Bad Shed-Help

This is my bp's first shed (while with me at least, I've had her for about a month).
I noticed her eyes were blue on Friday when I took her out to feed. Since then I've continued to change her water daily (replacing with warm water) and have been misting a little more frequently since humidity has always been a problem for me. Today (Thursday) I checked to see how things were going and noticed in the log there were bits of shed. About 7-10 pieces, all no bigger than my finger...so she's not nearly done. I lifted up her hide she was in to see if the rest was there and there wasn't. She looks extremely dull in color and skin was almost wrinkly (she has never looked dehydrated or anything before).

Advice? When is the point I should help her with a warm bath? What's the best way to help? :(

PS She's about 1 1/2 ft long, unknown age and gender in a 20 gallon long, screen top and I'm using lamps (yes I know they dry things out but it's all I have to work with and until now it hasn't been a big issue)

Has the shed come off in pieces or not at all? It can sometimes take a couple weeks for the shed to come off after the eyes clear and skin gets dull. Here's a helpful thread on the shedding process...

It has started to come off in pieces, not nearly close to have it all off though. Thank for the link, I'll go ahead and read it :)

If it's coming off in pieces then it is a bad shed. I'd try a room temp soak for about 15-20 minutes, then it should be easier to get off. I'd also double check your humidity and husbandry.

You can also try a wet not dripping but wet washcloth or towel after the saok and let the snake crawl threw it after the soak. This method worked for us when we had our bad shsed

yup a soak and let her mess with it her self she will likely try to rub it off on her own. Make sure you soak water is about 83-88ºF that does not feel very warm to us so a thermometer is best to check with.

Next time a humid hide will help it is also easier for you.

How does one set up a soak? Is a critter tote ok? And if so how much water is needed?

I'm just nervous because obviously she is rather shy right now and that article said she could even get aggressive...currently she's poking her head out so maybe she'll get the rest by tomorrow by rubbing around :please:

And I know my humidity is low as I mentioned in the main post, it's been better than the past but it still fluctuates...

Just about anything that would hold water and your snake would work. Just make sure the water is about half the depth of your snake so he doesnt have to swim and make sure you are watching while soaking. I use my QT tank when its not in use 10 Gal and put about 1/2-3/4 of an in of water in it. Set them temp to about 82f and let your snake soak in it. You could also add a small hand towel or cloth for the snake to crawl on if desired:rolleyes:

Is aggression something to worry about?

What type of enclosure are you using. I use an aquarium we added a very large water dish and covered 3/4 of the top with a peice of Plexi from HD. Drilled a few holes for ventilation now our humidity stay at 55-60% easily with a spritz a couple times a day up to 70-75% no problem. See the photo below this was our first version we added some foil tape to it later to stabilize the temps that also worked great.

http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphot..._5501545_n.jpg

That set up would be ideal because I do have a screen top but I use lamps. One thats 100W (?) white light for day onoly and the second one is 25W Purple light for night. I understand they don't need a day/light cycle and lamps are hard on humidity...but this is what i bought before I heard that and I really don't have the $$ to go buy UTH etc etc....

Unless a stronger 75w red/purple light would be able to warm the whole tank...then I'd be able to only use one lamp....

Ideas?

I just use a tupperware container with a lid, fill about 1/2 inch of water, stick snake in, then close the lid partially (I leave a corner not secured for air).

I'd not be worried about aggression it is not super common for royals to be aggressive. I do exactly the same as described but I use a dry (DRY towel not wet, wet towels don't allow for air flow) towel over the top so it is dark typically Royals feel safer in the dark.

Humid hides are going to be the easiest for you just a container with some damp moss and an opening and you have solved the problem for the next time.

The drip trays for flower pots work super well I like the ceramic ones you can soak them in water for an hour or so and they increase the humidity quite a lot under them. I used to use two one with a hole chipped in in and one on top filled partially with water. If both are uncoated they will drip water from the top to be absorbed by the bottom and it is self regulating somewhat.