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Overthinking Shedding?

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  • 10-08-2015, 04:10 PM
    NewBPguy
    Overthinking Shedding?
    Context: I have had Loki for going on 2 weeks and he is about 4 months old. Ever since I got him he's been pretty active and even switched from live (That's what the breeder fed) to f/t without a problem. He is now going into shed and I am a little worried/overreacting. I used to have a Leopard Gecko that got sick (think from petsmart) shortly after I got her and began to have shedding problems. So I want to make sure I do everything right for Loki.

    The reason I am freaking out a little is because I have noticed a few pieces of shed in his hot hide, as well as his shed beginning to peel around his head and tail. I know that snakes are supposed to shed in one long piece but is it normal for a few pieces to break off?

    Ever since I got him I have kept his temp and humidity regulated with a heat lamp, repti-fogger, UTH all plugged into a hygrotherm set at 92f/60. Since I noticed him getting close to shed (yesterday) I bumped his humidity up to 70, and put a damp towel across the mesh lid (Usually covered with foil).

    You can see how I have everything laid out below:
    http://i.imgur.com/18TkOxD.jpg




    I also have a probe thermometer on the cool side reading between 76-71f


    His enclosure has never been this fogged up before so I want to make sure it's not to much as I know BPs can get RI or scale rot. His bedding has never been wet but once I started turning up his humidity and using the towel, the top layer of his bedding on the cool side is damp. Is this okay just for the shedding period?

    Here is a better picture of the fog:
    http://i.imgur.com/wIO20XE.jpg

    Like I said it's only ever been this way since last night. And his humidity is usually around 55-60 and I guess he seems to "like" it as I've seen him go up and stick his head right where the fog comes out before.

    Also here is a picture of the top as of right now:
    http://i.imgur.com/2Ywm7us.jpg



    So I ask that you help me decide what I can better do to help him have a smooth shed, or to help me clear my mind that everything is setup correctly.
  • 10-08-2015, 08:00 PM
    Gio
    Right now things look good.

    I think the snake will be fine. Monitor the next couple of sheds and see how they go.

    Prior to switching to plastic enclosures, the setup we used for my son's royal was similar to what you have.

    If there is stuck shed after the process is complete you can use a semi warm, damp cloth to assist the snake getting the rest off.
  • 10-09-2015, 03:55 PM
    enweezy
    Everything looks good! Make sure its not too humid in there though! 70% is more than enough for a ball to shed.

    And about the little pieces, i wouldn't pay attention to them. My ball's first shed was terrible and i gently removed the stuck shed except for the pieces on her head. (DO NOT just pull it up, a quick google search will show you the proper way). The next shed, however, came out perfect and i didn't change a thing husbandry wise. From what I've read, some peoples balls usually have a bad first shed in a new enclosure. Whether or not that's true, idk, but its what i experienced. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯


    Oh! and if that red light annoys you, you should look into a ceramic heat emmiter. They're basically copper coils covered in ceramic and they work just like a heating lamp except they give off no light.
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