My snake shed right before i got him a little over 2 weeks ago. He is in the process of shedding again, but it's not coming off as 1 long piece it's little by little. What causes this and how can i help? I've heard wetting the snake a little by misting him or putting him in the waterbowl helps for this, but he hates being misted and as it is he's been just about impossible to handle because he never leaves his hide except at times when I'm sleeping at night and when he does he hates being touched so I haven't handled him much yet. I also heard it's best not to pull them out of their hide so I don't know how I will get to handle him if he never comes out. This makes it harder for me to help him with his shed.
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possible shedding problem
- Thread starter JBLAZE725
- Start date
Jynx
Digger, RN
this is caused by a lack of humidity, or a problem producing special emolients that lubricate the old skin to let it slough off easily. Misting the cage or providing a humid hide will help. Put a damp paper towl inside his hide, and if he's a hider, he'll have no choice but to soak up some of the humidity. How large is his water dish? Water dishes count for most of the humidity in a viv, so if his isn't big enough, that might be causing a problem as well. Hope this helps.
The water bowl is a good size and i make sure to change the water frequently and i put enough in so that it will keep the tank humid as well as be enough for him to drink or bathe in. I will try the wet paper towel in the hide thing and see if that helps. I just hate messing with him while hes in the hide because he seems stressed all ready and I don't want to add to it.
Jynx
Digger, RN
thats a baby for you. Just LOOKING at them stresses them out sometimes. Thats is also why he spends so much time in his hide as well. He feels secure, and babies need a TON of security. Actually, I'm sure you could put them in a steel safe locked and air tight, and they still probably wouldn't be completely secure. lol 
this will fade with time once he becomes accustomed to you. Everything is a predator to him right now, even you. He'll come around, just be patient. Any pics of the little guy we can see?
this will fade with time once he becomes accustomed to you. Everything is a predator to him right now, even you. He'll come around, just be patient. Any pics of the little guy we can see?Hes actually been a pain to photograph because he's always hiding, but If i really made an attempt I'm sure I could get a decent shot. I'm going to be cleaning out my cage today because the pet shop I bought him from gave me sand to use, but everyone seems to say sand is no good and aspen should be used. Who am I to go against all these people who know what they're doing so I figured I'll just throw away the rest of my sand and put in the aspen. I'm sure that while doing this I should have a good chance at a picture.
Jynx
Digger, RN
well, sand isn't recommended just because it can get caught in nostrils, scales, eyes, etc and since it holds absolutley no humidity, thats probably the root of your shedding problem. Aspen is the number one most recomended bedding by people on here, but if you are having a humidity problem, you might want to try using something that holds moisture better. I use cypress here in the summer because it gets so ungodly dry. As long as you stay clear of pine and cedar. Those put off toxins that can be deadly to yuong corns.
Aspen is the number one most recomended bedding by people on here, but if you are having a humidity problem, you might want to try using something that holds moisture better. I use cypress here in the summer because it gets so ungodly dry. As long as you stay clear of pine and cedar. Those put off toxins that can be deadly to yuong corns.Not a problem anymore. I said screw it and just threw away my sand and put in some snake aspen bedding. I couldn't find the zoomed brand where I live so I got one from a company called sunseed shredded aspen. Is this a good brand or one that anyone has used? Anyway I changed that and also put in a moist paper towel in his hide to see if that helps also. I really hope this helps as he seems much less active now that he seems to be having this shedding problem. On a brighter note the part of him that has shed is turning really nice, his colors are really coming out now and becoming more vibrant. I'll keep you informed of his progress and thanks for the help.
MegF.
That's for sale???
It's probably a good idea to start handling him for short periods of time or he's never going to get used to handling. Try 3-5 minutes to start, and then slowly move up in time. After feeding, don't handle for 2-3 days, but otherwise, try to get him out frequently. If you're waiting for him to make the first move, it will never happen
JBLAZE725 said:
You said you got him a little over 2 weeks right, it takes a month or so for them to feel completely comfortable. Stress levels need to come down a little. Make it very humid in the tank. You know what works is buy a tupaware container, fill with spagnamoss (remember to add warm to hot water to it, ring out any water) cut a round hole in the top, also puncture a couple of holes around it aswel. Place in the tank then the sheds should be full. Dont worry about a bad shed, only worry if the eye caps dont come off and the tip of the tail. That can cause an infection. Or u might want to wait till next time he shed's and he might feel less stressed.
All is well I made sure to constantly mist the viv to bring up the humidity and i soaked him a little as well since he wasnt using the water bowl too much and i also placed a moist paper towel in his hide with him and he has now completely shed and is looking quite good with his new brighter colors.