Dry peeling skin on snake

[Zexion~]

I'm a new snake owner who has been overthinking everything and I'm starting to get used to owning a snake but this one problem persists, I own a 4 year old corn snake which I bought off of craigslist as the previous owner needed to get rid of it (dumb idea I know) however it has for the past two weeks had two peels of skin underneath his jaw that protrude about a centimeter, it also had a big peel of skin flaking off his upper head but that has since vanished, now I know everyone's going to claim bad shed as that's what the Internet says but signs of shedding have appeared, no change in color no change in eyes nothing so I don't think it's that. I tried getting him in water which was near impossible as I don't have a tub with a cover big enough but that didn't help, I tried placing damp paper towels in his hide still no help so my question is what exactly is the problem? sorry if this is too much writing

[Andy_G]

Is there a way to link us to a picture so that we can get a visual of what is happening? It will help us a lot to guide you as to what could be happening.

[bigsnakegirl785]

When a snake has a bad shed and the skin starts to peel off, the shed cycle is already over. You won't see any signs of shed because you've missed them. Stuck shed can remain as long as the next shed cycle if it isn't removed.

But as Andy said, pics would be very helpful in helping you out.

[eminart]

What they said. Probably left over bad shed from the last cycle. That may have been the last bits, or it might all still be stuck.

[Jim Smith]

You might want to consider giving your snake a nice warm (not too warm) bath for about 10 or 15 minutes. When you remove it from the warm water, keep a paper towel in your hand and let the snake crawl through the towel with you giving just enough pressure to let the snake slid through. There may be additional patches of skin on the body that you can't detect and this will help loosen them up so they come off in the paper towel. You can also gently stroke the top of its head and its chin to see it that skin comes off after being moistened. Just a thought... Good luck and let us know how it turns out.

[Zexion~]

Ahh I had a school trip until Thursday but I can get the pictures Thursday or Friday , I'll definitely try the bath as the guy probably have him to me like this as I've seen no signs of shedding, I'll have my brother try the bathing technique while I'm away

[Tsubaki]

Don't use warm water for snakes, lukewarm is hot enough.. The temperature should not be warm to the touch, should barely feel any temperature difference to your skin (Your hand temperature is on avarage higher than the avarage body temperature of a reptile in rest) That way it is around what their body temperature should max be, a snake in water that is warm to the touch can overheat easily

[Zexion~]

Update: I just arrived back from this school camp trip to find that my snakes eye caps have paled and he's showing signs of a complete shed soon, however like I said these peels have been present for a week or two minimum, and now that I recall it did not come with the peels, so did he just start shedding early due to stress, is it just dry skin? Here is a picture idk of you can see from the picture but his eyes have blued and it's blurry but you can see the peels

[bigsnakegirl785]

Originally Posted by Zexion~

Update: I just arrived back from this school camp trip to find that my snakes eye caps have paled and he's showing signs of a complete shed soon, however like I said these peels have been present for a week or two minimum, and now that I recall it did not come with the peels, so did he just start shedding early due to stress, is it just dry skin? Here is a picture idk of you can see from the picture but his eyes have blued and it's blurry but you can see the peels

The picture is extremely blurry, you can't make anything out from it.

The best I can guess from that if it isn't stuck shed is that he possibly could have damaged them, sometimes that happens. If they pull back really hard, they can pull the scales back.

[SnoopySnake]

I can't make out anything from the pics either :/ Somethings when rubbing/pushing on things they can damage scales and they will peel, kind of like layers of skin? I've just recently had one snake do it. Here's a pic, but not to the extent of yours, if that actually is whats happened. If that is the case it should resolve itself within this shed or the next. what you can't see in the pic is where the skin is actually peeling off of his head, similar to how you describe.

I have another snake who would very roughly pull out of my cloth gloves and mess up his belly scales like that, they would tear and peel like you are describing. It's very possible he damaged his scales by rubbing on something.

[Zexion~]

I'll try to get another picture when he comes out of his hide, but so if that is the problem it will resolve when he sheds?

[Zexion~]

Okay this is insane, his blue eye caps are gone now and I see no signs of snake shedding, what is going on with my snake? Here is a better picture of the peeling

[Albert Clark]

Most of the time when a snake is injured however mild, moderate or severe they will go into shed cycles and usually multiple sheds. This happens if the snake is ill as well. I would say to double check your husbandry. Temps, cool side , warm side , ambient and basking temps. Humidity percentage should be adjusted to a slightly higher setting.

[SnoopySnake]

If that's the issue it should go away within this shed or the next. The eyes will clear up again after being blue, and then he will shed a couple days later.

[dannybgoode]

If your snake is in shed make sure the viv is nice and humid or provide a humidity hide (simple plastic tub with a hole cut in for the snake to get in and out and some damp sphagnum moss).

This will really help it with its shed.

Any more questions ask away...