New snake with problem

[travis_1989]

I have had my snake for about a week,
and has been in shed since i got her,
and still has chrome caps over her eyes,
so i was told not to feed her until atleast they are gone,

but she hasnt ate in two weeks...


what should i do???

she is sheddin the skin, but still has the caps...

[Kaorte]

Has the skin started to peel off already? If it is coming off in pieces your snake is having a bad shed.

For future reference, you can feed your snake while it is shedding, most will eat but some don't. I always offer food during shed.

[Kyle@theHeathertoft]

I would offer food, even if they're in shed. My boy ate like a champion when he was in shed, but to be fair the Ball I had years ago refused food at the drop of a hat, so YMMV.

Still, the worst that can happen if you offer food is that they refuse until their shed is complete.

Also...some pythons fast for months, so long as your critter is in good health, I doubt a two-week stint of not eating will hurt.

[travis_1989]

yes the skin is coming off in pieces,
my reptile guy from around here that breeeds snakes says that i can put the snake in a tupaware (spelling) container with holes in the lid over night...

sound like a good idea?

and i keep placing my snake in her water bowl... is that a good idea?

[zantedeschia]

This is what I have done for my snakes with stuck sheds.

Soak in tepid water (if it's warm to you it's too hot for them) for about 15 minutes. Put a washcloth in with your snake. Stay with her while she's in water. Don't let her get chilled.

After she's thoroughly wet, use the washcloth to gently rub off the stuck skin. Rub in one direction from nose to tail. You can remove the eyecaps doing this too, be gentle about it. If she'll let you, make sure you've got the shed off at the very tip of her snout and around her nostils.

For future reference, when she shows signs of starting a shed, raise the humidity to 70%. A drop of mineral oil swabbed on each eye helps the eyecaps come off.

[seeya205]

You can soak her for about an half hour in a tupperware container to help the shed come off but not overnight and only fill it up to half the snakes thickness. Make sure the water is at around 80 degrees! After the soak let her slither through a wet towel a few times to help the skin come off! You can repeat soaking daily until all the old skin is off! Also make sure the humidity is about 60% to prevent future bad sheds! A couple weeks without food is fine. These snakes can go like 6 months without food without problems!

[zantedeschia]

I meant soak in a tupperware tub or other small container, not her water bowl.