I'm sure this is a no brainer for the pros-pics included

Hi all,
This is my first post, I hope that you guys can help and I look forward to being a member!
Here is the long story short. I got this little guy a week ago. He was in pretty bad shape when I purchased him. He was outside for sale at a garage sale in 50-60* weather. Being a reptile fanatic and snake adorer I could not have left him especially in bad shape. He was apparently owned by their son judging by the stickers on the tank. I do not know any history on him, he was in a really bad shed and pretty dehydrated(I’m guessing) when I got him.
I would not consider myself an expert by any means but I do know the basics (not my first, only, or last snake:) ). He has eaten once and I have soaked him twice since I have had him. Normally I would not have messed with him so soon but he was in pretty bad shape. Here are my questions:

1. The parts of the shed that have not come off are his head, neck, and eye caps. These are the parts of his body that he does not get wet. What else should I do to help? He does not seem to try to get it off.

2. His neck seems to look "vacuum sealed" is that a sign of dehydration or the old skin?

I hope the pictures help. The old skin in the pic is what came off in one night, I wish I would have taken pictures when he arrived.

Thank You So Much for your help!! Sorry its sooooo long! He is already looking a thousand times better he just needs a little help from the pros!


http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/c...symilk/004.jpg

http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/c...symilk/003.jpg

keep soaking and have him go through a damp wash cloth

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by jdmls88

keep soaking and have him go through a damp wash cloth

---

Or you could soak him in a shoebox size plastic container with a washcloth in it. If it still doesn't come off, you may have to CAREFULLY peal it of.

We've got a great tutorial on soaking for a bad shed in a sticky, here: http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showthread.php?t=43403

You can get a plastic container, put some holes in it for ventilation, get some sphagnum moss, any nursery or home depot type place should have, put some moss in the container, put water in the container so that the moss is wet but not so much that the snake has to swim. You want his body wet, and the moss will help that and also give him something to rub the dead skin off on. Place the container back in the cage, in case he gets out, on the warm side of the cage. You can leave him there overnight if you need to and by then the skin should have either come off or be loose enough for you to take it off yourself.

Sounds complicated but it isn't.

Good for you - and once you get the shed off, I don't think he looks in very bad condition. He's a beautiful animal! :welcome:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by rabernet

Good for you - and once you get the shed off, I don't think he looks in very bad condition. He's a beautiful animal! :welcome:

---

yeah ill second that.....he will be a beautiful ball...... got nice body condition to him and his only problem is the stuck shed

You'll be amazed at what a lovely snake is under all that mess. We've had rescues come in that we literally and totalling encased in multiple old sheds, eyecaps like you wouldn't believe (the worst was 5 layers of caps!) and with care they are beautiful snakes now. Yours I'm sure will be the same. Thank goodness you dropped by that yard sale!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Skoalbasher

Or you could soak him in a shoebox size plastic container with a washcloth in it. If it still doesn't come off, you may have to CAREFULLY peal it of.

---

The soaking with a washcloth seems to always work but I would suggest against pealing off their skin. A good soak should work, besides, it's not worth risking damage from peeling (especially the eyes!)

What a sweet snake! Looks to have a reduced pattern as well...nice.

I agree: soak and then hold the damp cloth around them so they have to slither through. Worked great for when my BPs had stuck sheds.

Lotsa luck with that beauty!

I agree with everyone else... SO glad you went to that garage sale!!:gj:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Argentra

What a sweet snake! Looks to have a reduced pattern as well...nice.

---

Thank you all soooo much!!:bow:

Thank you for reassuring me that he is not as bad as I think. I am lucky to live close to LSU if I ever need it.

I am very interested in patterns and genetics but like I said I know only the basics, what does reduced pattern mean?

One last question, how long should I give the eye caps to come off before I bring him to the vet?

I'd wait until his next shed before I'd worry about the eye caps. Just keep humidity correct and see if they don't come off on their own.

Reduced pattern is the lack of "alien eyes" in the side pattern. He has no dark spots inside his side patterns which makes him a reduced pattern. It's one of the many types of normal patterns.

My guy must be a INCREASED pattern or something.. he has an alien army on his sides!:D

Good on you for picking him up! I think you will find a really great looking snake under that shed. He looks to be in pretty good shape. I agree about soaking and using a wet towel for him to slither through. It has always worked for me with tough sheds. Good luck and congrats on the little guy.