Shed Question

Well I checked on my Boa this afternoon and found an almost full shed. It looks like he has some still stuck on his head. Will this eventually work its way off or is this something I need to act on? His humidity is sitting in the low 60s on one side and low 70s on the opposite. I just now misted the enclosure to bump up the humidity.

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It looks like the eye caps did not come off. Someone with more experience will reply soon, but I'm sure u are going to have to soak him.

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Personally I'd step in & help: if it's only his head, he will stay calmer by just putting a damp cloth over his head for a while (rather than soaking the whole snake).
Then after a while you should be able to help him (gently!) remove what's left, or encourage him to slither thru a damp towel (on which you put a little pressure to
help the old skin come off in the towel as he moves forward).

In my experience the skin left on face, chin & eyes only gets harder to remove in time...so I don't wait too long to help. Be sure to check tail tip too, always.

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Originally Posted by ckuhn003

Well I checked on my Boa this afternoon and found an almost full shed. It looks like he has some still stuck on his head. Will this eventually work its way off or is this something I need to act on? His humidity is sitting in the low 60s on one side and low 70s on the opposite. I just now misted the enclosure to bump up the humidity.

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https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...ce86b1647c.jpg


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That bit of skin and any retained eye caps can be easily sorted .. get a very damp , rough textured towel and wrap the snake up in it - let the snake slither around as long as possible.. when it’s head pops out just cover it up again with the excess towel ..as it’s slithering around you should apply very gentle pressure to the head region and after a while the skin and eye caps will just come off nice and gently ON the towel .

Please don’t try pulling at the skin or using any kind of TAPE !!


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Originally Posted by Zincubus

That bit of skin and any retained eye caps can be easily sorted .. get a very damp , rough textured towel and wrap the snake up in it - let the snake slither around as long as possible.. when it’s head pops out just cover it up again with the excess towel ..as it’s slithering around you should apply very gentle pressure to the head region and after a while the skin and eye caps will just come off nice and gently ON the towel .

Please don’t try pulling at the skin or using any kind of TAPE !!


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Appreciate all the responses since this is my 1st time dealing with this. I tried the towel technique for a couple of minutes while my snake continuously tried to escape. I didn't have too much success although I'm willing to keep trying. What about allowing him to soak in a tub for a good 15-20 or do you think his head will be above water too much to do any good?

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Originally Posted by ckuhn003

Appreciate all the responses since this is my 1st time dealing with this. I tried the towel technique for a couple of minutes while my snake continuously tried to escape. I didn't have too much success although I'm willing to keep trying. What about allowing him to soak in a tub for a good 15-20 or do you think his head will be above water too much to do any good?

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That's why he needs a very damp towel over his head...no point soaking his body, he won't submerge his head.
This probably won't be the first time you'll need to help a snake shed, so no time like the present to learn to keep him quiet & cooperating to finish what he started. ;)

Be gentle & persistent, but win the battle of the shed...;) One reason the old skin often sticks on their heads is that the scales are smaller. Be sure to check the chin-
that's a common place where it sticks & it's hard to get off, even with our help.

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Originally Posted by Bogertophis

That's why he needs a very damp towel over his head...no point soaking his body, he won't submerge his head.
This probably won't be the first time you'll need to help a snake shed, so no time like the present to learn to keep him quiet & cooperating to finish what he started. ;)

Be gentle & persistent, but win the battle of the shed...;) One reason the old skin often sticks on their heads is that the scales are smaller. Be sure to check the chin-
that's a common place where it sticks & it's hard to get off, even with our help.

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So I tried once more w/ a larger damp towel and I was able to get some shed off. Not sure if there is more left to come off because it's hard to tell but I wanted to let him alone for awhile. This is probably the most intimate I've been with him since I got him and I was happy to say he never became defensive. I'll try again maybe tomorrow if I notice some shed still on his head area. It's a little difficult for me to tell.

