Incomplete shed...

jathoma · 09-07-03, 06:47 AM

My BP shed a couple weeks ago (in pieces, mind you) but still has leftovers around his head and neck....

I've tried soaking, raising humidity, etc...but it's still there...

I've even attempted to try a warm rag to the area, but he's real leary about letting me go near his head at all...

Any other suggestions?

BoidKeeper · 09-07-03, 06:52 AM

No fail skin removal technique,
get a rubbermaid that would be too small for your snake to live in full time but can spend the night in.
Soak a damp towl with warm water.
Wrape the snake in the towl and place it inside the rubbermaid.
Next morning you'll have a clean snake and a dirty towl.
Cheers,
Trevor

jathoma · 09-07-03, 06:56 AM

as far as the rubbermaid goes (I keep mine in a tank), how should I ventilate?

lilyskip · 09-07-03, 09:42 AM

I wasn't able to procure a rubbermaid big enough for my snake to get into along with a towel, so I just put about an inch of water in a little shoebox rubbermaid and got huxley wet, and then carefully peeled off what was left of his shed. He was really calm about it, although I recommend Trevor's technique more, if it's logistically possible for you.

For ventilation, I poked some holes in the top with scissors (I didn't have a drill) but the better way is to drill some holes in the sides, I believe. I feel like there's a principle of cross-ventilation involved, but I don't know what is is. hehe.

Jo060 · 09-07-03, 08:21 PM

Yes, I agree w/ lilyskip. If you have a drill take a SMALL drill bit. And drill holes around the side of the rubbermaid like about 1inch apart the whole way round. Then some on the top. I had fun drillin' wholes on the top, I made sum cool designs

annoying_alien · 09-09-03, 04:46 PM

Keeper's plan seems the best, I agree.
Peeling it off yourself is the last resort.
Thats what I had to do with mine just a few days ago. He was pretty good about
it.

Linds · 09-09-03, 08:08 PM

You can also try a letting your snake crawl around in a wet pillowcase for 30 min or until everything is off if you don't have a rubbermaid. If its not too much of a hassle, you can take everything out of the tanka nd put the wet towel in there with your snakie