Need BP Help FAST!

nellie · 08-24-03, 06:42 AM

Okay, I know I'm going to get crusified for my stupidity here, but I really need some help fast!!!!!
The wire cage I have around my light in my BP cage is basically just folded mesh with Duct Tape at all the bends (so that it isn't sharp). Well, evidently last night Hebrew went on a rampage thru his cage and ended up getting stuck on some of the duct tape.
He now has a peice of tape stuck on the underside of his neck. When I say stuck, I mean really stuck! My husband and I cut off as much as we could with out getting any of the skin or scales that is stuck to it, but there is still quite a bit on him. It looks so uncomfortable and I'm not sure of the extent of the damage to his skin underneath. If a picture would help, I can post one.
Does anyone have any idea what I can do to get this stuff off of him? Or would it be better to just leave it on him so that I don't rip his skip open?
Please help! I am totally freaking out here!!!!
Thanks,
~Nellie
PS I promise that stupid light is coming outta there today!!!!!

ANACONDASAURUS · 08-24-03, 06:55 AM

You could try giving him a bath to loosen it. You could try tweezer's to slowly peel it off. Has he shed recently or is about to?

nellie · 08-24-03, 07:13 AM

He shed about 2 weeks ago. He has been shedding every 6-8 weeks, so it's probably going to be another 4-6 weeks.

I'll try the bath.

My husband just told me that the more he is moving around, he seems to be getting more and more of it off, but it looks like he is taking some skin with it. Should I just leave him alone and let it come off naturally? I'm just trying to avoid having his skin ripping off.

BoidKeeper · 08-24-03, 07:24 AM

Soak him it will help losen the glue. Stay with him while you do it. Shallow water in the tub just above room temp.
Trevor

nellie · 08-24-03, 07:28 AM

I've got him soaking now in a critter keeper.
Now if only I could just get him to put his neck under the water!!!

He seems pretty active, should I take that as a good sign?

ikke · 08-24-03, 08:04 AM

stay with him while he is soaking and hold him a bit, I know this problem... my little niece was on my room 2 months ago and so was her mom.. and although i told them not to open the cage.. they did ( I had to open the front door ). Anyway my little niece ( 1.5 years of age ) taped one of my balls in with ducktape... you could emagine my reaction.. ( her mom was just laughing and though it was funny ) .. I soaked him and gently went over him where he still had ducktape... a bit like you do when they dont shed good... only more gentle... be sure not to pull !! but I would stay with him and calm him down a bit... and keep the ducktape wet.. hope it helpt.. maybe its already off by the time you read this...

nellie · 08-24-03, 08:30 AM

Thanks for your help guys!
It's not off yet, but it looks like it is starting to loosen some. We still have a long way to go, but at least we are making some progress.
If anyone else has suggestions, I would still like to hear them!

Thanks again!
~Nellie

Jo060 · 08-24-03, 09:54 AM

Dang, I'm so sorry to hear about that

But, if its still not working you should try calling your herp vet and ask him so you wont have to go in and pay a great deal of money. I meen it could be the simplist thing he would do to take it off and be $50. So, try calling your local herp vet

Joe!

nellie · 08-24-03, 12:46 PM

Well, after about 6 hours of soaking and careful peeling, Hebrew is now duct tape free!

After everything the poor little guy has gone thru today, he only has one little red line on his underside and some stretched skin on one side. I would have never believed he would have come out of this without losing any skin 6 hours ago!

I learned a very valuable lesson today:
Duct Tape & Snakes Don't Mix!!!

Thanks for all of your help! I'm sure Hebrew appreciates it as much as (probably more) I do!!!

~Nellie

Jeff_Favelle · 08-24-03, 07:18 PM

Oh man, that should be rule #1 AND rule #1a.

Never use tape with reptiles.

Never use tape with reptiles.

It MUST be in every book. That and the hot-rock thing.

Linds · 08-24-03, 09:50 PM

Yup... like Jeff said... tape and reptiles is only recipe for disaster, as much as it looks like it couldn't possibly come loose. I got to this thread a bit late, but another way of removing tape, thats faster than soaking, is to use rubbing alcohol.