Should I soak?

[PrincessErica]

My little guy, Olie, is about to start his 2nd shed in my care. His first one went terribly, even though I thought I was doing everything right. This time, I've got his humidity absolutely cranked (80% right now), plus he's got his water dish to soak in, as well as a humid hide. My question is if you guys think it'd be worthwhile to soak him at this stage. His eyes just turned blue within in the last 36 hours. A long soak and subsequent scrubbing was the only thing that got his last shed finished, so I'm wondering if pre-emptive soaking for like half an hour every day or every other day might make a difference in him having a complete shed this time. Any opinions?

[Adam_Wysocki]

There's no need to soak him before his shed. Some people theorize that it might actually make the shed go worse due to the soaking effecting the natural chemical process used to slough skin.

If it all doesn't come off, soak him for 60 - 90 minutes each night until it does.

There's no need to over complicate things.

My ball pythons never see humidity over 60% and never soak ... most shed just fine.

Hope this helps.

-adam

[PrincessErica]

I only ask because I had my humidity at 70% last time, plus the water dish/humid hide, and it went just horribly. He got the head off, but the rest was stuck on there harsh. After a couple days of him trying to get it off on his own, I soaked him for 30-45 mins and rubbed him with a wet washcloth, and with my peeling and rubbing, I managed to get it all off.

I guess I'll just keep up the humidity and hope for the best. Thanks!

[DrEwTiMe]

My first question is what type of gauge are you using to get the humidity readings. Because if at 70% its almost impossible for the snake to not have a good shed. Thats what i keep the tank at around shedding time and i get perfect sheds( i have 2 of them sitting on my shelf on display ) and i dont even use a humid hide. If you are using those crap stick on gauges then id say its time to pick up a digital one because it sounds like your getting faulty readings. other then that i would actuall stear away from doing any " rubbing" or "peeling" because there is a chance you could hurt or damage the snakes newly forming skin. Honestly, if its that hard to get off even after soaking for a long period of time then i would just let the next shed take everything off.

[Adam_Wysocki]

i would actuall stear away from doing any " rubbing" or "peeling" because there is a chance you could hurt or damage the snakes newly forming skin.

I've been "rubbing" and "peeling" sheds for 20 years and have never had a problem.

Hope this helps.

-adam

[DrEwTiMe]

ya i didnt mean that its life threatening, but for one thing im sure it does not feel so nice to the snake to get things peeled off that don't really wnat to come off heh. But if its not too stuck on there there is no problem.

[Adam_Wysocki]

ya i didnt mean that its life threatening, but for one thing im sure it does not feel so nice to the snake to get things peeled off that don't really wnat to come off heh. But if its not too stuck on there there is no problem.

Actually, it's the being restrained part that they don't like ... If you've ever peeled a shed off of a snake, you'd noticed that they are twitchy at first, but once they realize what you're doing, they settle down and let it happen .... Always seemed to me like they felt better as it was coming off.

-adam

[elevatethis]

A while ago my female bp shed perfectly- from the back of her neck down. For some reason she just didn't shed her head at all. That was a blast trying to get a somewhat headshy bp to cooperate with getting her whole head, eyecaps, lower jaw, etc off. It was funny though, once I got it started, the headshyness went away somewhat and allowed me to pull it off.

[DrEwTiMe]

Ya that makes sense, i have definitly had to do some rubbing in my time with my snake.

[normballpython2]

if i were you i would just try it once to see how things work out. You never really know until ya try. and this is just my opinion, if you don't want to soak your snake then don't and if you do want to then do so. do what you feel would be most appropriate. and good luck with oyur snakes shed

Brian