Bad Shed Situation

Deva · 06-09-13, 09:57 AM

Looking for some advice here - My pueblan milksnake, CiCi, is trying to shed but can't seem to. I have had her a year and she has shed many times before with no problem, but this is different. For about a month she has been showing the usual dullness, but now she is wrinkled and I picked her up today and she is so stiff! She also refused food I offered yesterday.

Normally she hides during the day, but now she can't even curl up to fit in her hide she is so stiff. Some scales are sticking out.

What I have done today is mist her terrarium, give her a much bigger water dish she can completely submerge in, with warm water. I picked her up (I don't normally handle her) and that was when I found out how stiff she was, and then placed her in the large water dish about an hour ago. She was still in there when I last checked. Anything else I can do?

**lady_bug87** · 06-09-13, 10:23 AM

Stiff? Is she moving around in the water? Do you offer her a humid hide? I wouldn't leave her in water she can submerge herself in, especially if she seems lethargic or stiff?

Hopefully someone else can chime in...

Ourobouros · 06-09-13, 11:11 AM

My baby kingsnake was shedding when I got her in the mail. She was very similar to what you described but yours seems more severe. Pet stores sell a emulsifier solution called shed aid. Mix according to bottle instructions in luek warm water... And soak your snake in it about 10-20 min. I did this every 2 days and misted the tank up to 40% humidity where through the day it would drop to 20% if I did not.

If it does not improve after a few days to a week (however long is normal for your snake to shed) then take to a vet.

Deva · 06-09-13, 11:21 AM

Since I wrote the post a couple hours ago, she has moved out of the water and into her hide, so I guess her skin has become already more flexible, at least. She loves this little half coconut shell where she hid in when she was much smaller, and still always wants to go there, although I also supplied her with a larger hide on the other side of the terrarium. This larger hide has moist moss in it. I was hoping she would use the larger one, but I haven't seen her in it very much. She has a big terrarium and plenty of room to move around in.

I have never seen her where she was so stiff she basically couldn't move. Anyway, the condition is better at least where she can curl up in her old hide.

Deva · 06-09-13, 11:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lady_bug87

Stiff? Is she moving around in the water? Do you offer her a humid hide? I wouldn't leave her in water she can submerge herself in, especially if she seems lethargic or stiff?

Hopefully someone else can chime in...

Yes to the humid hide but I haven't seen her in it.

She got out of the water herself and has now moved into a small hide. I take that as a good sign. I was very alarmed to see how stiff she was when I picked her up earlier this afternoon. Almost like picking up a piece of wood - seemed like she could hardly move at all. Glad to say she appears to be improved a bit since she can now curl herself up to fit into the small hide.

slowhite03 · 06-09-13, 11:27 AM

You may just have to help her, soak her warm water for 20 minutes and then rub firmly around her body to see if you can break her skin.

Ourobouros · 06-09-13, 11:28 AM

That's good. Glad to hear she's moving. I was so worried about my snake too when I saw crinkling along her body. Thankfully she got it all off though after 5 days. I know shipping stressed her out and my humidity was too low at first. Hopefully next shed will be easier.

Ourobouros · 06-09-13, 11:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by slowhite03

You may just have to help her, soak her warm water for 20 minutes and then rub firmly around her body to see if you can break her skin.

This could tear the new skin and cause lesions. I'd only do this if there are small pieces of dead skin but not the whole body.

**lady_bug87** · 06-09-13, 12:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by slowhite03

You may just have to help her, soak her warm water for 20 minutes and then rub firmly around her body to see if you can break her skin.

I second this as a terrible idea

StudentoReptile · 06-09-13, 01:08 PM

One method I have used for trouble-shedders is: get a deli cup or appropriately-sized plastic container, put a warm/damp/moist paper towel, only poke 1-2 holes in the upper sides for air. Stick the snake in, mist a couple times with warm water, and close the lid. This is a quick fix until you can correct the habitat issues.

Deva · 06-09-13, 01:23 PM

She is still back in her little hide with only her head sticking out. So she is all curled up, indicating some of her flexibility is back. Her skin still looks bad, but she is more responsive.

I couldn't believe how stiff she was when I picked her up several hours ago - seriously, like a piece of wood - normally she is lighting fast and so I was shocked.

I got something at the pet store that is supposed to help with shedding - it seems to be nothing more than liquid aloe vera - but I added some to her water. Hopefully she will go back in and soak some more.

Starbuck · 06-09-13, 01:28 PM

you should make sure she has an UNADULTERATED bowl of water to drink from as well...

Ourobouros · 06-09-13, 03:38 PM

Okay so this is what I did:

Mixed the liquid into room temperature water and I only deep enough in the plastic container so that my snake would be able to keep her head above water. I supervised the entire time and made sure she got an even soaking.. 10-20 min and it needs to be that long so the emulsifier can penetrate deep enough to separate the dead skin from the new. Then returned her to the tank and misted it up to 40%. I left her alone after that and a full day just misting regularly. 2nd day I gave her another bath. She managed to shed in pieces but did get through it after 5 days.

The skin should come off in one piece, so anything otherwise is cause for concern. My snake had trouble so I'll be vigilant like a hawk for each shed. After your snake sheds be sure to check the skin and that it has eye caps.. If there are holes... Check her eyes... Any part of the body with remaining skin should be addressed with another bath. Especially if the tail has skin left.. It can cause constriction which can make the tail die and fall off...

The emulsifier is superior to just a normal soak because it really loosens the dead skin. I felt the flap of skin on mine and it felt like an oversized sock I could pull off.. But I resisted lol.

Ourobouros · 06-09-13, 03:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Starbuck

you should make sure she has an UNADULTERATED bowl of water to drink from as well...

Yes aloe vera can be toxic if swallowed.. I know this is the case in humans if too much is consumed but for a snake I'm sure it's not meant to be ingested.

Deva · 06-09-13, 04:57 PM

If I put the regular water bowl with no aloe in there, chances are she would just soak in that one and forget about the larger bowl with the aloe.

The thing is, I have seen her soaking in that small bowl for quite a while, and she still ended up stiff as a board. Weird, huh?

Not sure if I should again put her in the large bowl for one more soaking today or just leave her be for the evening. Maybe mist the terrarium once more.

I guess what I did not realize was the necessity of misting. After all, I have had this snake for a year and did not have this kind of problem before.