Helping to shed

So Iv seen videos of people helping their snakes shed. Not like making conditions better, but physically helping pull the shed off. Any thoughts on this?

Both of my snakes shed just fine, but I think it would be a cool experience to do that with a snake. Is it wrong to do that?

I wouldn’t want to stress my snakes or anything, I just think it would be fun. Any thoughts or comments would be appreciated.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

You never want to force the old skin off, as that can damage their skin. But if it's readily coming off easily, it's fine: I have many times over the
years helped out a snake as they shed in my hands. Many snakes are more defensive (instinctively) at this time & are more apt to nip...but those
that already know me often seem to appreciate the help...I can't recall ever getting bit while helping a snake this way, they want out of their old
skin & seem to realize I'm "useful", lol. Sometimes I've had to soak & assist an elderly snake with their shed...but most of the time, it's good exercise
for them to just do it themselves if they can, so it's your call. All snakes are different, as far as stress: if yours is comfortable with you, give it a try.

You always want to check after they shed for anything they might have missed anyway, like eyecaps or tail tips (or lower jaw often sticks too).
Let us know how you did?

And by the way, I don't exactly "pull the skin off", it's more like I just let a snake slide thru my hands...as they would slide against a rock or thru
a forked branch. Once in a while, one of my snakes may have the skin stuck on their chin...that's what they hate me fussing with, but I still don't
get bit...you have to be gentle & persistent...not holding too tight, it's a give & take, that way the snake doesn't feel under attack.

Any stubborn shed skin or even retained eye caps can easily removed by a short soak and letting the snake slither around inside a wet / damp , rough textured , towel whilst you apply very , very gentle pressure .


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Pro

If your snakes shed just fine, why bother?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by craigafrechette

If your snakes shed just fine, why bother?

---

I agree . I foolishly tried to 'help' one of my Woma pythons many years ago by gently pulling a little piece of skin off - guessing it wasn't impressed as she bit me !


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Zincubus

I agree . I foolishly tried to 'help' one of my Woma pythons many years ago by gently pulling a little piece of skin off - guessing it wasn't impressed as she bit me !


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

---

Yeah, I just don't see why you would need or want to help a healthy animal that sheds well on its own.

Proper husbandry equals proper shed. I've never had anything but complete sheds with any of my snakes. Even years ago when my husbandry was sub par compared to today, my snakes always shed completely and only my BP had a few that weren't one piece sheds.

If I catch my snakes in the process of shedding I'll go ahead and give them a helping hand, but I don't hover over them as they are in blue waiting for it to happen so I can help either. There are a few that have scars from rat bites or surgery, that sometimes need a bit of extra help removing stuck shed from those areas.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by bcr229

If I catch my snakes in the process of shedding I'll go ahead and give them a helping hand, but I don't hover over them as they are in blue waiting for it to happen so I can help either. There are a few that have scars from rat bites or surgery, that sometimes need a bit of extra help removing stuck shed from those areas.

---

I can see it with a scarred animal or an animal that NEEDS the help. But what's the benefit otherwise?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by craigafrechette

I can see it with a scarred animal or an animal that NEEDS the help. But what's the benefit otherwise?

---

As a means of building trust...the same reason we hold our pets at all? They are essentially wild animals who rely on instincts, but they certainly do learn
that they are safe with us. I say this as one who interacts with the public with my snakes for educational purposes, & as one who has never had a snake
bite or act badly during any such program or "meet & greet". In my experience, the trust my snakes seem to feel when handled apparently carries over
to total strangers, which is exactly what I want & what they need: good public relations

Also: if our snakes learn to relax & trust our handling during a shed, it may have positive carry-over when you have to take them to the vet, or medicate
them at home, for example. I guess it comes down to whether you enjoy having a pet that you can interact with on some level, or if you just enjoy keeping
wild animals in a cage at arms length? If you don't interact, how can you expect them to learn? Personally, I'd rather prevent bites.

Stress affects not only our immune systems but theirs too: if our snakes are living in unnatural conditions (in captivity!) with us lurking around (as possible
predators?), don't you think it might be better if we find ways to show them they are safe with us? I do, & I believe it pays off.

(I'm NOT saying that I intervene with every snake that's about to shed: I'm busy, so it doesn't happen often. I'm just answering the question of "why" we
might want to do this at all...just to be clear?)

My older ball python has occasional bad patchy sheds. Usually I'll give him a couple days to see if he can get it off himself. If not, I'll give him a half hour soak in luke warm water, under supervision, in a small tub in his enclosure. Then I'll gently remove the now very loose skin. I've had him for 24 years and handle him regularly so it's relatively stress free for him. That being said I only do it with particularly stubborn sheds. Otherwise I let him take care of it

Sent from my XT1710-02 using Tapatalk

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by craigafrechette

Yeah, I just don't see why you would need or want to help a healthy animal that sheds well on its own.

Proper husbandry equals proper shed. I've never had anything but complete sheds with any of my snakes. Even years ago when my husbandry was sub par compared to today, my snakes always shed completely and only my BP had a few that weren't one piece sheds.

---

As I said, it would be a cool experience to do that. Both of my snakes are very much healthy and shed perfectly on their own.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I agree with craigafrechette.
I don't see any reason to helping your snake shed if they shed just fine. Trust me, getting off a BP's shed off is not exactly fun, especially when it's on their head :no: (I'm not saying it's bad that you want to learn how it's like when a snake has a bad shed, wanting to learn is a wonderful thing.) If they shed fine and your husbandry is fine, I would just keep it that way. :)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Bogertophis

As a means of building trust...the same reason we hold our pets at all? They are essentially wild animals who rely on instincts, but they certainly do learn
that they are safe with us. I say this as one who interacts with the public with my snakes for educational purposes, & as one who has never had a snake
bite or act badly during any such program or "meet & greet". In my experience, the trust my snakes seem to feel when handled apparently carries over
to total strangers, which is exactly what I want & what they need: good public relations

---

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Bogertophis

Also: if our snakes learn to relax & trust our handling during a shed, it may have positive carry-over when you have to take them to the vet, or medicate
them at home, for example. I guess it comes down to whether you enjoy having a pet that you can interact with on some level, or if you just enjoy keeping
wild animals in a cage at arms length? If you don't interact, how can you expect them to learn? Personally, I'd rather prevent bites.

Stress affects not only our immune systems but theirs too: if our snakes are living in unnatural conditions (in captivity!) with us lurking around (as possible
predators?), don't you think it might be better if we find ways to show them they are safe with us? I do, & I believe it pays off.

(I'm NOT saying that I intervene with every snake that's about to shed: I'm busy, so it doesn't happen often. I'm just answering the question of "why" we
might want to do this at all...just to be clear?)

---

Interesting...
I don't know I agree though. I handle each of my snakes at least 3 days a week, trust has been built, and I've never assisted with a shed. My snakes are pets. They have also been handled by other people, some of which had never touched a snake prior. None of my snakes have ever struck at or acted aggressively towrds a stranger, family member, first timer or anybody but me and my girlfriend (both times were our fault, we spooked my King).

I handle at least two of my snakes each day. My animals aren't display animals nor kept at arms length. I interact with them all, pretty much daily. I show my animals they are safe and none are aggressive, all handle extremely well....all without ever assisting a shed.

I prefer not to be bitten as well, but fail to see how assisting with sheds prevents bites.
I guess I still don't see the benefit if the animal is healthy and shedding on its own.