Helped my snake shed

[bearhart]

I did this just a few days ago. not because it was necessary, but just for the experience.

I knew Snakey was just about to shed and I was holding him and he started to get really dusty looking and his skin started to separated in a few places. so, I grabbed a spare piece of repti-carpet I had and held him in that. The skin had separated on his neck so I opened it up and helped him. He was OK with me helping with everything except on his head. While I was helping, he kept nose-diving into the repti-carpet and eventually separated the skin at the front and finished off his head while I helped him with his body. When he was done I put him up and he went right back to his regular routine.

It was a cool experience but I doubt I'll make a habit of it. I did find one good thing about helping is that you can catch stray bits and pick them off before they dry up and stick.

[whitesnake12]

all of mine shed in whole besides on male who get it off but sometimes has a bit on his tail but he is 100% healthy eats 4 rat pups or 1 or 2 large rats wit no problem

[Ginevive]

I do not see how "certain snakes" can have trouble shedding. If provided with the proper high humidity as soon as you notice the eyes going blue, why should a snake have shedding issues? Unless it was dehydrated beforehand or thin with baggy skin.. please explain why you'd think that a particular snake would have shed issues when provided with proper humidity and temps, if you think that you have a snake that does!
The only things my brain can come up with, are maybe snakes that have been burnt thermally or have excessive scarring? Or the dehydration bit..

[Ginevive]

I also do not see why someone would help their healthy snake to shed. For one, this is a very stressful time for any snake; it is so vulnerable to the outside world when it is shedding. I myself do not even feed while a snake is in-shed, though some people do and it works for them..
But a snake can shed fine on its own without our hanky-pankying with it. Provide the proper humidity and temps, and maybe something to rub against, and you're golden.

[dr del]

Hi,

My lazy,bad shedder does indeed have a lot of scaring caused by wrapping round the heat source as a hatchling - at least 4 large patches with the 2 at the rear being so bad the scales that grew back were extremely mis-shapen and pure white. You can see both patches slightly at the bottom of this pic.



His main problem is he simply doesn't try to shed very hard at all - he makes either a derisory attempt at getting the top of his head clear then stops or makes not even that attempt. I think in the entire time I've had him he has shed on his own maybe twice - now I watch him and just start helping as soon as he gives up.

This is one of my girls but she shed's fine I just caught her as she was starting and thought it made a great picture.




dr del

[Ginevive]

Wow; so scarring can affect shedding. If it is a case of that, I do think that helping him is the best option.
Your other snake looks like she is wearing a snakeskin hoodie!

[Reediculous]

This is one of my girls but she shed's fine I just caught her as she was starting and thought it made a great picture.




dr del

You can see the eye cap in this picture shedding off..............nice shot D!

[SnakieMom]

I do not see how "certain snakes" can have trouble shedding. If provided with the proper high humidity as soon as you notice the eyes going blue, why should a snake have shedding issues? Unless it was dehydrated beforehand or thin with baggy skin.. please explain why you'd think that a particular snake would have shed issues when provided with proper humidity and temps, if you think that you have a snake that does!
The only things my brain can come up with, are maybe snakes that have been burnt thermally or have excessive scarring? Or the dehydration bit..

My boy does have a lot of scarring a few inches behind his head.
the scales have all grown back and, though mis-shaped, they are pretty normal colored. To measure temps and humidity,
I use the Accurite digital gauge with the 'outdoor temp' probe that this site so highly reccomends. In fact, I have one in each tub.
As to why Loki always has trouble, I honestly don't know.
His temps are constant, as is the humidity. I got him at aproximately 6 months of age, and in his 5 years, he's shed in one
piece less than 10 times.
My other two snakes are kept in the exact same enviroment, and they both have NO problems. So, I simply can't explain it.

[bearhart]

Snakey used to shed perfectly everytime, but as he's gotten older he's started to consistently get the odd piece of retained shed here and there. I wouldn't describe him as a "problem shedder" but I have been curious.

[dr del]

Wow; so scarring can affect shedding. If it is a case of that, I do think that helping him is the best option.
Your other snake looks like she is wearing a snakeskin hoodie!

Hi,

Well I'm uncertain - when he was a lot younger then occasionally he would slightly "tear" his skin shedding at the scars but that stopped fairly quickly (under 2 years tops). I wondered if the skin that healed over was just more fragile. Occasionally when he is in blue there is a "bubble" of fluid near the right hand side discoloured section but it disapears when he clears pre-shed and doesn't appear for every shed but I did wonder if it was a sign of underlying weakness in the skin/muscle bond.

However I don't know if that is definately the reason he doesn't try and shed himself.

It is entirely possible he is just a lazy little so and so.

And thank you she is quite the little thug to any rats she encounters.


dr del