It Feels Like a Holiday Miracle

[Chocolate Muffin's]

Just had to share with people who I hope can appreciate my celebration:

My baby ball FINALLY shed on her own (in one piece) today with no assistance!!!!! Wohoo! In fact, I had her soak tub primed and ready to put her in. When she crawled on to my hand, see appeared to have a shiny new coat. I couldn't believe what I was seeing. I immediately went searching for the evidence, and it was in her hide box!!!

A little background: Since I got her a few months ago she has had trouble having complete sheds. She usually had to be soaked and then assisted, of which she was always a sweet and loving participant. She really liked it.

Things have been looking up since I worked with some of the folks here on the forum that helped me adjust a few things. Not to sound like I’m on an award show -but - here are the things that helped us immensely.

1.) Got a thermostat to regulate UTH temps
2.) Changed the substrate to Coco Mulch (LOVE this stuff)
3.) Put a larger water bowl inside
4.) Used damp towels over the top of the cage



Thanks everyone!!!!

[illini4x4]

Congrats!!! It is always very rewarding to know you are providing the proper husbandry for your snakes! When I got my RTB she had numerous stuck sheds and retained eye caps. With a little cage modification and misting she had her first shed with me and it all came off in one piece. I was sooo happy knowing that I was giving her a better home than she previously had

[Chocolate Muffin's]

I hear you loud and clear...its such a great feeling. RTB's are beautiful!!!

[BPelizabeth]

OMG....that is such a good feeling and a proud moment huh!!! My very first snake shed was bad.....and since then I am always paranoid...but have had good ones ever since. So I can totally understand how excited you are.

[angllady2]

I know that feeling well.

My husband and I rescues a pitiful little normal about a month ago, he was neglected and treated roughly, and he was a mess of stuck shed, it was coming off him in tiny pieces like dandruff.

After we got him home and soaked him and fed him and he started acting like a snake is supposed to, he shed just beautiful for me. And when I picked him up to show my husband how nice he looked, he promptly tried to bite my face off in gratitude!

Gale

[Chocolate Muffin's]

I know that feeling well.

My husband and I rescues a pitiful little normal about a month ago, he was neglected and treated roughly, and he was a mess of stuck shed, it was coming off him in tiny pieces like dandruff.

After we got him home and soaked him and fed him and he started acting like a snake is supposed to, he shed just beautiful for me. And when I picked him up to show my husband how nice he looked, he promptly tried to bite my face off in gratitude!

Gale

Haha...cracking up about that ending!

What a great story. The whole shedding in captivity thing seems simple, but it really is kinda complicated when one takes into account everything that has to go right in order for it to happen normally.

Congratulations on brining your new little precious ball around to healthy sheds. It's one of the few signs these creatures give us, that we are meeting all of their needs: )

[illini4x4]

I hear you loud and clear...its such a great feeling. RTB's are beautiful!!!

Yes I agree, my RTB was my first snake. While I am getting more into BP's she will always have that special place in my heart I too think they are beautiful

[blackcrystal22]

Congrats!

Also, don't pre-soak if you can. Just up the humidity. Pre-soaking takes away the oils needed to have a proper shed, and can actually make the shed worse.

I recently had a bad shed with my BCI that I'm still worried about. The shed came off all in one piece except for a few little stray pieces, which I soaked off, but I didn't immediately notice that the tip of his tail had a bit left on it that didn't come off with the soak. When I recently checked up on this it looks like the very tip lost circulation and is brittle and probably ruined. Something that makes me hit myself for not seeing sooner.

[Chocolate Muffin's]

Oh Jess,

that is very good information about pre soaking, I didn't realize that it could do more harm than good. I'm sorry to hear about your BCI, my hope is that the circulation returns. The only place I have read about that happening is here, everyone is so knowledgeable. I am lucky that I haven't had the same issue with Muffin because she was getting soaked for every shed. I could of had the same issues.

I didn't know that soaking them could be a problem. Now Nico always pre soaks in her water bowl before she sheds. I just assumed that because she is 17, she knows what she's doing, but she doesn't have the humidity issues in her cage like little Muffin.

Don't beat yourself over the head - you did what you thought best. Hopefully all will turnout for the best : )