More shedding help please.

Gosh, I feel like such a pain, but more questions have risen today. It's been about 10 days since I noticed her blue cloudy color in her eyes, and she's shedding thats for sure. Today when I came home, I found fecal, which honestly made me happy, XD I'm a weirdo, I know, but now I can get her fecal test on monday. Anyways, I can see that her nose is peeling big time, along with two small spots on her back. I know her humidity is nice and high, up around 80% and she's got a nice rough branch for her to use. Should I be worried she might have a bad shed, or am I just over reacting? I gave her a soak today for a little while (but not to long), and dried her off. Any advice on what I should do would be greatly appreciated. I just want to know if I should sit and wait, and if so how long should I wait before worrying about a bad shed and try to help her get it off? I doubt this is her first shed, so I don't know why she's not trying to rub around, and pull it off. Should I just go ahead and give her another soak, and try to help her peel it off, because it seems like it's ready to peel, due to the skin on the nose lifting slightly, and some on the back peeling. So anything anyone says, will be great help.

By the sounds of it, and how long has it been since she was in the "blue phase" of her shed I am pretty sure that she needs a little help with it. Especially if you see obvious signs of a "bad shed" like dry flaky pieces of old skin and the fact that she pooped... You should try soaking her in a shallow bath of slightly warm water. Shallow enough for her to be almost covered in water but able to rest and breath without having to reach, swim or struggle for air... let her soak long enough for the old skin to start coming of by itself (maybe 30 min max), then wipe her clean with a soft towel...

In addition, check the humidity level in her cage, make sure that her water bowl always has water to maintain a decent amount of humidity, like 50-60% or so... low humidity levels can cause bad sheds; hope this helps.

Yes it did. And I know she's got good humidity. Her water dish is always full, I also have a plastic container with wet paper towels placed over her uth, so it lets off humidity that way, along with a wet towel on the top of her cage. I'll soak her monday, unless I can find time sunday. I have to prepare for family to come over, and when she soaks, I kinda wanna keep an eye on her. I'll throw in some paper towels so she can rest her head on them to breath and what not.
I just don't understand why she'd be having a bad shed with all the proper humidity levels and all that. I don't think it helps she went into shed not to long after I got her either. Also, seeing how I have to help her with the shed, how can I safely remove her eye caps? I don't want to leave them on until the next shed if I don't have to. I've read through other sites, a q-tip with water and gently rub over them works, something along those lines. Does anyone have safe ways to help remove eye caps?

I would give her a couple more days to try and get it off herself. Let her get as much off as she can before you help her with the rest.

If it is coming off in pieces then it is a bad shed.

If the eye caps stay stuck, I would just leave them and make sure everything is spot on for the next time she sheds. Eyes are not something you want to mess with. Even vets have caused irreversible damage to snakes eyes while trying to remove eye caps.

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Originally Posted by sorakitty

I don't want to leave them on until the next shed if I don't have to. I've read through other sites, a q-tip with water and gently rub over them works, something along those lines. Does anyone have safe ways to help remove eye caps?

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As long as you soak her long enough it shouldn't be any problems removing them... you may want to try spraying clean water on her head to allow the eye caps to soften up. Once they are soft enough you may try removing them with a wet soft towel or cotton ball... DO NOT be forceful with it, let the water and the natural movement of her head thru the wet towel or cotton on your hands do he work...

If they do not come off easily, you may have to wait until the next shed...

Okay. I'll try that after a few more days of waiting.
What causes a bad shed? I know her humidity is good. Could stress be a cause?
Because she went into shed not to long after I got her. She's been eating, and she's healthy, so I really don't understand why she'd be having a bad shed.

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Originally Posted by sorakitty

Okay. I'll try that after a few more days of waiting.
What causes a bad shed? I know her humidity is good. Could stress be a cause?
Because she went into shed not to long after I got her. She's been eating, and she's healthy, so I really don't understand why she'd be having a bad shed.

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Low humidity is the big culprit. Almost every new snake I get goes into shed shortly after getting home. They go into shed when they are stressed, however, I have not seen a shed go bad due to stress, only bad husbandry.

What kind of hygrometer are you using?

it's a dial hygrometer. I know those can be off, but I'm sure it wouldn't be off to much. It's been reading up around 80%. I don't think it would be off by that much. And she has a nice rough branch for her to rub on.

Hi,

Trust me they can be off by more than you imagine.

I had one that read the same whether in my house, in the tank, or in a glass of water. :mad:

Thats why we recommend the acurite so much - it reads the humidity at the base unit so you can move it around to get readings where you need them.

Until the snake pee's on it of course. :rolleyes:


dr del

go to walmart and get an accurite. its digital and reads the humidity. only like 12 bucks i think.

Okay. I'll go and get one of those. But it's gonna have to wait until my birthday when I get the cash. ^^;; My main concern is feeding her, and getting her fecal sample to the vet. But my birthday isn't to far off, and I might be able to get it earlier then I think. I assume the accurrite would be in the hardware section? (it's sad, I work at walmart, and don't know where it would be. haha)

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Originally Posted by sorakitty

Okay. I'll go and get one of those. But it's gonna have to wait until my birthday when I get the cash. ^^;; My main concern is feeding her, and getting her fecal sample to the vet. But my birthday isn't to far off, and I might be able to get it earlier then I think. I assume the accurrite would be in the hardware section? (it's sad, I work at walmart, and don't know where it would be. haha)

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Why are you getting a fecal done? Do you suspect she has parasites? If not, get the accurite instead, that is more crucial then a fecal.

I did it to put my mind at ease. Also the vet said I should have it does just to make sure she didn't have any internal parasites. Also I need to put my mind at ease, I'm one of those people who stresses about every little thing when it comes to a new animal.

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Originally Posted by sorakitty

I did it to put my mind at ease. Also the vet said I should have it does just to make sure she didn't have any internal parasites. Also I need to put my mind at ease, I'm one of those people who stresses about every little thing when it comes to a new animal.

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Sorry but if you do it to put your mind at ease and your using a dial humidity gage and its reading 80% and ur snake is having a bad shed obviously its wrong. So if your using a dial humidity gage i assume your using a dial thermometer or none at all? Which brings me to ask what are your temps? How are you measuring your temp?

This would not ease my mind knowing my snake could be sitting in a tub/tank with 30% humidity and extremely hot temperatures.

Hey but thats just me. Figured it would ease your mind knowing your snake has right husbandry over a fecal examination

I think proper temps and humidity should come before a fecal examination. A bad shed can lead to just as many problems as internal parasites.

While getting a fecal done is a good idea, your priority should be getting your husbandry perfect, not testing for parasites that will most likely not be present.