Just a shed question

[Emily Hubbard]

Just looking for a basis of comparison for a "normal" shed. My girl is in her third shed with me and each one has been different. However, what she is doing now seems most consistent with a "good" and "normal" shed, though I just want to make sure.

First shed was right after I got her. It was awful and frustrating and happened very rapidly. I had to soak her three times because it just kept coming off in little flakes. She was about to go into shed when she was shipped, so it was just a major humidity issue.

Second shed was also very rapid. I never saw her go blue, she just got dull and three days later, she shed. It was a complete shed, but it still came off in pieces, which baffled me because my humidity is fine. My theory is it happened so fast that my bump to 80% didn't last long enough to be effective. She also soaked in her water bowl for several hours during this one, even though she has a humid hide.

Currently, she has been dull for a week and has also not left her humid hide in that time. I check on her every day, and she flicks her tongue at me and just stares at me like she has no interest in being bothered, so I don't. I haven't taken her out in a week, just leaving her alone aside from a daily quick check up.

I have read that a shed cycle can easily be 2 weeks, so I'm not worried really. I just haven't seen any pattern in her shed cycles, so I just want to make sure she's not doing anything out of the ordinary, and also any advice you can give. I am misting the tank every day, changing the water every other day, and pulling out the humid hide to check on my snake every day, but not handling her. Other than that, I'm just letter her do her thing and go through her shed in peace.

[Crazy4Herps]

You're doing everything perfectly. Sounds like she had some humidity issues for the first two sheds and now she's starting to settle into a routine. They often will turn darker in color for quite a while before their eyes turn opaque.

[Emily Hubbard]

Thanks! I just checked on her and her eyes are now VERY blue. So here she goes. Poor thing, I just looks like such an uncomfortable process. I'm really glad humans don't have a really annoying monthly cycle..... oh wait....

[Missy King]

Agree with Crazy4herps. I had two rescues who were severely dehydrated and had been kept with weeks with little to no water. They actually arrived with sheds stuck on them, one with eye-caps so thick it was almost completely blind. Pieces of sheds, then the scales/flakes one at a time...then shed pieces, then finally a whole shed for each! One has now completed a full normal shed, and the other is still in blue but doing fine. Under the damp hide just chillin.

Keep that hide damp and you are still doing great! It just takes them some time. I was totally freaked and worried the first time this happened to me, but it's just the process since they have bee through a lot. You're doing well!

[Emily Hubbard]

Thanks, Missy King. I added a little more moisture to the humid hide today. I just gently misted it with warm water without taking her out of it, I don't want to ruffle her too much.

Normally I would have fed her today, but she is really stuffed in that hide and her eyes are opaque now, so I decided not to offer until she is done shedding. I know there is lots of debate on offering or not while they are in shed. I chose not to seeing as am nearly 100% certain she has not left the hide in a week, so it's not like she burned many calories from her last meal. She hasn't pooped either. But I welcome any and all advice, if you think I should offer food, please let me know.