I understand your hesitation, but fyi, in nearly all cases, snakes actually seem to understand & maybe even appreciate our help, as long as we're patient,
not rushing them. Be confident & persistent, but gentle always. This is one reason for our pet snakes to be accustomed to handling...when it comes to a
health issue, they are less stressed since it's not the first time for such contact. Nearly all snakes learn to accept us as non-threatening if we give them half
a chance, & trust me, they don't enjoy being stuck in their skin. Another thing that will help this (in the future, if not now) is to provide a humid hide when
your snake is going into shed, or even all the time (many enjoy it). I realize you probably don't have on hand what you need to make him a humid hide at
the moment, but you might want to look into that soon if not this moment...they aren't hard to set up. To keep the moisture inside, I use large food storage
containers (plastic) & cut a hole in the snap off top (big enough for the snake to easily fit thru). Halfway fill the inside with water-saturated & drained sphagnum
moss (or very damp orchid bark, etc) & place the box in cage (not on warm side or it will dry out too fast) & check periodically to make sure it stays moist
enough. Your snake will most likely find & explore it on his own, or if you hold your snake so his nose is near the door, many will go right in & check it out
that much sooner. In the humid hide, you could also use a very damp terry towel that fits in lieu of other damp substrate, so IF you have a suitable container
(big enough) you might even be able to set it up right now. :snake: Your snake will thank you...

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Originally Posted by Bogertophis

I understand your hesitation, but fyi, in nearly all cases, snakes actually seem to understand & maybe even appreciate our help, as long as we're patient,
not rushing them. Be confident & persistent, but gentle always. This is one reason for our pet snakes to be accustomed to handling...when it comes to a
health issue, they are less stressed since it's not the first time for such contact. Nearly all snakes learn to accept us as non-threatening if we give them half
a chance, & trust me, they don't enjoy being stuck in their skin. Another thing that will help this (in the future, if not now) is to provide a humid hide when
your snake is going into shed, or even all the time (many enjoy it). I realize you probably don't have on hand what you need to make him a humid hide at
the moment, but you might want to look into that soon if not this moment...they aren't hard to set up. To keep the moisture inside, I use large food storage
containers (plastic) & cut a hole in the snap off top (big enough for the snake to easily fit thru). Halfway fill the inside with water-saturated & drained sphagnum
moss (or very damp orchid bark, etc) & place the box in cage (not on warm side or it will dry out too fast) & check periodically to make sure it stays moist
enough. Your snake will most likely find & explore it on his own, or if you hold your snake so his nose is near the door, many will go right in & check it out
that much sooner. In the humid hide, you could also use a very damp terry towel that fits in lieu of other damp substrate, so IF you have a suitable container
(big enough) you might even be able to set it up right now. :snake: Your snake will thank you...

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Thanks! I've heard of humid hides but never considered them because I've always gotten a perfect shed on both my snakes. Is this any different then putting something that holds moisture in the hides that I use now (i.e. common black reptile basic hides). Since, I'm using AP cages, the humidity stays pretty high. I just sprayed my enclosure to bump it up.

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Originally Posted by ckuhn003

Thanks! I've heard of humid hides but never considered them because I've always gotten a perfect shed on both my snakes. Is this any different then putting something that holds moisture in the hides that I use now (i.e. common black reptile basic hides). Since, I'm using AP cages, the humidity stays pretty high. I just sprayed my enclosure to bump it up.

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If you just stick very damp matter in a regular bottomless hide you'll end up with a wet (damp) cage floor, which promotes mold & scale issues on your snake. It's better
to keep this much moisture in one location, & fyi, spraying the cage seldom does very much to help...not sure I can explain why, but it's not only my observation. ;)

I have a spotted python who needs, loves & regularly uses her humid hide. Hers is actually half-way over the UTH too, so it dries out faster, but she likes to be warm,
& without this humid hide, her sheds are awful. With it, not a bit of trouble.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Bogertophis

If you just stick very damp matter in a regular bottomless hide you'll end up with a wet (damp) cage floor, which promotes mold & scale issues on your snake. It's better
to keep this much moisture in one location, & fyi, spraying the cage seldom does very much to help...not sure I can explain why, but it's not only my observation. ;)

I have a spotted python who needs, loves & regularly uses her humid hide. Hers is actually half-way over the UTH too, so it dries out faster, but she likes to be warm,
& without this humid hide, her sheds are awful. With it, not a bit of trouble.

