somethings wrong with my snake

slowhite03 · 01-10-13, 09:55 PM

so this hasnt been the best winter for my mexican black kingsnake, awhile back i posted about how it was dull in color and not eating. now he has eaten every now and agin but as i was playing with him today he seemed really slow and when i put him away i noticed his head looked rusty. i dont know what it could be, if anything, can any of you figure out if it is anything?

mexican black kingsnake
about a year old
40 gallon long
40-60% humidity
86-90 degrees hot spot
room temp cool side
aspen shavings

poison123 · 01-10-13, 09:57 PM

Are you sure on that humidity? What are you reading it with?

Calihusker · 01-10-13, 09:57 PM

Have you considered that he's shedding?

dinosaurdammit · 01-10-13, 09:58 PM

that looks like stuck shed on his face, almost like a mask and if you look further on his neck it seems like there is more on the side of his neck

poison123 · 01-10-13, 10:02 PM

Looks like dried scales to me.

slowhite03 · 01-10-13, 10:07 PM

He's not shedding, he's eaten once in the last month and it was 2 pinkies.

dinosaurdammit · 01-10-13, 10:10 PM

he may not BE shedding but it may be shed that didnt come off in the last cycle, or just dried out skin like poison said. Why not give your snake a soak in some warm water and see if it helps, if its stuck shed it should either come off or soften and come off later if its dry skin then your humidity is too low. Unless you are using a digital hydromomitor (spelling is waaay off i know) then those petco/petsmart analog gauges can be royally wrong.

slowhite03 · 01-10-13, 10:24 PM

I've soaked him before, this is just recent. He hasn't shed since November.

EmbraceCalamity · 01-10-13, 10:29 PM

Just a quick question for clarification: How are you measuring humidity? Analog or digital?

~Maggot

slowhite03 · 01-10-13, 10:42 PM

Sorry analog, it's about an inch of the substrate. My other kingsnake ( Thayer) is right next to him and his humidity is fine. I've often wondered if putting him in a 40 gallon long and not keeping him in a 20 was a bad idea because he doesn't try to escape anymore. He just goes side to side.

Calihusker · 01-10-13, 10:47 PM

If he hasn't shed since November he may be due.

You said his colors look dull.

Consider the possibility.

EmbraceCalamity · 01-10-13, 10:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by slowhite03

Sorry analog, it's about an inch of the substrate. My other kingsnake ( Thayer) is right next to him and his humidity is fine. I've often wondered if putting him in a 40 gallon long and not keeping him in a 20 was a bad idea because he doesn't try to escape anymore. He just goes side to side.

Analogs are crap. Don't trust them. Get a digital one.

~Maggot

slowhite03 · 01-10-13, 10:49 PM

I have but they have been dull since early December, late November.

Calihusker · 01-10-13, 10:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by slowhite03

I have but they have been dull since early December, late November.

If your humidity isn't high enough then it can take awhile.

slowhite03 · 01-10-13, 11:19 PM

It's not the humidity, my other snake is shedding and he is a foot from him. Unless humidity can change dramatically with a foot radius, it can't be