Shiny Happy Snake!

[Merriah]

I am SO glad it's 64 degrees in Minnesota today, as it has made my big boy Harvey's shed so much easier this time. He's gotten two baths in the last two days, followed by mineral oil rubs. Tonight his skin just fell off so easy, and he's used to the spa treatment, getting brought out of his water tub, dried with a washcloth up and down, scratched, and gently peeled in spots where he needs it. Then I grabbed a mineral oil wipe (made from pieces of paper towel in a little round plastic bin covered in oil) and rubbed him some more, wrapping my hand around his body, and moving down slowly. His eye caps are gone, but I also use the wipes to gently touch the caps if he does need it.
I do use a floor humidifier and spray his cage several times a day to keep humidity up, but winter just really sucks for him.
Now he is so shiny he looks like a cartoon!
That is Harvey around my neck in my photo...

[GoingPostal]

Do not put mineral oil on snakes ever. It literally makes their scales fall off and not in a good way. I'm very confused how outside temp has anything to do with your snake shedding, I'm in northern MN and don't bath/soak or wipe down any of my snakes ever and they all shed perfectly on their own as they are supposed to. Are you using a fish tank type setup with heat bulbs? I'd highly recommend going to a pvc enclosure with a radiant heat panel, it's much more suitable to keep a snake at correct temps and humidity without all the hassle.

[Craiga 01453]

Soaking prior to shed is actually detrimental to a clean, healthy shed. It actually removes the oils that develop between the layers of old and new skin to help separate the two and provide a clean shed. Soaking and wiping with a cloth should only be done after an incomplete shed to aid in removing any stuck pieces, which should never be forced off. And oils can be extremely harmful as well, as stated above. Snakes shouldn't need any help in shedding if the husbandry is correct, but obviously there are exceptions to that rule. I'm in MA where humidity is also a nightmare in winter, and have never had any shedding issues. I have to add a few sponges or some moss to the enclosure, maybe a second water dish and never had any issues. The outside temp for one day will not affect a shed either. The outside temps being cold draws moisture out of the air, and artificial heat completely sucks moisture out of the air, but it would take a lot longer than one nice day to help humidity enough to affect a shed.

[melcvt00]

Covering most of the screen with foil or plexiglass keeps humidity in.

Make sure you are measuring temperatures and humidity with an accurate device.

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