Shed issues

GyGbeetle · 02-16-17, 12:24 PM

Hi group. I know I've posted this before, and I couldn't find my post originally. This question is related to a poor shedder I have. She's shed with me once since getting her in November of last year. Right now, because of a continuing mite situation, she lives on paper towels. We are working on providing her with a humid hide (still am not sure if this is something you purchase, or if you create the humidity inside the hide, while having it on paper towels. Any light into this will be helpful too). Her last shed, one of her eye caps didn't come off. She looks like she's about to shed again, so I'm trying to get her to soak to provide her with more moisture. I've seen her soak on her own, but she literally feels like paper when you touch her. but the eye cap; I do not feel comfortable helping her get this off. My question is, how long can she keep the shed on before I have to be concerned? If it doesn't come off this next shed, I may take a trip to the vet. If I don't have to, I won't. So any insight will be very very helpful.

We probably have another 2-4 weeks left on paper towels. She seems to be ok healthwise. Her mouth is a little stuck open while her skin on her face is dry, but when she soaks, it closes. No RI symptoms, no wheezing, discharge, or anything else. She's just super dry. Her clutch mate is completely fine. In fact, everyone else is completely fine on those paper towels, but her.

Any more info you need from me? I'm not sure what else will be helpful. she eats fine. she poops/pees fine. she's on target for growth rate. no personality changes, other than she really hates when I soak her; it needs to be on her terms. She's being treated with JurassiMite instead of Nix, while her tank is being treated with Nix (JurassiMite is an all natural mite remedy, and since she didn't have any mites on her body, I didn't want to over-expose her to the Nix, same as everyone else).

Ok, I think that's all the info I have?

**Andy_G** · 02-16-17, 12:35 PM

For a humid hide you can use any closed container (yupperware, margarine container, etc), cut an entry hole and fill it with moss. Very easy to do. The only thing you can do right now is offer a humid hide and mist frequently. Is this snake being kept in a tank with a screened lid? As far as retained shed, it's imperative to remove the stuck shed on parts of the head or tails, as this is where the issues can occur. Infections can result if nostrils are blocked, hypoxia or anoxia (lack of oxygen due to lack of blood supply) of capillaries in the eye scale can result on the eye if multiple layers are left which can result in tissue damage, and of course the tail can become necrotic for a similar reason. It's always best to remove any leftover shed as soon as possible so they don't retain more than one layer. If you're not comfortable in doing so, keep soaking and hope for the best, but if it happens again consider consulting someone.

As far as nix goes...the few times I have had mites, I have never been very shy of treating the snake itself and that should be the main focus...for anything new in quarantine, unless it's a species that is prone to ivermectin poisoning, they get treated twice a week for about 6 weeks. Never ever have I had an animal with a single issue or adverse reaction to the nix, and although I have scaled down my collection a lot due to life (but not forever!), keep in mind I have worked with or bred almost all common snake species over the years (no giants, arboreals or hots, though) and my collection included about 75 adult animals at it's peak. If it's mixed and administered properly, problems simply won't occur.

**Andy_G** · 02-16-17, 12:44 PM

I forgot two things...for what it's worth I have never been an advocate of soaking under most circumstances...almost always better to just use an almost completely sealed rubbermaid or similar style enclosure with a heat pad underneath with wet paper towel to take care of pesky sheds. A sauna instead of a bath, we'll say. Less stressful for everybody! Lots of people soak and I am not saying it's wrong...just something I haven't done for stuck sheds.

Also, if your boa is sizeable, you can make a humid hide also out of a kitty litter bin with an entry hole cut in the side with wet moss inside. Containers with lids work a bit better, however.

GyGbeetle · 02-16-17, 12:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andy_G

For a humid hide you can use any closed container (yupperware, margarine container, etc), cut an entry hole and fill it with moss. Very easy to do. The only thing you can do right now is offer a humid hide and mist frequently. Is this snake being kept in a tank with a screened lid? As far as retained shed, it's imperative to remove the stuck shed on parts of the head or tails, as this is where the issues can occur. Infections can result if nostrils are blocked, hypoxia or anoxia (lack of oxygen due to lack of blood supply) of capillaries in the eye scale can result on the eye if multiple layers are left which can result in tissue damage, and of course the tail can become necrotic for a similar reason. It's always best to remove any leftover shed as soon as possible so they don't retain more than one layer. If you're not comfortable in doing so, keep soaking and hope for the best, but if it happens again consider consulting someone.

As far as nix goes...the few times I have had mites, I have never been very shy of treating the snake itself and that should be the main focus...for anything new in quarantine, unless it's a species that is prone to ivermectin poisoning, they get treated twice a week for about 6 weeks. Never ever have I had an animal with a single issue or adverse reaction to the nix, and although I have scaled down my collection a lot due to life (but not forever!), keep in mind I have worked with or bred almost all common snake species over the years (no giants, arboreals or hots, though) and my collection included about 75 adult animals at it's peak. If it's mixed and administered properly, problems simply won't occur.

