Shed stuck to abrasion on head

[Asasara]

Hi all,

My 4ft normal girl Vesper moved into an animal plastics T8 last month, and rubbed the top of her head raw trying to wedge it between the sliding glass door and the body of her enclosure during the first week she occupied the new space (she has settled in and stopped boundary seeking since then). She has gone back to eating and acting her usual laid back self, and had her first shed post-move... and her first shed with me that hasn't been a breeze. Her whole body head to tail is clean, aside from the spot where the abrasion exists. This spot has a tuft of dead skin that used to cover her face sticking right up off the top of her head like a peacock's feathers. I'm a little concerned.

She has two reptile basics xl hides, one at each end. One is filled with damp sphagnum moss when she's getting ready to shed, the other is over her flexwatt. She lives on fresh cypress mulch, with gradient floor temps of 82-92, which I bring down 3 degrees at night, and I keep her humidity around 60 with a bump up to 70 when her belly turns pink prior to shedding. I clean her water dish every two days at least. I handle her about 3x a week for 20min or less at night, she eats FT every 7-10 days and lives in a low traffic area. I never soak her prior to shedding, although she has a large bowl should she choose to handle that herself. I think my husbandry's solid, but please bring it to my attention if I've missed anything.

We have an appointment with the herp vet this coming Sunday, but I'm wondering if this is a common occurrence that anyone here has been through before, and of course I'm concerned about potential risks to my snake. I'm new to herps... what should I watch out for with this, and how can I keep my snake as comfortable as possible? Thanks.

[Aztec4mia]

Your husbandry looks pretty spot on. As for the skin, you can soak her in a container with the lid on for 10-15 minutes in luke warm water(it will feel cool to you) and see if it softens up enough to be removed or comes off in the water. The wound will heal on it's own as long as you keep her clean, just like a scab that you might get it will eventually grow scar tissue underneath and probably come off during the next shed cycle, I would have been concerned if she was still rubbing her head and keeping the wound raw. I would go through with the Vet visit for the experience, he might offer a topical ointment for the wound but she will be fine either way.

[bigSAK]

I read in another thread, which I don't remember where it was, that everyone with the sliding glass door animal plastics have their BP try to get through that gap. Sounds like it's very common until they realize they'll never get through it.

[Kokorobosoi]

My first BP, a full grown female learned how to open sliding glass doors by wedging in the corner and inching it open. be warned!!! lol...

I had to catch it on video before I finally accepted the roommate wasn't letting it out on purpose.

Wish I still had that vid!!

[Asasara]

@Kokorobosi... What a little monster! I'm getting locks, stat... don't want my python meeting my two huskies anytime soon.

[Asasara]

@bigSAK... I believe it. I think all animals I've had in enclosures, from my snake to dogs to horses, have felt the need to test the perimeters, and a little python face fits just right between that cage wall and the glass door. Ouch.