3 snakes same setup but 1 is having shed problems

David339 · 10-11-19, 06:17 PM

I have 3 snakes, a pueblan milk snake, albino striped corn snake, and common garter snake. All 3 are approximately the same size, 12 inches-ish. All 3 are in a 10g(they each have their own tank and bigger tanks are already purchased and waiting) with the exact same substrate(aspen) and even the same decor(water dish and layout is even the same). The garter snake and corn snake have complete sheds with no problems. I've had the garter snake for 3-4 months and have seen many successful sheds. From researching care sheets, their temp requirements are very similar, the corn snake was reccomended slightly cooler 80 instead of 90. My corn snake I've had 1 1/2 to 2 months and have had successful complete sheds. My pueblan milk snake is I've had 1 to 1 1/2 month. She was overnight delivered in shed. Her 1st shed she successfully shed her head and a few inches past. I had to assist her in shedding the rest because even with extra misting she wasn't getting it herself. She's been hiding for several days and now it looks like she is having trouble shedding again. Her head area is successfully peeled and a little down her body.

Humidity is 30-40% 90 on the hot side and about 75 on the cool side. Why is she specifically having trouble with shedding and not the other guys?

My garter I don't handle much currently. It was affecting me working him off worms to frozen/thawed. He liked pooping on me when I was. The corn snake I handle 1-2 times a week at a 10-15 min interval. I have not tried to handle my pueblan milk snake much other than when I had to help her shed before. I'm trying to get her to eat regularly before I even think of working on handling. She went 3 weeks before I went and started getting live pinkies. She will eat these. I will keep trying F/T every other week and go to live if I have to.

She also looked a little wrinkled in spots that isn't shed. I've started extra misting the tank and hoping she can shed on her own. Someone before recommended getting a thermostat which I don't have currently. My temps are based off gauges and testing I've done with a probe and turtle dock for finding basking temp at different distances using the same light/bulb. I have seen her slither through her water dish and all over it but not soak or drink but I'm at work for 8 hours of every week day. I don't catch dawn and sometimes miss dusk.

I only have a few years experience so any help is welcome. I do however have 16 other snakes(7 different species out of all 19 snakes). I bred some this year and a bunch of that number is babies. All of these other snakes I have had no trouble with incomplete sheds. The 3 snake species I named are my new snakes for this year. Why am I having so much trouble with this one? Per care sheets this is supposed to be a beginner level snake and other snakes I've bought from the same place are doing great.

David339 · 10-15-19, 04:48 AM

The wrinkled look went away the very next day. I forgot to mention someone I live with turned my reptile room into a sauna for a few hours... Unfortunately they didn't think nor did they ask me before turning off air conditioning and opening windows, while shutting the door to my reptile room and leaving the window in there closed. Perhaps this is the cause.

**Aaron_S** · 10-15-19, 01:16 PM

Weird. Usually snakes shed just fine. I bet it's a humidity issue when going in a shed cycle. You can dump a water dish of water in the enclosure for a shed cycle and then clean out the tank after.

In the mean time I would use a damp face cloth and handle the snake allowing it to slither through the face cloth and the snake should shed itself.

David339 · 10-15-19, 05:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aaron_S

Weird. Usually snakes shed just fine. I bet it's a humidity issue when going in a shed cycle. You can dump a water dish of water in the enclosure for a shed cycle and then clean out the tank after.

In the mean time I would use a damp face cloth and handle the snake allowing it to slither through the face cloth and the snake should shed itself.

My corn snake just had his 2nd shed today and it was complete. Tank right next to hers. Of course I have dividers so they can't see each other. I don't have a humidity hide either which I was thinking of trying. My others guys haven't needed it though. I'm trying to figure out what the issue is to keep it from happening in the future. She can't be stressed, I'm not handling her. When I feed her a pinkie, I just leave it in the tank. I have been spraying the tank once I realized. She can be shyer than my fossorial snakes sometimes. The last time I helped her shed I soaked her in warm water (too shallow to drown and was supervised) for 10 min then very gently stroked the shed off. Most of it came off like a glove except one spot close to where the shed broke. I read about and watched videos on this before attempting.

Thanks for the help. I will definitely try the washcloth method. I like the idea of her shedding herself better.

**Aaron_S** · 10-16-19, 07:59 AM

I would add the humid hide to this enclosure then. I know you've done everything correct to this point and I'm not saying you did anything wrong. Sometimes, a snake just needs something a little different and it wouldn't hurt to add it and see how the next shed goes.

David339 · 10-16-19, 12:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aaron_S

I would add the humid hide to this enclosure then. I know you've done everything correct to this point and I'm not saying you did anything wrong. Sometimes, a snake just needs something a little different and it wouldn't hurt to add it and see how the next shed goes.

Thanks. The washcloth trick was so much easier than what I did on her last shed. It took me longer when i used my hand, like I said I was being very gentle. Essentially I did the same as using the washcloth just using my hand instead. I was talking to a co worker today who was having the same issues with a redtail boa hatchling. He said that he had to switch to only under the tank heating. I know the lights I use do decrease the humidity. I used to have issues with them in my box turtle enclosure. I'm willing to do whatever she needs. I already have the humid hide made. I may just switch to ONLY under tank heating. Hopefully next shed goes well.

**Aaron_S** · 10-16-19, 06:25 PM

Sounds like you've got your eye on it. Bad sheds aren't the end of the world so try not to worry so much.

David339 · 10-18-19, 04:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aaron_S

Sounds like you've got your eye on it. Bad sheds aren't the end of the world so try not to worry so much.

It's hard not too. I love my reptiles as if they were my kids heh. Thanks for all the help.