Dimpled pre-shed eyecaps?

[simplechamp]

I knew my BP was due for a shed. Her belly turned pink so I knew it was coming. Today she was blue as I suspected, but her eyecaps each have a small dimple near the center. The only thing I did was boost the humidity from 50% to 63% once her belly turned pink. Temps are fine and behavior, feeding, etc. had been normal.

Did she do this to herself, or is it just something that happened? Do I just wait until she sheds to see if her eyes are OK? It seems like there is a gap between the blue dimpled eyecaps and her fresh caps underneath. All her previous sheds were good, one big piece, with both eyecaps attached, so I'm 99% sure they aren't stuck eyecaps.

Thanks

P.S. I can take pictures if you want, but I figured I'd see if most people understand what I'm talking about, maybe this is normal?

[mooingtricycle]

Humidity is too low. what are you using to raise it, and have you soaked the snake, or moistened the bedding slightly by misting?

[kidt89]

dimpled eyecaps usually mean that conditions were too dry the humidity should be increased to about 70-75 percent during shedding times.

[Inknsteel]

Yeah, what she said... Generally dented eyecaps are a sign of dehydration. Try misting the enclosure to bump the humidity. I would wait until after the shed to see if the eyecaps come off. There's not much you can do until then anyway...

[missi182]

dimpled eyecaps usually mean that conditions were too dry the humidity should be increased to about 70-75 percent during shedding times.

That is actually not true (the humidity level, not the dehydration point)

Some people would consider 70% - 75% to be too much (like myself)

For this particular case, yes the humidity needs to go up. 65-70% would work.

I personally have a constant humidity of 60% and never raise it during shedding. My bp has always shed in full.

[simplechamp]

When I held her to take a picture some partial scales flaked off the last 1/3rd of her body. It seems like her skin is really dry. The humidity has never dropped below 45% though, and now it's up to 60% or more during her shed. What's the deal?

Edit: Thanks for the answers, I guess I thought 50% was enough for normal times and 60% was enough for shed. I'll try to bump it up. What about the flaking scales though? Uughh I can feel a bad shed coming...

[missi182]

Scale flaking can happen when there has been a previous bad shed. Sometimes it just happens. 55% is the lowest I have ever allowed by humidity to drop. 50% isn`t terrible but it is low enough to produce a mildly crumby shed.

Double check that your humidity gauge is accurate. Remember that dial gauges are 100% useless. Digital gauges are a must. If your not sure, pick up another gauge from walmart for $8.

[simplechamp]

I have a digital accurite which is brand new. Most cheapo hygrometers, including accurites, are +/- 5% which is a pretty big range unfortunately. I should have erred on the high side I guess

Just misted a little bit, so I'll see how that goes. Shooting for 70%.

My question now is if the humidity is raised to 70% can I still salvage a possible good shed, or does the skin flaking mean the damage had already been done? The skin flaking is only in the back 1/3rd of her body, so I would hope most of the shed will come off in one piece and then the last 1/3rd I can soak off, if needed.

Or maybe soak her in head & shoulders shampoo?