Shed anxiety

My female vanilla pastel is very close to a shed if not overdue. Her skin is dry dull and stretched. She has been like this for about 3 days. I am having anxiety attacks over whether the humidity is correct. It's currently 65% and the substrate is artificial grass. I am considering putting her in a luke warm bath for a few minutes. Is this recommend?

No need for a bath. Take a deep breath, you've got lots of sheds in your future with your new pet.
Some go through the process quicker than others, but as long as husbandry is good they shed just fine on their own. They've been doing it for thousands of years, just let nature take its course.
After their eyes clear their skin will appear "normal" for a couple days, and when they're ready, they'll shed.

Thanks I see her head has partially shed and her eyes are now open and clear.

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Originally Posted by craigafrechette

No need for a bath. Take a deep breath, you've got lots of sheds in your future with your new pet.
Some go through the process quicker than others, but as long as husbandry is good they shed just fine on their own. They've been doing it for thousands of years, just let nature take its course.
After their eyes clear their skin will appear "normal" for a couple days, and when they're ready, they'll shed.

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As above ... plus I just start spraying the viv morning afternoon and evening when they're in shed .. you will find a smelly , crumpled up ball of skin under one of the hides a few days later .. some take a week after the eyes clear ..


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Originally Posted by Greg Nel

Thanks I see her head has partially shed and her eyes are now open and clear.

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Start spraying a few times daily now and you practically guarantee a perfect shed ;)


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You could also try adding some sphagnum moss to the hides in the enclosure. I usually grab a handful and get it wet, then give it a good squeeze so it’s damp but not soaking. It really helps a lot.https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...c9b8944273.jpg


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I have moss available and was wondering whether it's use is recommended only when a shed is imminent or can it be used all the time?

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Originally Posted by Greg Nel

I have moss available and was wondering whether it's use is recommended only when a shed is imminent or can it be used all the time?

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You can use it all the time.

Normal to feel anxious about these things. Most if not all of us who have that one snake that took a little longer to shed felt that way too. My king took a week to shed on some days, 3-4 days on others. However, my CP would shed so fast that it was done within 48 hours. Sometimes I had no idea he even turned blue lol.

I find that doing something constructive while feeling anxiety helps reduce anxiety. Like adding the moss that others mentioned. Also, add a brick or wood to help with rubbing off the shed.

I would not bathe until after the shedding starts and if there is stuck shed for over 24-48 hours.

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Originally Posted by Zincubus

Start spraying a few times daily now and you practically guarantee a perfect shed ;)


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Don't forget to try this !!

As soon as they go into shed mode start spraying the viv and as soon as you notice the eyes clear and colour returns then spray at least twice daily ..

Works with all snakes :)


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I can happily report that all three of my babies have now shed. It was not a clean shed for any of them but rather shed than not. There was bits littering all the tanks. My only concern is that my male Spider has a hard dry stretch of skin at the tip of his tail. It seems to have some dry blood on it. I don't know if he caught his tail on his branch while on one of his nightly expeditions. I have a photo of it but don't know how to add it.

Any skin left around the tail tip can be a concern. It can cause tightening around the tail tip and stop the flow of blood as time goes on. I would give him a good warm soak and then try to carefully roll that little bit of skin off as he moves through your fingers or preferably a damp towel. If a small bit is stuck after, I wouldn't stress too much. But if it happens again next time, with more skin tightening the area, that gets more dangerous and needs to be addressed.

The blood isn't as much of a concern I would still do a body check for any scuffs or wounds, but the skin around the cloaca can bleed a bit as the snake sheds that skin. Sensitive area right there. As long as there doesn't seem to be any other signs, I would assume this is the cause.