Tail tip

[Midwest]

I know there are threads on this and I searched "tail tip", "bad shed" tail shed" etc. and couldn't find any of them. I got our BP out today after it shed a little over a week ago. Based on the skin I thought it was a good shed, all one piece and I caps were there. When I got him out today I noticed the very tip of his tail had the shed still stuck. Is this something I need to take action on or will it come off next shed? Due to stuff that's going on we haven't had him out and handled him much the last couple months so I didn't want to start picking at the tip of his tail and make him mad. He's just under a year old if that matters. This is only his second shed since we have had him but the first one was perfect, I thought this one was as well until today.....

[wnateg]

Stuck shed on the tail is very important to get off. It can cut off circulation. Eye caps and tail tip are the two most critical places to look for stuck shed because they're definitely not something that should be left for the next shed.

[Bogertophis]

I agree. I'd soak/dampen his tail tip for a while, then work off the unshed part by hand. You risk the death of tissue & loss of his tail tip if you don't.
And it would be a "very cold day in Honolulu" before I'd worry about "making a yearling BP mad". Just be gentle & persistent about it.

[Midwest]

Thanks for the info, I'll work on it this evening when I get home from work.

[Alien]

Damp warm (not hot) towel and see if you can get him to chill for a while with the towel around the tail. Very light pressure as he slithers out of the towel and it might come off, might take a few sessions. Good luck.

[Midwest]

Thanks, just curious how long it takes to start to see damage, he shed last week and then a couple days went by and he ate so I then waited a couple more days to get him out after eating.....

[Bogertophis]

Thanks, just curious how long it takes to start to see damage, he shed last week and then a couple days went by and he ate so I then waited a couple more days to get him out after eating.....

Usually takes 2-3+ stuck sheds before the tail tip really dies from lack of circulation, but like with humans, you cannot predict due to individual differences, & in ANY case, that skin left on the tail tip gets more stuck (harder to remove without damaging his skin) the longer you wait. The tail tip has a very tiny blood circulation to begin with...it doesn't take much to cause gangrene, and unfortunately that can also spread & further affect a snake's health. It's never a "good" thing, ok?

[Midwest]

All is well now. A couple minutes with his tail held by a warm wash cloth and it came of after I rubbed it a few times. He didn't mind at all. Since he hasn't been handled a lot lately I was curious how he would react with something on his tail, acted like he didn't notice really.

[Bogertophis]

Good job. If you don't act like you're attacking them, most snakes are surprisingly laid back. I've never had any pet snake of mine bite me or a vet for doing something
"unpleasant".

[Midwest]

When we first started handling him after he ate 3 times I was putting him back in his tank one day. Everything was fine as I was handling him and after I set him back into the tank he struck at me and missed as I was removing my hand, hitting his nose on the glass. One other time I was setting him on the scale to weigh him and he tried to strike when I was picking him up off the scales. Other than those two times we have never had an issue.