Poll: My BP Usually Sheds Like This:

[Docile1]

Just wanted to thank everyone who's participated in this poll so far.
It's interesting to see the variety of responses and the percentages.

I have a buddy who's got an 18 month-old normal bp who always sheds in pieces despite the fact that he's got humidity up during shedding, has tried soaking, and has been to the vet who seems to think it's some type of genetic predisposition, not environmental.

On the other hand, I've got another friend who doesn't seem to care about humidity (says it gets up in the 50-60% range during summer), but nevertheless his bp sheds completely in one or two pieces all the time.

Also, perhaps one of the funniest things is that some snakes roll up their skins while others seem to jump right out of them without rolling. Could this be more due to environmental or genetic factors? Narrower vs. thicker bodied snakes? Etc., etc.

Thanks again to everyone who's voted/commented, and here's wishing your bps many easy sheds.

[SpiffyYoshi]

I can't believe everybody has such good sheds! When my girl went into blue I was on top of it. I moved her water to the warm side and misted daily. Her shed ended up being complete, but in several pieces!

Maybe you shouldn't soak them in blue (which I did). At least it all came off which is all that matters to me. It would just be cool to have one piece.

[kitedemon]

Mine are about half rolled up and have not I voted rolled as it is half or better rolled. The larger snakes usually have more unrolled than the smaller ones. I never gave it a second thought I wonder why it is rolled some times and not others? The next question is when it is unrolled is it inside out or right side out? I get rolled head towards tail and then a bit that is right side out.

[Popeye]

Always rolled up in one piece.

[kitedemon]

I can't believe everybody has such good sheds! When my girl went into blue I was on top of it. I moved her water to the warm side and misted daily. Her shed ended up being complete, but in several pieces!

Maybe you shouldn't soak them in blue (which I did). At least it all came off which is all that matters to me. It would just be cool to have one piece.

Actually soaking them in blue isn't a good idea. The shed separates from the new skin and there is a layer of slimy liquid (I don't remember what it is called correctly but it feels like glycerine) if you soak from the point where shed starts and before it is finished you can wash away that lubrication and cause it to stick.

Just keep the humidly up a bit and don't worry about it.

[Inknsteel]

I use a tub so humidity isn't ever an issue. It's always one piece and rolled up, usually with the last few inches of the tail sticking out. She's getting ready to go into shed again, so if I remember I can grab a pic and post it.

SpiffyYoshi - If you have your humidity up, you shouldn't need to soak them at all. I would only recommend soaking as a means to remove stuck shed the snake can't remove itself. Given the proper conditions, they're pretty efficient animals.

[Sama]

I was holding my girl one time and didn't know she was about to shed. After holding her for about 10 minutes it felt like she was pinching my neck. I kept asking me husband if she was biting me, only thing I could think that she would be doing. Lol, when she finaly came into view she had half her nose shed and looked very funny, she had been using me to rub the shed off. By the time I put her back in her tank 30 minutes or so later she was done.

[Unstable3lement]

#1! I try to unroll them sometimes so I can admire them and it is usually a failed attempt...lol!

[Docile1]

I was holding my girl one time and didn't know she was about to shed. After holding her for about 10 minutes it felt like she was pinching my neck. I kept asking me husband if she was biting me, only thing I could think that she would be doing. Lol, when she finaly came into view she had half her nose shed and looked very funny, she had been using me to rub the shed off. By the time I put her back in her tank 30 minutes or so later she was done.

Great story ... first time I'd heard of this happening!

[Docile1]

#1! I try to unroll them sometimes so I can admire them and it is usually a failed attempt...lol!

Yeah, it seems you've got to get to the skin before it dries up too much so it will unroll in one piece. My BP seems to shed like clockwork (late night/early morning) so when I check on her in the morning the skin is still damp and it will unroll without tearing.