for advice. Te eyes never did change and its face still had dead looking scales. Doesn't appear to be changing.

Mightymouse0303 · 12-19-12, 12:26 AM

hows humidity?

SnakeyJay · 12-19-12, 12:48 PM

Definately check the humidity... What's the set up like, how are you heating it and what are the temperatures etc? Knowing how he's set up can help find the issue.

bbor62 · 12-20-12, 11:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Snakey-Jay-BRB

Definately check the humidity... What's the set up like, how are you heating it and what are the temperatures etc? Knowing how he's set up can help find the issue.

Thanks for your replies. I had been keeping a heat lamp on him, but it was pushing one corner of the cage to above 90 degrees. Since then, I have been keeping a heat pad on the bottom of one side, near the hide. The thermometer reads 78 in the aquarium, and I assume the heat pad is boosting that area to 83ish.

I have not been misting the snake, though he does have a large bowl to soak in. I suppose I should start doing so?

EmbraceCalamity · 12-20-12, 11:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bbor62

Thanks for your replies. I had been keeping a heat lamp on him, but it was pushing one corner of the cage to above 90 degrees. Since then, I have been keeping a heat pad on the bottom of one side, near the hide. The thermometer reads 78 in the aquarium, and I assume the heat pad is boosting that area to 83ish.

I have not been misting the snake, though he does have a large bowl to soak in. I suppose I should start doing so?

If you have him in a fish tank with a light, that humidity is very low. You need to buy a digital humidity gauge and cover part of the screen to keep the moisture in better. Other ways to increase humidity: certain substrates, live plants, spraying, and have the bowl near the heat source to facilitate evaporation. Or you could buy a different kind of enclosure that will hold humidity better.

~Maggot

rmfsnakes32 · 12-19-12, 01:11 PM

Looks like retained shed

Lankyrob · 12-20-12, 11:52 AM

You need any heat element THERMOSTATTED to keep the snake safe and you need to be able to KNOW what the humidity is otherwise how do you know whether itis too high or too low?

SnakeyJay · 12-20-12, 12:37 PM

Guessing with temperatures and humidity isn't the way to go mate... You need a digital thermometer at each end, or go buy an infra red temp gun. Can we see a photo of the viv?

bbor62 · 12-20-12, 01:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Snakey-Jay-BRB

Guessing with temperatures and humidity isn't the way to go mate... You need a digital thermometer at each end, or go buy an infra red temp gun. Can we see a photo of the viv?

I have one by exoterra, rather than a aquarium. See image. I have the water under the light and aspen bedding. I will upload a photo when not at work this evening. Thanks for your help.

EmbraceCalamity · 12-20-12, 01:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bbor62

I have one by exoterra, rather than a aquarium. See image. I have the water under the light and aspen bedding. I will upload a photo when not at work this evening. Thanks for your help.

I just got an Exo Terra, and they don't hold humidity well at all.

~Maggot

SnakeyJay · 12-20-12, 05:01 PM

You could switch to a uth as bulbs dry the air out.. Maybe switch to orchid bark so you can spray (aspen moulds) and/or provide a humid hide with damp spagmum moss.

bbor62 · 12-20-12, 10:59 PM

Is a UHT heater the under the tank heater? That is what I currently am using instead of my small heating light that was over heating the cage. It's been 78 in the cage with the 5 degree bump from the heating pad should be just right.

Here is my current set up, per the questions and suggestions from earlier. I am going to start misting her a couple of times per day and hopefully that helps. Thank you all for your help. If anyone else has any suggestions, please lmk. I am hoping she starts getting hungry again soon.

EmbraceCalamity · 12-21-12, 12:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bbor62

Is a UHT heater the under the tank heater? That is what I currently am using instead of my small heating light that was over heating the cage. It's been 78 in the cage with the 5 degree bump from the heating pad should be just right.

Here is my current set up, per the questions and suggestions from earlier. I am going to start misting her a couple of times per day and hopefully that helps. Thank you all for your help. If anyone else has any suggestions, please lmk. I am hoping she starts getting hungry again soon.

Misting won't do you any good. It'll raise humidity for a few minutes, then drop right back down again. See all that screen on top? It all goes right up through there. If you want to raise humidity levels, you'll need to cover at least a portion of the top (how much depending on what the humidity should be at).

~Maggot

SnakeyJay · 12-21-12, 01:26 AM

I wouldn't most aspen substrate unless you want mould growing in your viv... Not good for the snake.