Another Shed question

[micbrown]

My BP is shedding for the first time since I have had him. He was in the opeque (eyes) stage on 2/26/09. Now his skin is wierd looking..sort of wrinkly and very dull, anyway like it is about ready to come off. It has been this way for about 5 or 6 days now. It has peeled off his head. However, I am not seeing much progress of the skin coming off his body. Is this normal or does he need some help..like a warm bath?

He was acting hungry, so I fed him. He ate very quickly. He is just now getting back on feed schedule from fasting due to relocation. He has had only three meals (3 hoppers) since 1/9/09. So, I didnt want him to go too long w/out food. He is only 5 months old.

I am worried why his skin is not coming off. Humidity is 50-70%. It hardly ever falls below 50% and I have been misting when I am home to raise to 70%. Temps are perfect and do not fluctuate as I have a Helix Thermostat controling the temps.

If his skin does not come of soon, will he get sick or something?

Thanks!

[Toronto Python Gurus]

My BP is shedding for the first time since I have had him. He was in the opeque (eyes) stage on 2/26/09. Now his skin is wierd looking..sort of wrinkly and very dull, anyway like it is about ready to come off. It has been this way for about 5 or 6 days now. It has peeled off his head. However, I am not seeing much progress of the skin coming off his body. Is this normal or does he need some help..like a warm bath?

He was acting hungry, so I fed him. He ate very quickly. He is just now getting back on feed schedule from fasting due to relocation. He has had only three meals (3 hoppers) since 1/9/09. So, I didnt want him to go too long w/out food. He is only 5 months old.

I am worried why his skin is not coming off. Humidity is 50-70%. It hardly ever falls below 50% and I have been misting when I am home to raise to 70%. Temps are perfect and do not fluctuate as I have a Helix Thermostat controling the temps.

If his skin does not come of soon, will he get sick or something?

Thanks!

50% humidity all the time 70% during a shed cycle . . . let him soak in some water . . . not hotter than 85F take a warm wet towel after he has soaked for about 20 mins and rub him down from head to tail along the spin this should get rid of the stuborn shed . . . sound slike a humidity problem

[Ranegyr]

i don't bathe anymore but i used to. if you do, PLEASE DON'T TAKE YOUR EYES OFF THE SNAKE FOR A SECOND. i never had a disaster but a month or so ago 2 people lost a snake to drowning within a week of each other.

sometimes it takes a little bit. i keep the humidity right and just wait it out. do you have something he can rub off on? i keep rocks as decoration but they use them for shed too.

[Toronto Python Gurus]

i don't bathe anymore but i used to. if you do, PLEASE DON'T TAKE YOUR EYES OFF THE SNAKE FOR A SECOND. i never had a disaster but a month or so ago 2 people lost a snake to drowning within a week of each other.

sometimes it takes a little bit. i keep the humidity right and just wait it out. do you have something he can rub off on? i keep rocks as decoration but they use them for shed too.

wow you should never leave a snake unattended . . . im pretty sure snakes can stay under water for a long time too without air not sure exactly how long but those people would have had to leave those snakes unattended for awhile for that to happen

[Kaorte]

What are you measuring humidity with? Is there anything in his cage that is rough for him to get the shed off with?

[micbrown]

I am using an analog humidty gauge. He has many objects in his cage to rub off the skin.

Maybe I will try a bath..I will keep a very close eye on him.

[Ranegyr]

wow you should never leave a snake unattended . . . im pretty sure snakes can stay under water for a long time too without air not sure exactly how long but those people would have had to leave those snakes unattended for awhile for that to happen

i agree. Never leave one unattended. i just remember a lot of responses from the vets on here saying it's not the best option. i am by no means a vet, i am just regurgitating what they said.

[Kaorte]

I am using an analog humidty gauge. He has many objects in his cage to rub off the skin.

Maybe I will try a bath..I will keep a very close eye on him.

get a digital humidity reader. The one you have now is probably very inaccurate.

[Ranegyr]

A lot of individuals on this site seem to have good results with the Accurite Temp/Humitity gage. You can get this one from Wal-Mart, Lowes, HomeDepot for $10. There are a million threads here about the Accurate. I have one for each snake. Analog is very innaccurate and Balls are kinda picky. It's worth the investment.

[bobbi]

i find that some wet ppr towels in a shoe box sizes bin work wonders. just leave the snake in there for about a half hour and when removing him just wrap a damp cloth around him and let him slither through. worked for me with the rescue ive had for a while now. (no drowning hazard)

hope this helps