Is this a bad shed?

minaa · 10-19-11, 02:22 PM

Hi everyone,

Yesterday, when day I bought the snake, I thought this was the beginning of a shed. I soaked him/her, and it hasn't changed much...? I'll see what it does tomorrow. I'm going to be getting what I can today to make the humidity more stabile in the tank.

I wanted your thoughts, before I do the new snake owner thing and freak out.

snake man12 · 10-19-11, 03:06 PM

Did the snake shed And did it shed in one piece. He looks like he has some retained shed on his head that really doesn't matter. But make sure that his eye caps have come off.

Jenn_06 · 10-19-11, 03:11 PM

Looks like the last shed was not a good one but not super bad like i see on most pet store snakes, just keep a eye on him, can you take a pic of his eyes i dont think he has his eye caps still on but just in case.

snake man12 · 10-19-11, 03:22 PM

Don't mean to get off topic but I was in the pet store the other day and couldn't resist to look at the bp's so I saw them and they were super skinny and had mites just by looking at them. and they were so listless . Any way to get good sheds I make a humid hide out of a paper towel , I wet the paper towel and then put it under the hide and all my snakes shed perfect.

minaa · 10-19-11, 07:01 PM

They did not know if s/he has shed yet. Both eyes are shiny and clear, they do not appear to have their cap "stuck". This snake is not super skinny, it's quite lively and a little skittish/nippy (not surprising for a baby). No mites as far as I can see. The scales have a slight white sheen to them on the snake's body (that's easier to see when a flashlight is shown on him/her), also, hence why I was thinking the shed hasn't gone underway yet.

ETA: I did purchase coconut bark substrate, a mister, and a hygrometer/thermometer. Humidity is good right now, will continue to monitor. Temp is perfect at 82 F.

snake man12 · 10-19-11, 07:21 PM

Oh I didn't mean to say yours was not cared for just my pet stores were

UwabamiReptiles · 10-19-11, 07:28 PM

He looks fine from the pic you put up. Just make sure once he goes into a shed cycle again to just spray him everyday to make sure the humidity is up and he should have a perfect shed and get rid of the retained shed on his head.

mybella · 10-19-11, 07:29 PM

When I first got Bella from the petco her head looked the exact same way! Like Jenn 06 said I'm thinking it was from a bad shed.

minaa · 10-19-11, 07:47 PM

Thanks everyone! I don't know if much more can be figured about the snake at this time. :]

Lankyrob · 10-20-11, 10:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by minaa

They did not know if s/he has shed yet. Both eyes are shiny and clear, they do not appear to have their cap "stuck". This snake is not super skinny, it's quite lively and a little skittish/nippy (not surprising for a baby). No mites as far as I can see. The scales have a slight white sheen to them on the snake's body (that's easier to see when a flashlight is shown on him/her), also, hence why I was thinking the shed hasn't gone underway yet.

ETA: I did purchase coconut bark substrate, a mister, and a hygrometer/thermometer. Humidity is good right now, will continue to monitor. Temp is perfect at 82 F.

Is 82f your hot end temp? If so it is too low and should be 91f

SPARTAN 77 · 10-20-11, 12:33 PM

My ball python always sheds like that, it's annoying sometimes but it won't hurt him.

Lankyrob · 10-20-11, 12:56 PM

If the shed isnt coming off whole then something isnt quite right, all my snakes give me one whole piece of shed each time - yes occassionaly it may get snagged on something in the viv and end up with two big pieces but there shouldnt be anything left on the snake.

SPARTAN 77 · 10-21-11, 07:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lankyrob

If the shed isnt coming off whole then something isnt quite right, all my snakes give me one whole piece of shed each time - yes occassionaly it may get snagged on something in the viv and end up with two big pieces but there shouldnt be anything left on the snake.

With mine it's the humidity, can't keep it up high enough.

Lankyrob · 10-21-11, 10:13 AM

You need to do something to make the humidity higher/more stable, it isnt just sheds that will be affected by insufficient humidity, the whole snakes internals are "designed" to work at a specific level.

SPARTAN 77 · 10-24-11, 06:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lankyrob

You need to do something to make the humidity higher/more stable, it isnt just sheds that will be affected by insufficient humidity, the whole snakes internals are "designed" to work at a specific level.

I know, and i've gotten a new substrate that will hopefully keep the humidity longer.