Need help evaluating idea for better shed

[jagodzinski]

Its pretty dry this time of year in the room where Jag lives (heater is running almost constantly to keep temperature normal).

Yesterday, I go to feed Jag (its been about 2.5 weeks since I've been away) and she is in blue. So I decide to put off feeding until she sheds. I set up one of her hides with crumpled damp papertowels and drape some damp papertowels connecting the two warm hides.

Just now, I took a personal size humidifier, turned it on and put it on top of her tank (it has a screen top) in an effort to raise the humidity a little more. I am only planning on leaving it on for 40 minutes max. Does this seem safe, or do I need to worry about it making the humidity too high and causing an RI?

Also, I know she can go a long time without eating, but can someone reassure me that she will be okay going 3 to 3.5 weeks? She will and has eaten right before a shed in the past, but I thought best not to stress her with anything this time since there is already the stress of really dry air. Or is that less stressful than being really hungry?

Thanks!

 

[DollysMom]

What I do is put a towel to cover about 3/4 of the screen lid and dampen it with plain water in a spray bottle if needed. Right now just the towel is holding the humidity at 50% without spraying. My other viv without a towel is 40% (that snake is not in shed).

When I use a personal humidifier I have it on a dresser to benefit the whole room, including me since my snake room is my bedroom. Again, if the room gets too humid I just adjust the output to keep it about 50%.

A humid hide is sufficient. You don't need to drape damp towels around.

I don't let my humidity go above 50%. That and keeping the warm hide appropriately warm will help avoid an RI. So far (knock on wood) my snakes have had no problems.

Personally, I prefer damp sphagnum to paper towels in the humid hide. I feel it holds a steady moisture without being soggy better. Obviously there is nothing wrong with paper towels, but I just have had really great success with damp sphagnum moss.

That long without food should not be a problem. If you notice, during shed their activity levels go way down. The longest my corn has gone without eating is 2.5 weeks but she's still a youngster and currently weighs 45 grams. She's never lost weight during a shed though any gain has been minimal during the fast.

 

[Karl_Mcknight]

I don't know how old or how big your snake is, but I can tell you personally my snake has gone almost 5 weeks without eating before and he was just fine. Snakes can live a very long time without food. Just continue to give fresh water.

Too much humidity is just as bad as too little. As DollysMom mentions above, 50% is what you strive for. (40 to 60% is considered normal for corn snakes almost all the time whether shedding or not).

 

[jagodzinski]

Thanks guys! Usually, I get great humidity, I just find every year that Winters are a little more challenging as my air gets super dry from running a heater all the time. Running the humidifier over her viv for that long didn't knock up the humidity too high, just enough into the ideal zone to hopefully yield a good shed today or tomorrow.

As for eating, intellectually, I knew that Jag (who is almost 7) would be fine - she is still drinking and very alert, but I do worry about her, so I appreciate the reassurance.

Thanks !