Shedding question

Chance (My RT Boa) eye's started getting cloudy/bluish.How long until his eyes finally get all bluish and how long until he'll shed?

also, when he use the bathroom? I have had him 2 weeks now,he had one at least 2 weeks ago (it was in his cage in the pet store).He has eatten twice now.

Usually they poo after their shed is off. As for how long the shed cycle is, it varies. The eyes will go opaque for a couple of days and then return to normal. A couple more days will go by until they shed. Keep your humidity around 55-60% during shed and it'll all be good.

Thank you!!

You're welcome ;)

Hi!

you probably already know this from the other board,but he had his BM the other day.

he still didnt shed,I soaked him and took off what I could.he still has some on his neck and head (and his eye caps are still on)

Any tips besides soaking and misting? how long can he stay like this?

I just checked an my humid. is at 87%,to much?

87% is too much :O
Since he's finished with the shed cycle, you can get it back down to around 50% again. Next shed cycle, bump it to 60% and all should go well.
And yes, I did see your pictures of the bowl of poo!! It's so nice when they do that; cleaning is so much easier ;)

He still has old dried skin on his neck area and all over his head & eyes.

Still lower it? how? i have a screen top that I put tin foil over the top. I also have a bowl of wet moss in the cage (which the snake hangs out besides 99 % of the time)

I think that the shed cycle is triggered by something (chemicals in their brain???) Don't know for sure, but I do know that once they are finished with that cycle then they are done. The skin that is on is just the skin that is on.

Sometimes when they snakes haven't been cared for well (as might have been the case with this guy before you rescued him) they will do a couple of incomplete sheds before a perfect one.

There are methods that can help with incomplete sheds: soaking and then running the snake through a washcloth, for instance. You just need to make certain that there is no old skin that is encircling any part of Chance's body, as this can cut off circulation (as the skin continues to dry) and cause a dangerous situation.

It sounds like he is trying to hydrate- maybe because the skin is itchy?? Try the soak method- here is a sticky explaining it: http://www.ball-pythons.net/forums/s...ad.php?t=28794 and here's a cool link: http://www.ball-pythons.net/forums/s...hlight=ecdysis

However, leaving humidity very high can lead to RI. If the substrate is too wet, this could lead to scale rot. I still suggest that you bring the humidity down and try to help him with the old skin. All else fails, keep a close eye on him for when he goes into blue next time and bump the humidity to 60%~ that is all that is needed for a perfect shed ;)

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Originally Posted by starmom

You just need to make certain that there is no old skin that is encircling any part of Chance's body, as this can cut off circulation (as the skin continues to dry) and cause a dangerous situation.

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Well not really. The only place where leaving shed can cause even a remotely "dangerous situation" is the tip of the tail. And even that isn't particularly dangerous other than that the snake could lose the very tip of it's tail. That said, get the husbandry straight and you will get good sheds and won't have to worry about it! Hope this helps!

Jamie

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Originally Posted by SherriX2

he still didnt shed,I soaked him and took off what I could.he still has some on his neck and head (and his eye caps are still on)

Any tips besides soaking and misting? how long can he stay like this?

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I have a very good tip, let him shed on his own next time.

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Originally Posted by jglass38

Well not really. The only place where leaving shed can cause even a remotely "dangerous situation" is the tip of the tail. And even that isn't particularly dangerous other than that the snake could lose the very tip of it's tail. That said, get the husbandry straight and you will get good sheds and won't have to worry about it! Hope this helps!

Jamie

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Really? I'll be darned! Lots of members have posted this same advice: Old skin encircles part of body. Old skin dries and squeezes that part (typically it is the tip of the tail). Old skin disallows blood flow. Tip of the tail (in this example) becomes necrotic and falls off. If this were to happen, infection has a good chance of setting in. Infection is bad and harmful to the snake. I believe this falls under 'dangerous situation'; particularly in Sherri's case where she is brand new to her bci after having it (pretty much) thrust upon her as a rescue.
Hope this helps~ as Adam likes to say... ;)

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Originally Posted by starmom

Really? I'll be darned! Lots of members have posted this same advice: Old skin encircles part of body. Old skin dries and squeezes that part (typically it is the tip of the tail). Old skin disallows blood flow. Tip of the tail (in this example) becomes necrotic and falls off. If this were to happen, infection has a good chance of setting in. Infection is bad and harmful to the snake. I believe this falls under 'dangerous situation'; particularly in Sherri's case where she is brand new to her bci after having it (pretty much) thrust upon her as a rescue.
Hope this helps~ as Adam likes to say... ;)

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No, it didn't help. But thanks!