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Ok, now I know what you mean by humid hides. Actually watched a video which helped as well. I think I'll invest in one. Do you think it will help with my current situation or is this something I'll just need to work or removing w/ moist towels?

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Originally Posted by ckuhn003

Ok, now I know what you mean by humid hides. Actually watched a video which helped as well. I think I'll invest in one. Do you think it will help with my current situation or is this something I'll just need to work or removing w/ moist towels?

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It would probably help right now, but no way to be sure...you'll need to check the snake in a day or so (as you always should anyway). When you give a snake a humid
hide, it's far less likely that'll you'll have to get involved with their shed process...just not 'guaranteed'. ;)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Bogertophis

It would probably help right now, but no way to be sure...you'll need to check the snake in a day or so (as you always should anyway). When you give a snake a humid
hide, it's far less likely that'll you'll have to get involved with their shed process...just not 'guaranteed'. ;)

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Thanks buddy for your help!! I just wasn’t sure if it would help now since he’s 98% complete with the shed. I’ll pick up the supplies tomorrow.

In the meantime, I tried another session of moist towel which took off a small piece of shed. I also got my 1st ‘open mouth’ reaction and my 1st faint hiss which I took it as ‘hey I’ve had enough’. That was enough for me to put him back in his enclosure and call it a night. I’ll try tomorrow night.

Here’s after I put him back. I’m still unsure if more needs to come off

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Can't tell from here, sorry.

Good luck with the stuck shed there CK. Your humidity seems fine so I don't know why he didn't shed completely. A humid hide might be a good idea. I used to give them to a few of my snakes but since none of them ever had any bad sheds I stopped. Hopefully this was just an isolated incident.

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Originally Posted by EL-Ziggy

Good luck with the stuck shed there CK. Your humidity seems fine so I don't know why he didn't shed completely. A humid hide might be a good idea. I used to give them to a few of my snakes but since none of them ever had any bad sheds I stopped. Hopefully this was just an isolated incident.

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I'm hoping as well. Going to stop on my way home and look for some moss and a large enough humid hide. If that doesn't work, I might need you to come over and hold him down while we get the shed off ;)

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Originally Posted by ckuhn003

I'm hoping as well. Going to stop on my way home and look for some moss and a large enough humid hide. If that doesn't work, I might need you to come over and hold him down while we get the shed off ;)

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Wouldn't let a little hiss stop me, but finesse & persistence works FAR better than trying to out-wrestle a snake. :rofl:

So I stopped by the local pet store after work and picked up a humid hide and bag of sphagnum moss (see pictures). A couple of questions before I put it in the enclosure....

Since I already have two hides, should I keep them and add this one on the cool side? Is there any risk of the snake spending too much time in the hide and getting scale rot from the moisture and/or should I only put in the hide during shedding activities (which I’m not the best at detecting).

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Also, I checked and the humidity is still high from yesterday’s spraying (66 and 76%).


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CK- I'd add the humid hide as a 3rd hide and keep the other two you already have. I don't think they'll get scale rot from sitting in there for prolonged periods of time but I would only moisten the moss during their shed times. I really like that cave hide. I may have to get one of those. ;)

Humid Hide was added last night but I don't think he's been in it yet. He was actually perched up in the corner and I think he's just a little confused since I had to rearrange his setup to find a place for the new hide.

Anyways, after 3 attempts, mostly to get my courage up, I was able to get a small piece of shed off his head. As soon as he saw that damp towel, he knew what was coming and started to get flighty. The trick this time was to lay him on top of the blanket and flip it over on his head which allowed me to massage the head a little. He actually seemed pretty relieved after the process although that could've been my imagination. I'll examine again tomorrow to see if any more shed is still on his head.

It's almost like they relieved you have helped them sometimes

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Originally Posted by richardhind1972

It's almost like they relieved you have helped them sometimes

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That has usually been my impression too. That's why I help...waiting makes it worse (harder to remove).

Nothing beats a warm and wet pillowcase for a stuck shed. Throw the snake in for about 20 minutes and it should peel off on it's way out.

Obviously proper cage humidity is ideal.