In blue! Anything else I should do to help him shed completely this time?

[kiiarah]

Shesha has had one shed with me so far, but it didn't go so well (he left about 1/3 of the skin on his tail). I noticed today that his eyes are clouded and skin is very milky looking, so we are definitely on track for another shed very soon. This time I really want to avoid any problems. I have been keeping his eco-earth damp and maintaining humidity around 65-70% average, with 55% being the lowest it drops before I get home from work, and 85% being the highest I have seen it (immediately after misting). I have a heat lamp on the tank to keep ambient temps high enough (I hate having to use this but the UTH wasn't cutting it for ambient temps). He has mostly been under his cool hide so the lamp shouldn't be drying him out. The screen lid is covered about 85% to trap heat and humidity.

I feel like I have a good set up going this time around, better than when he last shed, but I just wanted to post to see if anyone had any suggestions I am not already doing. Is there anything more I can do to help him out? I have read about putting damp moss in the hide with him to keep the humidity in that area high, but I hate to force the damp moss on him if the ambient humidity would be enough. I was also thinking perhaps I could dampen the eco-earth under his hide and then put down a thin layer of aspen over it. I was thinking hopefully this would allow the humidity to increase in the hide while still allowing him the dry layer to rest on. He really really hates coming in contact with damp substrate from what I can tell. Do you think that would work, or would the moss be better somehow? Can I just leave the hide alone entirely if ambient humidity is high enough and what would be the lowest it can go before I would have to worry about stuck shed? Thank you so much you guys, really hoping for a full shed this time.

[C2tcardin]

You can try dampening the substrate under the aspen but I would get a misting bottle and mist down a lot of the aspen as well. I have two getting ready to shed right now and lately the humidity in the house has been only around 40% so I really try to pay attention to who is in blue or showing pink belly and then spray down their tub with the misting bottle focusing around their hide box, I have used the dampened moss too and put it around the hide box and inside, both with good results. Funny thing is tonight I was performing my nightly spot check for water and cleaning and discovered one of my guys had shed during the night, I had no idea he was in shed, totally missed it on this one. Good news was despite the low humidity he had a perfect shed.

[Fireproof]

I would recommend keeping his normal hide as-is (dry), and ADDING a "humidity box" in there with him. See the pics attached of two different sizes - one is for babies, the other is for adults. Basically get a tupperware type container, cut a small hole in one or two of the sides, then fill with sphagnum moss and moisten it REALLY good. I fill it up about half way with wet moss. I'm always surprised at how much the balls go in and out on their own. They'll go in there and hang out for hours, then come out when they need to. This has eliminated any shed problems. I typically get a very moist complete shed bunched up like a sock in the humidity box after they are done. It's amazing, but they seem to know the moisture is helpful.





(Note - credit goes to Jim Everett for these actual humidity box pics).

[kiiarah]

Thanks so much you guys. I just added a humid hide box. I used a tupperware container, (the smaller kind because he is only 3.5 months old) and cut two holes for easy access. I used a lighter to soften the edges of the holes and added moss halfway. For the moss I just filled the container with dechlorinated water, then squeezed out the moss and fluffed it a bit. He is pretty set on his cool hide lately, so not sure if he will check it out or not, but I am hoping that as Fireproof said he will realize if he needs it and seek it out. The humidity has been between 60-70% regularly, but it does jump up as high as 85% briefly immediately after dampening the substrate. This shouldn't be an issue right? I am afraid if I only mist enough to get to 70% it will drop too low overnight or while I am at work. Is a brief spike in humidity safe if it stabilizes around 70% following that?

[200xth]

Is a brief spike in humidity safe if it stabilizes around 70% following that?

Yes. It doesn't even have to be brief. Your snake is not gonna keel over if it's in 85+% humidity for 24 hours.