Hatchling Shed ?

[cordell]

Hello, Slither has ate 2 times and gain 30+ grams in the 1 1/2 weeks I have had her (she was 61 grams when we brought her home). Today I picked her up and her eyes were a purple color, along with a few places on her head. Foggy eyes mean shed, right? Its been a while, we had BPs about 10 years ago but never paid attention to that stuff, no internet, no books, just some snakes with astro turf and mice, lol. So what are the correct things we need to do to help with her shed, ie; humidity, water, stuff like that. Do we raise or lower temps or keep them the same?

I appreciate your reply

[MarkS]

Hello, Slither has ate 2 times and gain 30+ grams in the 1 1/2 weeks I have had her (she was 61 grams when we brought her home). Today I picked her up and her eyes were a purple color, along with a few places on her head. Foggy eyes mean shed, right? Its been a while, we had BPs about 10 years ago but never paid attention to that stuff, no internet, no books, just some snakes with astro turf and mice, lol. So what are the correct things we need to do to help with her shed, ie; humidity, water, stuff like that. Do we raise or lower temps or keep them the same?

I appreciate your reply

Yes it sounds like it's getting ready for a shed, you don't have to fool with the temps at all, but I usually like to spray them down with water when they're blue like that. It raises the humidity and makes it easier for them to shed. Humidity shelters are also nice at this time, it's just a plastic hide box (like a shoe box big enough for them to get inside completely) that's filled with some damp sphagnum moss. good luck.

[cordell]

Thanks! I found the shed sticky got some info there too. We will spray/mist her down until she loses her skin. I wish I would be home when it happens, or awake. Slither doesnt come out while we are awake, when I wake up in the middle of the night I always see her either roaming or posted up in a ambush stance! The BPs we had before never had hides, they stayed in a aquarium with a water bowl and some newspaper or astro turf only. When I found this site and started reading I thought you all were crazy, 2 hides for a snake, heck they dont even need one! lol I have changed that now though. As much as I want her to be seen when I look into the cage I will do whats best for her I have a auto mister made by ZooMed, I turned the nozzle towards her hide so that should help with the humidity. Right now it is 55%, but that is a area of the cage that stays completely dry.

[MarkS]

I would be hesitant to use an auto mister unless you have is set really low. Those can make things a little too wet unless you also have really good air flow.

[cordell]

I would be hesitant to use an auto mister unless you have is set really low. Those can make things a little too wet unless you also have really good air flow.

I am using a 55 gallon aquarium with a screen top and 2 ceramic bulbs for heat. Without the mister my humidity is no humidity, lol. I plan to switch to under the tank heat now that I have learned a bit As for the 55 I am stubborn and will keep it. I want Slither to be able to stretch out

I do have another shed question...

She is in the blue stage, eyes are shaded and her head is dull. Will she clear up then shed, or is it the skin peel that comes next?

[MarkS]

She should clear up about a week or so before she sheds.

[cordell]

OK, so today I picked her up to check her eyes. They are clearer but she has not shed yet. It was really weird as she was moving around my hand using her muscles to hold herself tightly against my hand. She would bring her head between my fingers moving around, all the while her body is pressed to my hand as hard as she can without constricting for a kill. She would put the tip of her head to a finger and just push! So this brings up a question...

Do they itch when shedding?


I also saw a scratch on her belly, look closely and you will see it. Do I need to put ointment on this, or will it fix itself with her shed?


I believe it happened when she was on this gauge... I know humidity says 45 on the dial. My digital readings are higher.

[dr del]

Heh,

Thats not a scratch.

That there is a belleh button

And they start shedding from the nose so he may be trying to rub his nose on you to start it - or he may be trying to squeeze himself between your fingers looking for somewhere to hide.

Cute isn't it?


dr del

[cordell]

Heh,

Thats not a scratch.

That there is a belleh button

And they start shedding from the nose so he may be trying to rub his nose on you to start it - or he may be trying to squeeze himself between your fingers looking for somewhere to hide.

Cute isn't it?


dr del

LOL, I had no clue! I thought she hurt herself I just dropped a mouse in since everyone feeds during she, the mouse went in range and backed up just in time and she missed it. I bet the mouse stays away from that side of the cage for a while, lol.

[cordell]

^^^during shed^^^


The mouse didnt have a chance! Slither normally waits in ambush but after the miss she took off after it. She watched it dart around, got close and posted up in the path of the mouse, BAM! It was all she wrote, lol. This was the most exciting feed yet and we all (family) got to watch with lights on I am glad my kids think it is neat, rather than poor mouse. They watch animal planet all the time, love shark week on discovery, I think they have a good understanding about the food chain.