Shedding Weirdness

[EmJ]

I recently purchased a male 2010 normal, and he has just gone into his first shed with me. The problem is, the skin on his head is split open, but he's making no effort to actually shed. He also didn't even look dull until this morning, we were totally surprised to find two little bits of skin around the tank.

So, Friday night we fed him, and he seemed totally normal. Not dull, no blueing, he ate fine. Then Saturday morning I look in on him and his skin is coming off! He rubbed some of it off on his water dish and had some of it peeled up around his head. So, I waited for him to start shedding, but he didn't do anything. He just lay in his hide all day. In the evening he transferred into his warm hide, but still made no effort to shed. I decided to wait 24 hours before assisting, thinking he would shed in the night, but I checked him this morning and he's exactly the same. The only difference is that now he's finally looking dull.

Temps are 90 on the hot side, 80 on the cool. Humidity's a little low for a shed at about 60, b/c he didn't tell me he was shedding, but I've been trying to bring it up.

My question is, should I leave him alone until he has actually tried to shed? Or should I soak him now?

[yeroc1982]

i just went through the same thing. They will get it off when they are ready. My snake was being lazy also, give it time, it willl come off.

[RichieBoo]

Had the same thing ...i soaked him for 40 min...and by the next morning he shed everything off...i would try a nice warm bath ...

[Alexandra V]

It's possible that you just missed the blue phase, because it does clear up a couple days before they actually start to shed. I'd say leave him to clean himself up for a couple days before you start assisting, and make sure that the water doesn't get cold should you choose to soak him.

[shelliebear]

Mine does the same thing. >:/ He WILL not shed. I usually have to soak him and run him through a washcloth.