Shedding Woes (but not the kind you think)

[QuesadillaWizard]

Howdy howdy! I made my first post on here back in August (link) and wanted to thank everyone again for your warm welcome and awesome advice!

I've had a blast caring for my new python, Trinket! She's got an easy-going disposition, has lovely markings, and so far is a good eater (I know it's only a matter of time before she goes on strike.) What I bring you today is what I feel MUST be a common new snake owner woe. While my girl has shed beautifully two times since I got her, I have not been able to keep the skins.

This is because she always deposits them on top of a huge DUMP.

Does this ever stop? Will I ever get to keep a lovely milestone marker from my girl?

Thought you guys could use a laugh (but seriously, Trinket, please just give me one good skin I can frame).

[gunkle]

I've had it happen a few times. But usually I'm lucky the poo is in one hide while the snake and shed are in the other one. I tend to damage the shed trying to unroll it so can't save most of them.

[O'Mathghamhna]

Definitely does not happen every time, but as Gunkle said, unraveling them tends to cause damage.

[Spicey]

Definitely does not happen every time, but as Gunkle said, unraveling them tends to cause damage.

Can misting the skins help them soften up enough to unroll, or does that just make them fall apart? Obviously I've never tried to get a shed off my KSB since he usually sheds in pieces, but I was wondering, just in case...

[Bogertophis]

Can misting the skins help them soften up enough to unroll, or does that just make them fall apart? Obviously I've never tried to get a shed off my KSB since he usually sheds in pieces, but I was wondering, just in case...

I've kept & still keep quite a few snakes, & while some of them are neat-freaks (& leave their poo inside the fresh shed) I'm happy to report that NONE of them ever do this all the time or forever, so I'd say your chances of getting a keep-sake shed are pretty good. I've done programs & "meet & greets" with my snakes for years, so I save any good (clean) sheds to share, as people of all ages (not just kids) get a kick out of seeing & handling them. Even those afraid of snakes may start off curiously checking outjust the empty copy of a snake...

It's nice when you're fast on the scene of a fresh shed, as the moisture makes them pliable, but too often I find a tightly-rolled shed that's too dry to unroll; at that point, I've found that misting it actually does work. I have to be careful & work slow, but it's so cool to get them unrolled. Here's a tip: it helps the process to blow into the open mouth of the shed (don't put your lips on it, just hold open w/ fingers & blow INTO it); this helps to open up the shed so you can lay it flat to dry. Keep in mind that the shed skin has stretched some, so your snake is actually somewhat shorter than what the shed measures, but it's still cool to compare. I have tiny sheds from my current baby rat snakes & compared to their 6' & 7' parents, the difference is pretty amazing. The largest sheds I ever got were from the 7.5' BCI that I had for many years...hers were huge (over 8').

[Craiga 01453]

My BPs pretty much never leave a salvageable shed. Like mentioned it's either accompanied by a poop, or it's all rolled up and tears when trying to unroll it.
The only ones who leave a perfect one piece shed every time are my King and Hognose. And so far my Bredli is 1 for 1 leaving a perfect shed.