Shedding predicament...

[Lion]

This would be my boy's first shed since I've had him. All's going well, but the only issue is that I'm meant to leave tomorrow (Sunday) morning and won't be back until Friday afternoon. It's possible that I can stick around for one extra day, but that would be it. I checked on him a few days ago to find that his eyes were still a bit cloudy, and I just now checked on him again, and he's all cleared up. My guesstimate of when the cycle started would be last Saturday or Sunday. Now, since it's been some time since I last saw him with cloudy eyes, I can't say when exactly he cleared up. But I know that it still can be days before he actively begins to shed, and (although I'm confident in his humidity levels), even more time could be wasted on a sloppy shed, and I'd have to intervene at some point and soak him. This can all happen by Wednesday, for all I know.

My question is this, then: how imperative is it that I stick around through the whole cycle? I do have a neighbor who's agreed to check on him daily, change out his water dish and all that, so he won't go completely unmonitored. If he sheds in one piece, excellent, I can ask my neighbor to remove the shed and whatever other excrement might come along with it (he also hasn't pooped since I've had him), and all should be well. In the case that he does shed in pieces, though, how long can he go before assistance is required? Let's say he starts to shed as early as Tuesday, but doesn't manage to get it all off. Could he last as long as until Friday before I can be there to soak him? I'd really, really hate to have to stay behind for an unforseeable amount of time before I can leave with the rest of my family.

[SnowShredder]

I leave on week vacations several times a year, and have never had anyone come check on the snakes. I fill water bowls, feed a day before I leave, and call it good. If your humidity levels are correct they should have no problems shedding in one piece. Mine are kept in tubs/rack and it holds humidity perfect. Even with a partial shed they will be perfectly fine until you come back. A week will do nothing. The main thing to worry about is the eyes but a week won't be a big deal

[Lion]

Ladies and gentlemen, you may COMPLETELY disregard this thread, for Feryn has solved everything, as he went and shed in one whole piece tonight. Eye caps and everything! Absolutely perfect. I'm a good parent. :'D

But, yeah, I figured he wouldn't need to really be "checked on" so often, but I do have a Repti-Fogger that needs to be refilled once every day (probably less now that I can bring the humidity back down). Even when using coconut fiber, a large water bowl, and covering a great portion of the terrarium's screen with damp towels, the humidity can still easily linger down at around 20%. It's pretty dry, here. So, looks like my neighbor will only have to concern himself with refilling the humidifier, and I can be worry-free for the week.

Thank you very much, though, that's definitely helpful information. Especially for future reference, as there are a few times out of the year where the house is empty for several days to a week. So, that's really all I need to be assured of.

[RoyalHouseMorphs]

About a year ago I started to stop soaking them whilst they are cloudy. Not because humidity levels are fine or that it doesn't work. I found that just spraying them once they have cleared up pretty much guarantees a complete shed. I've not had one problem shed since I have started doing this.

Give it a try next time! Won't have to worry about stuck sheds again