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Originally Posted by jim020cricket

I have a very good tip, let him shed on his own next time.

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:gj: Sounds like the best advice in here!

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Originally Posted by jglass38

No, it didn't help. But thanks!

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You saw no helpfulness in that? Are you kidding me? Now your just getting ridiculous... Why not go chase after Wes some more?:rolleyes:

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Originally Posted by littleindiangirl

You saw no helpfulness in that? Are you kidding me? Now your just getting ridiculous... Why not go chase after Wes some more?:rolleyes:

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You missed the point. But that's cool. Interesting you find that it was me chasing after Wes though.

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Originally Posted by jglass38

You missed the point. But that's cool. Interesting you find that it was me chasing after Wes though.

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Well, all I can say is I'm starting to see a trend ;)

Connie, that crack about Wes has no place in this thread.

I'd suggest that we stay on topic and that topic is snakes and helping this new keeper understand the process of shedding.

Thank you all. :)

Staying on track, check out this video from Adam for the straight scoop on how to handle retained sheds. Best of luck with your new Boa!!

http://8ballpythons.com/journal/sheddinglessons.htm

make sure your husbandry is up to par and good sheds will follow, if you're worried, spray the enclosure around shed time, but besides let your boa shed on its own, Jimi's right.





ps. I hate to say I'm siding with Connie, but I'm siding with Connie, Jamie, you're being slightly obnoxious, and it's rather out of character for you as long as I've been on this board and been reading your responses(except as of late).

Mike, once again...we WILL stay on topic in this thread. Typing something in itty bitty letters doesn't change that request. If you have something of a personal comment to discuss with another member, do so privately.

It was taken to PM after that. The point of the tiny text was to separate the post script from what I legitimately had to say, not make some silly attempt to hide it. Sorry Jo.

Wow, Jamie gave me a negative rep for my post :O
How is that right??????

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Originally Posted by qiksilver

It was taken to PM after that. The point of the tiny text was to separate the post script from what I legitimately had to say, not make some silly attempt to hide it. Sorry Jo.

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No problem, Mike, thank you for your compliance in keeping this thread on track.

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Originally Posted by starmom

Wow, Jamie gave me a negative rep for my post :O
How is that right??????

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McKinsey, I will NOT issue another caution in this thread. Any further problems by ANYONE in this thread that take this thread off topic will be immediately followed by infractions being levied. I hope that is a clear request.

Please read the following link which all members shoudl be aware of since it's been stickied since January of this year.

http://www.ball-pythons.net/forums/a....php?f=89&a=15

Specifically this part....

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APPEALS
Infraction Points earned may be appealed, but NOT openly debated in the public forums. If you feel you have unfairly received an Infraction, you MUST send a Private Message to any one of the admins (JLC, rabernet, mlededee) to have your case reviewed. Public complaint will not help your case and may hurt it.

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If you have an issue with a rep point given by an member here, there is a procedure and it is NOT to discuss it within a thread, once more taking this thread off topic.

Ooops- I need a review of that; thanks for the link Jo. I apologize that my ignorance of the procedures got in the way.
I also apologize to the OP who had legitimate questions and was searching for solutions and guidance on this forum and instead got her questions derailed.
I learn very quickly and will not repeat this error.
Again, I'm sorry to Jo, to Sherri, and to all the readers of this thread.

Thanks for your compliance with my request, McKinsey. We do have procedures if you or any member here feels a rep point was unwarranted. We've found over time that it's generally best to follow that route and keep these matters out of the public threads.