HELP: Stuck shed

[chairman]

Garter snakes can handle some pretty moist conditions. I wouldn't worry about scale rot as long as there is a hiding spot in the enclosure that is dry; as long as the snake can comfortably dry itself off, it should be fine.

I use a gecko sauna for snakes that went through a bad shed. The sauna is just a plastic shoebox with holes poked in the lid filled half-way with slightly warmer than lukewarm water.

For your situation I would consider putting neosporin on the tail tip (the kind with no pain reliever). That may help moisten the area in a way that water isn't, and will help prevent infection.

I typically suggest against removing stubborn stuck shed but if you must do so yourself then I'd go slowly, cautiously, and with tweezers, as was already recommended. Pulling on the skin with your finger, or just allowing the snake to slither through your hand (or cloth) per a normal assisted shed might result in a loss of too much tissue.

[MnGuy]

Originally Posted by chairman

Garter snakes can handle some pretty moist conditions. I wouldn't worry about scale rot as long as there is a hiding spot in the enclosure that is dry; as long as the snake can comfortably dry itself off, it should be fine.

I use a gecko sauna for snakes that went through a bad shed. The sauna is just a plastic shoebox with holes poked in the lid filled half-way with slightly warmer than lukewarm water.

For your situation I would consider putting neosporin on the tail tip (the kind with no pain reliever). That may help moisten the area in a way that water isn't, and will help prevent infection.

I typically suggest against removing stubborn stuck shed but if you must do so yourself then I'd go slowly, cautiously, and with tweezers, as was already recommended. Pulling on the skin with your finger, or just allowing the snake to slither through your hand (or cloth) per a normal assisted shed might result in a loss of too much tissue.

Thank you for the great advice. I have been using a plastic box to soak her but it hasn’t helped remove the last bit st the tip.

Why the neosporin without pain reliever? Is the stuff with it bad? Just curious.

Do you think I should turn off her basking light for now? I’m afraid it’s just baking the bad shed onto her tail. It’s the only heating source. She’s in a bioactive tank so there’s no sticking a heating on the bottom. I could relocate her to a hospital tank.