Shed Question

[ckuhn003]

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.

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?

[Bogertophis]

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?

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'.

[ckuhn003]

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'.

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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[Bogertophis]

Can't tell from here, sorry.

[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.

[ckuhn003]

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.

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

[Bogertophis]

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

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

[ckuhn003]

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).



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


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[EL-Ziggy]

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.

[ckuhn003]

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.