Shed help (pics)

Okay, little Ekans began his shed last night, but it's coming off in pieces. I was having some trouble maintaining humidity in the cage, which I've corrected with the addition on tinfoil to the screen. It seems like he's shed everything from his head, which is good, but I'd like some of you experts to take a look and tell me if I should let him be to get rid of the rest of it, or take other actions to get him cleaned up. He doesn't seem to be innordinately uncomfortable.

http://www.benhamtroll.com/images/snake/ekansshed01.jpg

As you can see, he has a bunch of skin left about 1/3 of the way down his body.

http://www.benhamtroll.com/images/snake/ekansshed02.jpg


You can't see it well in this image, but he seems to have lost everything from the tail end as well. It's mainly the middle third (the fat part . . .)

Thanks for any help.

Chris

EDIT - Mods, feel free to move this to Husbandry. I didn't realize I wa sin General . . . Sorry.:oops:

There are a couple ways to remove stuck sheds. The most common method is to soak them in a Rubbermaid or Sterilite container for 20 minutes or so, then peel/rub the remaining skin off.

I like to use another method which seems to work very well. Soak a pillowcase in warm water, place the snake in the pillowcase and twist it shut, then place the wet sack in his cage for 1-2 hours. His skin will soften up and as the snake moves around in the sack it will rub most, if not all of it off. Just make sure you don't place the sack directly over a heat source or directly under a heat lamp.

Good luck!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by xdeus

There are a couple ways to remove stuck sheds. The most common method is to soak them in a Rubbermaid or Sterilite container for 20 minutes or so, then peel/rub the remaining skin off.

I like to use another method which seems to work very well. Soak a pillowcase in warm water, place the snake in the pillowcase and twist it shut, then place the wet sack in his cage for 1-2 hours. His skin will soften up and as the snake moves around in the sack it will rub most, if not all of it off. Just make sure you don't place the sack directly over a heat source or directly under a heat lamp.

Good luck!

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Listen to the man!

You'll be ahrd pressed to go wrong if you follow that advice. For future sheds consider ditching any housing solutions that involve a screen lid - even when it's adequately covered to the point it can retain humidity well you are sacrificing on horizontal airflow.

Best wishes - you'll have it ironed out in no time.

(Moved to Husbandry, as requested. :) )

Thanks. I put him in a warm damp pillowcase on the cool side. We'll see how he does. He was actually getting most of it off, but there were still a few stubborn pieces.

As I said, it looked to me like he'd gotten his head (including eyecaps), but I was wondering if a more experienced eye could confirm. Let me know if you need a better pic.

Thanks!

Chris

Quote:

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Originally Posted by benhamtroll

Thanks. I put him in a warm damp pillowcase on the cool side. We'll see how he does. He was actually getting most of it off, but there were still a few stubborn pieces.

As I said, it looked to me like he'd gotten his head (including eyecaps), but I was wondering if a more experienced eye could confirm. Let me know if you need a better pic.

Thanks!

Chris

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if that doesn't work do the soaking thing and peel it off. i had the same prob with my tank and the screen lid and i let it soak for 10-15 mins and it easily peeled off in large chucks. i was lucky and my snake didn't even move the whole time and stayed relaxed

Quote:

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Originally Posted by tmlowe5704

if that doesn't work do the soaking thing and peel it off. i had the same prob with my tank and the screen lid and i let it soak for 10-15 mins and it easily peeled off in large chucks. i was lucky and my snake didn't even move the whole time and stayed relaxed

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I find it much easier to gently rub the snake with a warm wet washcloth after the soak than hand peeling the shed off. Just another idea!