so yesterday i checked on dexter and his shed was still attached on his head and his neck... so into the soaking bucket he went... with the heating pad underneath and some plastic plants in there for him to 'rub' on... after about 20 minutes i brought him out in a towel and gave him a little rub down... back into the water, another rub etc until - working together - we got all the shed off him. i'm extremely proud of myself as his head is still something i've been afraid of (remember this IS the first snake i've ever held and was T-E-R-R-I-F-I-E-D before i got him)

so, with great fear and a lot of love... i kept gently rubbing his neck and head to get that shed off...

so now he's all gorgeous and very golden yellow... which i loooove! when his skin darkens i miss the lighter new skin look...

so then i popped a mouse in for him and all he wanted to do was leave his viv! he's discovered that his growing body can reach the top of his viv and without the lid on... he can leave so he's decided that is what he needs to do!

i put him back into his viv and put the lid on and he said, "well okay if i can't explore the house... i'll eat!" but within about 2 or 3 hours, he was back out... looking at the lid of his viv wondering how to remove it and get out. i didn't let him out cause he's in confinement for 48 hrs after a meal... but he soooo wanted to come out!

it's nice to have a snake (finally) who wants to spend some time out of his hide!

yipppppppeeeee i'm very very pleased