Shedding question

[SherriX2]

Chance (My RT Boa) eye's started getting cloudy/bluish.How long until his eyes finally get all bluish and how long until he'll shed?

also, when he use the bathroom? I have had him 2 weeks now,he had one at least 2 weeks ago (it was in his cage in the pet store).He has eatten twice now.

[starmom]

Usually they poo after their shed is off. As for how long the shed cycle is, it varies. The eyes will go opaque for a couple of days and then return to normal. A couple more days will go by until they shed. Keep your humidity around 55-60% during shed and it'll all be good.

[SherriX2]

Thank you!!

[starmom]

You're welcome

[SherriX2]

Hi!

you probably already know this from the other board,but he had his BM the other day.

he still didnt shed,I soaked him and took off what I could.he still has some on his neck and head (and his eye caps are still on)

Any tips besides soaking and misting? how long can he stay like this?

[SherriX2]

I just checked an my humid. is at 87%,to much?

[starmom]

87% is too much
Since he's finished with the shed cycle, you can get it back down to around 50% again. Next shed cycle, bump it to 60% and all should go well.
And yes, I did see your pictures of the bowl of poo!! It's so nice when they do that; cleaning is so much easier

[SherriX2]

He still has old dried skin on his neck area and all over his head & eyes.

Still lower it? how? i have a screen top that I put tin foil over the top. I also have a bowl of wet moss in the cage (which the snake hangs out besides 99 % of the time)

[starmom]

I think that the shed cycle is triggered by something (chemicals in their brain???) Don't know for sure, but I do know that once they are finished with that cycle then they are done. The skin that is on is just the skin that is on.

Sometimes when they snakes haven't been cared for well (as might have been the case with this guy before you rescued him) they will do a couple of incomplete sheds before a perfect one.

There are methods that can help with incomplete sheds: soaking and then running the snake through a washcloth, for instance. You just need to make certain that there is no old skin that is encircling any part of Chance's body, as this can cut off circulation (as the skin continues to dry) and cause a dangerous situation.

It sounds like he is trying to hydrate- maybe because the skin is itchy?? Try the soak method- here is a sticky explaining it: http://www.ball-pythons.net/forums/s...ad.php?t=28794 and here's a cool link: http://www.ball-pythons.net/forums/s...hlight=ecdysis

However, leaving humidity very high can lead to RI. If the substrate is too wet, this could lead to scale rot. I still suggest that you bring the humidity down and try to help him with the old skin. All else fails, keep a close eye on him for when he goes into blue next time and bump the humidity to 60%~ that is all that is needed for a perfect shed

[jglass38]

You just need to make certain that there is no old skin that is encircling any part of Chance's body, as this can cut off circulation (as the skin continues to dry) and cause a dangerous situation.

Well not really. The only place where leaving shed can cause even a remotely "dangerous situation" is the tip of the tail. And even that isn't particularly dangerous other than that the snake could lose the very tip of it's tail. That said, get the husbandry straight and you will get good sheds and won't have to worry about it! Hope this helps!

Jamie