When soaking doesn't help a stuck shed.

Karma my recent aquisition is having problems with a shed. One of the other larger snakes I bought at the same time shed perfectly. I keep my humidity at around 60% during sheds. Kharma has not even attempted to shed her skin yet. She looks cloudy and I can almost feel the dry skin when I look at her. 1st day I tried soaking her for a half hour, which did not help, today I soaked her for two hours with no avail. Does this stuff just happen sometime? Should I continue soaking, wait till next shed? I've tried letting her slither through a towel after the soaking with no results also. I experienced a few bad sheds when I started out but those came off in pieces, this particular snake hasn't even put the effort in to take it off her head and eyes. Any info would be appreciated.

If she hasnt started the process of actualy shedding the old skin on her own then you probably cant get it off before. Sometimes they look like they are going to shed any minute and dont for a few more days. I would just give it time. If she sheds and has a lot of stuck shed to her in blotches or whatever thats when you start soaking and helping her shed.

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Originally Posted by Spaniard

Kharma has not even attempted to shed her skin yet. She looks cloudy and I can almost feel the dry skin when I look at her.

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If her eyes are cloudy then she probably isn't ready to shed yet. Once they clear up, that is a sign that they will usually shed within a day's time. Hope that helps.

I've been through a shed before and dealt with problem ones so I know this is weird enough that it caused me concern. She's already gone into blue cleared up didn't shed and now looks like she's wearing dry skin. She cleared up when I soaked her but now she's looking grey I guess you could say

hmm... has it bubbled up in any areas where you could try to gently peel it back?

the best advice I was given on here for a horrible shed my one lil gal had was to wet a pillow case or towel...set it in a tub with a lid (holes of course) and set that on a heat pad...check the temps and make sure they arent crazy high...then set the lil guy in there....its a lil sauna. this worked wonders! I tried every other trick and nothing worked..but this! I left her in there for a few hours...checking on her and the temps of course..and in no time the shed was off. They move in and out of the cloth....that coupled with the sauna effect got the shed off very well.
Hope that helps ya.

When I took her out to try soaking her again today some of the shed came off without a problem. As she slithered through my hand the lower part of her body shed. From about the heart down is all shed but her neck and head area hasn't shed yet. As we speak she is soaking, hopefully the remainder will come off. I don't know what I did wrong outside the norm. this is the first problem shed I've had since 2 years ago.

Soaking for too long will actually make the shed harder to come off.

No more than 30 minutes or so ... rubbermaid box with no holes in it set inside of the animals enclosure ... once per day until the shed works itself off.

http://www.8ballpythons.com/journal/stucksheds.htm

I've never had a shed that couldn't be removed in a few soaks using this methond.

Hope this helps.

-adam

Thanks Adam,

I have VPI's book and read through the skin and shedding part of it when this came about. I never knew that two much water during a shed could actually lead to skin complications until I read it. I was able to get a few more pieces off but its definitely getting more difficult the closer I get to her head. Will a stuck shed covering the entire head/neck cause problems until next shed if worst comes to worst? I don't want to keep stressing her out with these sessions if possible.

AudOne- No to sound like a book worm but VPI's book also mentioned that pillow cases or snake bags wet could cause suffocation when the threads of linen expand to create an air tight seal when wet. I know you said you frequently check on her but just as an FYI.

Thanks for all the tips, shame she didn't shed in one piece I was dying to take pictures of this little girl.

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Originally Posted by Spaniard

AudOne- No to sound like a book worm

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Rich is a book nerd, Rich is a book nerd!!! :P

Just messing with you, friend! I am known for always having my nose in a book. Any break I get at work, I'm in a book - I walk with my nose in a book! LOL