getting ready to shed?

[kneepoles]

I had Vlad out last night for a few minutes, checking for mites to see if we got them taken care of. Apparently we did. I noticed though, that he had a few (3-5) scales along his back that are really dry looking. They weren't in groups, they were kindly scattered, but with in inches of each other. When I put him back in his cage, he appeared to be scratching on a rough surfaces, starting at his snout and going almost all the way down his body.
Just a few minutes ago, I was changing his water and lifted his hide to make sure he hadn't pooed in there since yesterday, and he had a few MORE dry looking scales. I understand that normally their eyes will kinda haze over and get slightly blue before a shed, but is this also an indicator of an impending shed? His eyes are still dark and glossy.
I should also mention that he's healing a tiny wound on the side of his neck, and I've heard that they will go through a few rapid shed cycles to help heal skin conditions quicker. SO, could these few dry looking scales be the beginning of a shed?

[dalvers63]

They very well could be. Another sign of an impending shed is the belly turning pink. You'll usually see this first, followed by the eyes going opaque.

[kneepoles]

thanks for the reply! I haven't noticed his belly turning pink at all. However, I have seen him sliding the side of his face across his log, and then smashing the end of his snout against it! I mean he's really drilling into it! I would think that this behavior would be trying to loosen the skin so he COULD shed, but he hasn'r really shown any signs of a shed (pink belly, opaque eyes, dull color etc). I have noticed that he usually does this after being handled.

[missi182]

I noticed my bp squashed his face against EVERYTHING in his enclosue when I switched tanks on him. He was just getting to know his new home, but I was very concerned because he was not in shed and he looked like he might hurt himself. Just be sure there is nothing sharp in the enclosure for him to rub and hurt himself on and hopefully he will either shed, or relax in the next few days.

[dr del]

Hi,

Just a quick double-check - when you checked him for mites you remembered to look in the heatpits and nose as well yes? It might also be a good idea to look inside his mouth to make sure there are no signs of irritation or infection.

Just to help rule that out really.


dr del

[Larry Suttles]

Chris, I'm with the others look for that pink belly, the hazy eyes will come a little further into the shedding process.

If your snake did have mites and is healing from a small wound a nice shed cycles will do em well. Be sure to keep that humidity up.