Bad Shed/Wrinkly skin

greenman1867 · 03-07-05, 12:06 PM

Okay my trouble feeder lil girl is now a trouble shedder (??)

First thing I thought was humidity, but it is fine (I think) around 70-75% and she gets spritzed 2 times a day (since she started this shed). Her set up is exactly the same as all the other girls and they are fine.

Anyways, she is eating and has had 3 rats in a row, no problems.

I don't think she looks so hot. I would weigh her but I would rather not handle her too much while she is shedding ( I would guess 110g).

Any thoughts on her looks or the bad shed? I will soak her and try the warm damp cloth thing tonight maybe.

Her she is now;
<IMG SRC='http://usera.imagecave.com/greenman1867/Balls/NajaBadShed.JPG'>

and before I got her to eat (30 Jan 05 amd 87g);
<IMG SRC='http://usera.imagecave.com/greenman1867/Balls/Naja96g-1.JPEG'>

Shawn

joey · 03-07-05, 12:36 PM

she looks a little dehydrated...do you have a shallow container full of water that she can soak in?

nita · 03-07-05, 02:17 PM

Get her either a humid hide or mist really good for a while. Is this her first shed with you? If so my guess is she was having humidity probs at her last home. If you towel her and get most of it off then the rest should be fine when she has her next shed. Good Luck.

Spirit · 03-07-05, 02:44 PM

Although your humidity is fine, I would still recommend a soak (she does look a bit on a dehydtrated side to me).

Aside from that though, there are other factors that can relate to a bad shed. High humidity (doesn't seem like this is the case though), parasites (someone correct me if I'm wrong), and stress (being the most common when nothing else appears wrong).

I could be way off here, but my ball FREAKS OUT and runs for the nearest hide when I mist the cage. Is there anything you can think of that might be causing stress? Have you checked for mites or ticks? I'm doubting this would be the reason, but it never hurts to look.

I'm sorry... I'm fairly new to boids, but in my experience with snakes, this is the most help I can offer.

Edit: Sorry, I just realized you said your problem feeder is now a problem shedder. Have you had a fecal done? It might be completely unneccessary, but it couldn't hurt.

greenman1867 · 03-07-05, 03:02 PM

I thought about a fecal but I need a fresh poop

Anyways, I will make sure she gets a good soak and yes she always has a water dish available. Anyways thanks for the advice.

Shawn

mykee · 03-07-05, 03:32 PM

Shawn, I would go to Shoppers and pick up some Pedialyte. She does look really dehydrated and electrolytes would help out big time, soak her in the Pedialyte. She's eating so that's good, but having had three meals, has she retained any of the weight? If not, she may have an internal parasite. Try to get a nice fresh poop in a ziploc bag to your vet. Cost is roughly $30-$40. Also, she didn't look that great coming in, looked emaciated and dehydrated then. Curious to know who would sell you a ball in that condition so that I can steer the hell clear of them (you can e-mail or PM that info to me). Good luck.

nita · 03-07-05, 03:38 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by mykee
. Also, she didn't look that great coming in, looked emaciated and dehydrated then. Curious to know who would sell you a ball in that condition so that I can steer the hell clear of them (you can e-mail or PM that info to me).

I agree with Mykee here, looks like the ones at the LPS here. Is that where it is from?

greenman1867 · 03-07-05, 03:45 PM

Ya actually before she started eating she weighed 88g, after 3 rats (25g each) she is now 138g so thats a pretty good gain actually (one is still pretty fresh in her though, 2 days).

Thanks guys I will get that pedialyte and a fecal as soon as she has a nice fresh poo.

Shawn

mykee pm on its way

Spirit · 03-07-05, 03:45 PM

Well reading mykee's reply (regarding my thought of possible parasites), I would definitely say a vet visit is in order. Keep us posted.

PS. Interesting about the pedialyte. I know drinking it is good for dehydration in humans, but I didn't know it would be effective with snakes. Would soaking it be good enough, or would he have to dilute it with water? Is it safe for snakes to drink it (I would assume so, but...)? That's very interesting, Mykee. I would have never thought of that.

snakehunter · 03-07-05, 04:18 PM

ok here is my advice:

Get a towel. soak it in warm water, make sure the towel is a wet damp, and not soaking wet, lightly wrap your snake in the towel, then put your snake towel ball ina rubbermaid container, leave it in his cage on the warmside over night, you will wake up with a clean and happy snake. I stole this from boidkeeper and has worked for me EVERYTIME.

mykee · 03-07-05, 04:33 PM

Pedialyte is great for deydrated snakes, it's for infants - toddlers who are dehydrated also, so it's concentration is ideal, no need to dilute it. Just toss the snake in and leave it for about 10-15 mins. and repeat every second day or so for a week. It's worked for me. You can also use Gatorade or many other sports drinks, as most contain electrolytes. Also good if you wnat to inflate the price of a normal ball you're selling, you can turn it orange, blue, green, etc. Seen it done, don't laugh....

tHeGiNo · 03-07-05, 04:47 PM

Quote:

PS. Interesting about the pedialyte. I know drinking it is good for dehydration in humans, but I didn't know it would be effective with snakes. Would soaking it be good enough, or would he have to dilute it with water? Is it safe for snakes to drink it (I would assume so, but...)? That's very interesting, Mykee. I would have never thought of that.

Pedialye is an electrolye solution. It simply contains some of the electrolytes of the body (sodium, chlorine, potassium) as well as citrate and dextrose (sugar). It is used to replace electrolyte levels when they are low.

Now I am not a doctor, and could be wrong, but I do not know if the use of pedialyte is applicable in this situation. I personally would use pedialytes when the snake is not eating, or has chronic diahria or vomiting, when a great deal of electrolytes are lost. Being that the snake is eating, it is receiving the proper nutrients it needs. If it is dehydrated, it does not have enough fluids in the body - would that not imply that there is already a higher concentration of the electolytes, and wouldn't adding more electrolytes increase this concentration?

Anyhow, definitely give your snake a nice soak and increase the humidity. Another thing I tend to do with dehydrated snakes is wet the feeder item so it is covered in water. This adds an extra water content as the snake eats. Some snakes, however, will not eat a wet feeder item.

Spirit · 03-07-05, 05:01 PM

I think it's fantastic. I just never would have thought to use it on snakes, is all. Drinking OR soaking. I've used it on myself plenty of times (I have/had a digestive disorder). lol

Now GATORADE, on the other hand... Colored balls? I would assume that's bad (all the dyes and additives, etc), but who knew! I've always wanted a blue snake.

greenman1867 · 03-07-05, 05:32 PM

Okay, one other thought, could I start injecting the feeders with pedialyte? I normally soak the rats (but not with her since I can only get her to eat live ATM). LOL Which also means I probably couldn't inject the rats since they would be alive.

Hmm, off to the drawing board.

Actually after a 20 minute soak and a humid (damp towel) in her hide, she is peeling off the remainder of the skin, it's the dehydration thing now. I will do the pedialyte soak for a few days and then repost some hopefully much improved pics.

Shawn

Auskan · 03-07-05, 05:51 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Spirit
Now GATORADE, on the other hand...

When I've looked at the ingredients of gatorade, it seems like its not much more than colored sugar water. I've never seen anything added to it that would increase its electrolytes. (I don't have a bottle in front of me right now and its been awhile since I looked but since I did unofficially research it, I've never bothered to use it again for my sick kids - I just offer lots of water & herbal tea instead). Never tried the Pedialyte but I suspect it is better than Gatorade.