Removing stuck-shed: Methods and the dangers

[cinderbird]

i haven't even had a stuck shed i've needed to help an animal with since i started keeping, i just make sure the humidity is appropriate. My feeling is that they can deal with a layer of shed (as long as nothing is constricted like the neck or tail and the shed is tight enough to cut off circulation). IF the shed is a hazzard, then i'll do something about it but I have yet to really run into that issue.

[snakesRkewl]

Haven't had a stuck shed since going to tubs, easy fix

[abuja]

i actually just had to do this with our male mojave last night.

what we usually do it put about an inch or so (depending on the size of the snake) of water in the bathtub, and let the snake swim around. it's great exercise, and really helps with the stuck shed. after about 10-15 minutes, we take the snake, and a damp towel, and run the snake through our hands. the skin really just rolls off nicely this way.

OBVIOUSLY we don't just leave them swimming around in the bathtub and walk away, i sit on the side of the tub and watch, 100% of the time. not only to prevent drowning, but also to prevent escape.

i've never tried the pillowcase thing, because i don't have any extra pillowcases laying around. but i kind of like the bathtub method because it's good exercise, works well, AND i like to take pictures of them swimming!

Same here!

[shoffman1019]

I just had this issue with my ball the other day, and I did a "modified" version of the closed tub with air holes. What I did was crumple up several pieces of paper towel into little balls and put them in a Tupperware after that I filled it with a very small amount of slightly above room temp water(not even half way up his body) then I put him in seal it up and place it in the center of his enclosure..the result is him moving in an out and between the moistened paper towel balls so he gets his rub on...this worked especially well for the shed that was on his back which seems to be the hardest part to get off..after about 15 min I took him out all I had to do was help him with a few small pieces which were nice a loose..surprisingly he seemed to enjoy this part even helped me out by rubbing himself on my hands. He went back to his enclosure a happy snake and ate his dinner the next day with no issue..

[Kaorte]

I just had this issue with my ball the other day, and I did a "modified" version of the closed tub with air holes. What I did was crumple up several pieces of paper towel into little balls and put them in a Tupperware after that I filled it with a very small amount of slightly above room temp water(not even half way up his body) then I put him in seal it up and place it in the center of his enclosure..the result is him moving in an out and between the moistened paper towel balls so he gets his rub on...this worked especially well for the shed that was on his back which seems to be the hardest part to get off..after about 15 min I took him out all I had to do was help him with a few small pieces which were nice a loose..surprisingly he seemed to enjoy this part even helped me out by rubbing himself on my hands. He went back to his enclosure a happy snake and ate his dinner the next day with no issue..

this thread is 3 years old

[Rickys_Reptiles]

This is a stupid topic. How about instead of talking about how to remove sheds you instead talk about proper husbandry!

Humidity at 55% = no poor sheds

[Kaorte]

This is a stupid topic. How about instead of talking about how to remove sheds you instead talk about proper husbandry!

Humidity at 55% = no poor sheds

Even with high humidity bad sheds can still happen.

This is not a stupid topic.


This topic is also 3 years old!

[AdamF]

Take snake bag or any kind of coarse sack (canvas or something from supermarket)

Run it under the hottest tap water YOU can tolerate

Wring out just enough water so that is doesn't drip all over the place.

Place snake in bag, in it's enclosure

PRESTO! As the snake squirms to escape the bag, the skin will slough right off. It's rare that I have used this trick, but works like a charm.


Don't worry about temperature of the bag, the few seconds of wringing and inserting snake will allow enough cooling so there is no danger at all.

Try it!

[TheSnakeGuy]

"knocks wood" Never had a stuck shed between 5 snakes and a year of care. Maybe I've just been lucky. The worst I've had to deal with was a shed lying in 3 pieces instead of 1. But the course sack thing is a really great idea.

[Kaorte]

"knocks wood" Never had a stuck shed between 5 snakes and a year of care. Maybe I've just been lucky. The worst I've had to deal with was a shed lying in 3 pieces instead of 1. But the course sack thing is a really great idea.

Don't worry, It will happen at some point. Since the time this thread was written I have had quite a few stuck sheds not due to low humidity. Sometimes the snake is just lazy! I have one in particular, my male pin, that will just shed his head and then I have to do the rest. It comes off easily, he is just lazy!