For the hide, we have those wood arch ones. Our other snakes have the plastic enclosed ones, with a hole cutout for them to come in and out (although most of them seem to want to climb UNDERNEATH the hide to get in. I think our snakes forgot how to snake?). So I'll get her something plastic and get some moss to put it in there.

I'll start treating all the snakes with Nix then. I've only seen the mites on 2 snakes, and ALL of our tanks are being treated with Nix (except our new rescue, who was in quarantine at the time of the infestation anyways). I want to reiterate that everyone is getting treated with a mite remedy. Only those that we saw the mites on their body are getting Nix ON their body. But I'll go ahead with the last 2 treatments and put Nix on everyone.

I'm doing 4 treatments instead of 3. From Tsubaki's sticky note, she recommended every 10 days for 3 treatments. We've been doing every 10 days, and then I'll wait 2 more weeks for a 4th treatment, because I do NOT want these #$%#$'ers to come back (I hope that form of "cussing" is allowed). So we will be doing our 3rd treatment this weekend, and then our 4th (and hopefully final) treatment 2 weekends from that. And lots of demon-be-gone spells just to make sure.

For her stuck eye shed, should I wait and let nature take it's course since she's so close to shedding again? If not, how do I even try and get it off? Should I just take her to the vet now and ask them to help? I really don't feel comfortable doing it. I've tried to get her head moist, and find a pulling point to get the cap off. My husband was able to get the other cap off with no problem. Neither of us can figure out the best way to get this one in particular off. The rest of her shed was easy to manipulate off by rubbing her down with a cloth or even my fingers.

GyGbeetle · 02-16-17, 12:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andy_G

I forgot two things...for what it's worth I have never been an advocate of soaking under most circumstances...almost always better to just use an almost completely sealed rubbermaid or similar style enclosure with a heat pad underneath with wet paper towel to take care of pesky sheds. A sauna instead of a bath, we'll say. Less stressful for everybody! Lots of people soak and I am not saying it's wrong...just something I haven't done for stuck sheds.

Also, if your boa is sizeable, you can make a humid hide also out of a kitty litter bin with an entry hole cut in the side with wet moss inside. Containers with lids work a bit better, however.

That's how we've been soaking her; in a plastic container on top of a towel (not paper). She HATES it. She sticks her head at the top of the container and has that forlorn look on her face like she just lost her best friend. The bath is convenient only because it has easy access to the water spout so that we can keep the water warm for her, but she does freak out in it. She will soak in her water dish too. She never puts her full body in; just her head or her mid section or her tail at any given time. She's weird.

**Andy_G** · 02-16-17, 12:54 PM

I can't stress enough that if you are uncomfortable in removing eye caps then you shouldn't do it alone. It is a very delicate area. It's easy to explain and fairly easy to show but can be overwhelming to try so don't feel bad about that. In this situation I would try the humid hide and see how things go with the next shed.

GyGbeetle · 02-16-17, 01:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andy_G

I can't stress enough that if you are uncomfortable in removing eye caps then you shouldn't do it alone. It is a very delicate area. It's easy to explain and fairly easy to show but can be overwhelming to try so don't feel bad about that. In this situation I would try the humid hide and see how things go with the next shed.

I have unilateral shaking that precludes me from doing any microscopic work. So I'm going to say no, indefinitely don't feel comfortable. I'll wait and see in the next week. Otherwise, it's off to the vet.

**Andy_G** · 02-16-17, 01:28 PM

That must be challenging for you. I am fortunate enough to have a steady hand. It's been a few months since I have had any shed issues here but the last was a baby crestie that was a runt that always had horrible sheds up to about a year of age...since then they've been perfect with no husbandry changes. I would have to use needle nose tweezers and it was very tedious to remove skin off such tiny digits. I've only had to remove stuck eye caps on two occasions and in both of those instances the snakes had been obtained with them. I am certain that the problem will take care of itself once the next shed occurs with the humid hide present.

GyGbeetle · 02-16-17, 01:58 PM

I'll hope for the best with her shed. Will have to go this weekend and get the stuff.

Shaking sucks, especially trying to get the snakes out. My doc thinks I have MS. I've thought I had it 2 years ago when my lumbar came back with all of the indicators. But doctors out here are morons. I used to have great dexterity, but it's declined a lot over the last 2 years and my vision has deteriorated. Snakes keep me sane like no other animal I've had. My cats look at me indignantly when I shake; the snakes wrap around me and give me "kisses" when I get bad

**Andy_G** · 02-16-17, 02:03 PM

I had a beloved uncle with similar issues who actually passed quite young. The onset was very quick and out of nowhere starting with a few falls and then the shakes started, and although MS was suspected it was never diagnosed even after many specialist visits and multiple diagnostic tests. Keep your chin up and keep fighting and searching for the answers you deserve.