90% Shed....ideas??

[evelyn]

Hi Everybody!

I knew it was going to be a hard shed since we bought her while in shed and she wasn't in a proper humidity ....

Anyhow, once I got her home and in proper husbandry conditions, she soaked in her bowl for a few minutes, which I expected, and then she shed about 3 days after.

I noticed that a few pieces didn't separate from her face, so I tried the soaking in a Tupperware container for an hour with her on the warm side of her enclosure, with a rubdown afterwards.

Now it's two days afterwards, and the amount of shed that is not coming off of her face seems to have increased???



Now I'm sure that I just didn't notice the larger part (not too sure about that), and I was going to try the fragrance-free lotion approach, but I was wondering if Vasiline would be more effective than fragrance-free lotion?

Considering that it is in the triple antibiotic ointment, I would assume it's safe method....but either the lotion or the Vasiline will be very close to her mouth, I wasn't sure if I should just stick to soaking all together considering it's her face?

Also, how long should I be worried about this? If she doesn't shed it, I know it can cause problems with bacteria, but if i maintain her substrate and keep her home clean and water fresh, she should be shedding again pretty soon due to being less than 3 months (dob 11/25/06) and a growing gal???


Thanks for any advice and experience on these shedding problems...

Evelyn

[JLC]

The "new" problem could just be some dried out scales...nothing to worry about.


Don't use any petroleum products on your snake.

So long as the retained shed is not fully encircling part of the snake, she should be fine. Continue with the warm soaks for an hour each night until it comes off. Or give her a few days with increased humidity and see if she rubs it off on her own. (Or both. )

[evelyn]

Her humidity hangs around 63-65%.....Should I shoot for 70% until it comes off?

And it is in patches....


Thanks.

[JLC]

Her humidity hangs around 63-65%.....Should I shoot for 70% until it comes off?

Couldn't hurt.

[evelyn]

Thank you ma'am!

[JLC]

My pleasure!

[dr del]

I'm an impatient old scrote - I tend to spray mine with warm water from a plant sprayer and rub the stuck skin with a thumb till I get an edge up then peel it off.
I can't stress strongly enough at this point to make sure it actually IS stuck on shed! One of mine has always been a problem shedder and has a habit of getting the bottom jaw and about 80% of her belly off and assuming she's "done" and going back to sleep. She detests the spraying but seems to actually enjoy the peeling with much wriggling and exmination of what I'm doing.

For small patches I probably wouldn't bother too much though.



dr del

[evelyn]

But I have read that it is BAD to force peel stuck shed......it disrupts the new scales, and then you can possibly form a scale-less area??

[dr del]

Hi Evelyn,


It depends on whether the retained shed has been on long enough, or kept dry enough, to adhere to the new skin underneath from what I've seen.

When I'm doing it to mine for example she has only had them there for a maximum of 48 hours or so while still being in a humid environment so the skin comes off easily and without any damage to the underlying scales.

The amount of "force" required is also a factor - basically if a light rub with your thumb doesnt make it roll off at the edges once sprayed then I'd wait till the next shed.



dr del

[West Coast Jungle]

The fragrance free lotion rehydrates the skin quickly. I live in a desert and it works like a charm for me. I humid hide is also real helpful. I use moss so they can rub against it.