Strange happenings - Possible stuck shed

[Smileythesnake]

I am the proud new owner of this 4 foot long Boa named Smiley. She has been an easy keeper so far but yesterday I notice that she has something weird happening with her skin. It's like she is shedding just in one small spot. She shed her whole skin just before we got her a couple of months ago. If you look at her profile photo, on the left side of the picture you can just see the area I'm talking about.

Her eyes are clear, she just ate and all else seems OK. Is this anything I need to be worried about?

Thanks for your help with a novice snake owner

[marvelfreak]

I couldn't see it from that picture. Could you get a close up so we could get a better look?

[Feebo]

Lets have a look if you can. The chances are it`s perfectly normal. It may well have just started shedding. If a snake is nearly ready to shed, and it catches itself on a rough surface or edge, the skin (just the layer ready to come away) can rip and give the appearance of bit of sunburn almost. As you say, like it`s shedding in just one place. It could well also be that a little bit of skin remained after the last shed which happens fairly regularly. If it looks white, like sunburn, there`s nothing wrong. You know about checking the tail tip and eyes after every shed don`t you? Those bits can cause problems if they remain....

[Smileythesnake]

Thank you both for your answers. I tried to get a photo of her to send but of course she would not cooperate! My son wasn't home and I have not become comfortable enough with her to pick her up yet.

However, she did shed! She just shed her skin not 6 weeks ago! I guess that means a growth spurt! Her eyes and tail look great.

I REALLY appreciate this forum you guys being here. As I am a Novice snake owner I have been in the horse industry my whole life and know the respsonsibility of owning anything even though I don't quite understand it yet.

THANK YOU!

[infernalis]

I had a snake just this week with a partially stuck shed, a quick soak fixed it right up.

[Smileythesnake]

Hmmm, haven't even thought about soaking. How does one go about soaking a snake! YIKES!

[Lankyrob]

Luke warm water in a plastic tub (sized to fit the snake). Some say put the snake in and put a lid on and leave it for 30 minutes. When i have done it i leave the lid of and stay with the snake so as it tries to escape i encourage it back into the water. I usually put a flannel in with the water too so that the snake has something to rub against and then you can use the same flannel by holding it in your hand and letting the snake slither through whilst applying GENTLE pressure - again this helps to rub hte skin off.

[percey39]

As rob has said a decent tub with water around 30 degrees celcius and a towel will do the job of helping getting the skin off. You could also soak a pillow case in warm water and put the snake in and let it sit in there for an hour or so. That way it will do it all itself.

[infernalis]

Really big snakes can go in your bath tub.

Several of our reptiles seem to really enjoy the bath tub..