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  1. #1
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    I am kind of scared... this has to do with Rat-snake shed problems, please read/help

    My few month old Leusicitic Rat-Snake: Kieran apparently started shedding today... I had just held him last night and didnt see any signs of shed... but then again.. he is white... and little... so I couldn't exactly look at his belly... so I go to check on him/ change water for today... and I notice he has a shed going on... its a bad shed... but still in a decently long piece... I thought that I would help him... so I took him out and put him in a ventilated container with a steaming rag for a bit... only like.. 1 minute... then ran him through my hands when they had water on them... just to moisten his scales a little... and then I tried to pull... well not... "pull" like yank... but gently tug at the skin that was attached and see if it would roll off like it does for my ball-python and other cornsnake... I held my corn snake as she shed the last time and held the piece of skin by her neck until she shed the whole thing off... so i figured... why not? And I feel like... I may have tugged 2 hard... I am not really sure... he has shed on his head... it is not blocking his mouth or vents... and I can see his eyes... its just around his eyes... and I lightly tugged on it and didn't feel comfortable doing it because the skin around his eye socket was stretching with it so I figured it was not ready to come off... i just want to know if anyone can help... I am afraid of a few things...
    1. That I made him blind... (i know, weird and over the top but... eh)
    2. That he wont shed properly
    3. That I am doing something wrong.

    I do not, particularly, monitor my cornsnake/rat snake enclousures for humidity... be it that they are native to florida... where I live... and I figure its enough to have a water bowl directly under the heat lamp...
    pics included.
    Any help would be nice Thanks guys.










    Last edited by Trey Yeoman; 03-12-2011 at 06:19 PM. Reason: added pics

  2. #2
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    So I left him to his own devices... as would nature... and he has (in the last four hours) gotten most of the shed off of her head... leaving only a little around his eyes... I am not 2 worried about it at this point... I just got a little freaked out cause hes my special little guy... and I don't want anything to go wrong

  3. #3
    No One of Consequence wilomn's Avatar
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    Judicious application of either Duct or Gorilla tape to the affected areas can safely remove any skin that is not shed on its own.

    Also a soak in a plastic container with a lid and ventilated for several hours in room temperature water will also do the trick.
    I may not be very smart, but what if I am?
    Stinky says, "Women should be obscene but not heard." Stinky is one smart man.
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  4. The Following User Says Thank You to wilomn For This Useful Post:

    Trey Yeoman (03-14-2011)

  5. #4
    BPnet Veteran purplemuffin's Avatar
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    Ever try the wet towel+pillowcase trick? It gets sheds off for me every time! Put a damp towel/handtowel in a pillow case, tie it up, and leave the snake in there in the enclosure overnight... The snake has the moisture as well as the rough towel to get the shed off perfectly. Using tape CAN do damage if not done correctly, the towel won't, so you won't have to worry. You should be able to take him out the next day clean and fully shed!

  6. The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to purplemuffin For This Useful Post:

    midwest_98 (04-01-2011),Trey Yeoman (03-14-2011)

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