Shedding Problem with Columbian Red-Tailed Boa

shaantih · 01-13-04, 11:25 PM

i have a columbian red-tailed boa that has been ready to shed for weeks. i can tell b/c of his loose skin only in small places throughout his body. his under belly is rough and loose also. the problem is that is he wont shed. is there anything i can do to help him start his shedding process? could anything be wrong with him since he hasnt shed? i really appreciate any replies that can help me out!

BoAddict · 01-14-04, 04:12 AM

it will shed when its ready
how do you know what is right for it, the snake knows best.

now are the temps ideal, how about humidity?

you can give it a bath for a few mins and see if it helps

shaantih · 01-14-04, 04:40 PM

i know the snakes knows when it's ready, but what if there's something wrong with him that is preventing him from shedding? the only reason why i said i thought he was ready to shed was the fact that the skin on his scales are coming off in tiny pieces in some places, and his underbelly is rough and the skin is starting to come off, but it's been like that for a while AND this has never happened b4

Dark_Angel_25 · 01-14-04, 04:59 PM

i just had the same prob with my red tail. the skin was literally bundled up and stretched at her tail it looked like an oversized tube sock, but she wouldn't rub on anything to tryand get it off.

I emded up putting her in the bath tub for about 30 minutes, and you could see the water between her old skin and the new skin, and then I just helped her along, I rubbed (in the direction of her scales) until a section tore, and then rolled it down her body and off her. as for the head, well I put her head under the water and held it there gently with my thumb (only her nostrils were exposed so she could breathe) and then I rubbed her nose with my finger and a damp towel to loosen that off, but I basically had to shed for her.

Now she is fine and doing well. This was also the first time it ever happened. all her other sheds have had no problems...

JDouglas · 01-14-04, 05:28 PM

The last post gave good advice. A good soaking will help it come off. I would put a few holes in a rubbermaid and put her in it with water that is the same depth as the height of the snake and put the lid on. Leave him for about a half hour and then come back to remove the skin. Sounds like you need to increase the humidity in your cage so this doesn't happen again.

~Suntiger~ · 01-14-04, 05:35 PM

If I ever want to encourage my snakes to shed, I first give them a bath then put them in a dampened snake bag (glorified pillow case) overnight. Without fail, by morning they have shed perfectly on their own. If you decide to do this, you may wish to put the tied snake bag inside of a rubbermaid for added security! (Better safe than sorry!

)

shaantih · 01-17-04, 06:04 PM

thanks everyone for your advice.. i put him in the bath with warm water... had to practically make him stay though.. lol... afterwards, i wrapped him in a damp warm towl until he decided to get out and put him back in his aqaurium under his heat lamp.. the next day, his eyes were slightly blue and today, they are bluer and his scales are dull..

BoaBoi · 01-17-04, 10:53 PM

Mine did the EXACT same thing, except I just left him alone thinking that if he wants to shed enough he'll remove the skin. Then the day after I noticed that he had gone through the milk phase again(bluring of the eyes) and then his eyes cleared up and he started rubbing on stuff. He hasn't shed yet but if he keeps rubbing on **** he will soon.

James~