Retained Shed

[Adamscorn]

Hi everyone, can you please explain what a retained shed is. I realise that some snakes do not shed properly and retain some of their skin, but if one has not shown any sign of shedding, can it have retained it's shed? Hope this is clear.

 

[TrpnBils]

Let me make sure I know what you're asking... you want to know if it's possible for a snake to retain its entire shed (i.e. not have any of it come off), right? If that's what you're asking, I wouldn't think so. Snakes shed because they're growing, so they'll grow out of the old one eventually anyway. And keep in mind there's a delay between blue phase and the actual shed where the eyes turn clear again (sometimes up to almost a week). During that time, they'll look basically normal, but they won't have shed yet.

 

[Adamscorn]

Thanks for the quick reply Trpnbils. Yeah, the whole skin. Mine hasn't shed for me yet. I got her in Dec'04 and she is now about 19 mths and about 2'. I asked somebody if this was a problem and they said no as long as she hasn't retained it. They asked if she had gone cloudy and dull and I said no, so they reckoned she would shed soon. I am now worried as I did go away for a couple of days and left my husband in charge (never a good idea lol) I wonder if he missed her going cloudy. If she has gone cloudy and not shed, how would I know. She will probably shed soon and I will relax again. Most "problems" have resolved themselves without any intervention from me. Just a few disturbed nights sleep!
I have looked at past threads but haven't been ablt to come with an answer. Lots of problem sheds and retained bits of skin but not a whole one!
Thanks

 

[CAV]

I suspect your snake just hasn't shed yet. I've never heard of a snake that didn't shed at least a portion of its skin.

 

[Adamscorn]

Thanks for your replies, this forum is such a good source of information and reassurance. Don't think I would have got this far without you guys. I will wait and let her do her own thing!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Cheers

 

[princess]

What you'll find is that the eyes will blue-up and then go clear again and you'll think the snake has shed and you just can't find it, then after a day or so the snake will shed and be all nice and shiney for you!!! Welcome to the forum and feel free to ask anything!

 

[Spirit]

Thanks for the quick reply Trpnbils. Yeah, the whole skin. Mine hasn't shed for me yet. I got her in Dec'04 and she is now about 19 mths and about 2'.

At 2 feet long, your snake should be shedding every 4 weeks or so... give or take. Also, all snakes grow at different rates, but you said she's 19 months old... I'm just curious what you feed her and how often. And when in dec did you get her (early dec)?

2 months without a shed (and her being still small) seems like a bit long to me is all... nothing to worry about though! Don't wanna scare ya. lol I'm sure she'll shed very soon, and hopefully you'll be one of the lucky ones who'll see it!

*bitter* lol

 

[Adamscorn]

Hi Spirit

I picked her up from the breeder on Xmas eve, she is actually my son's snake and was his Xmas present. She was born in July '03 so that makes her about 19 mths. We feed her one fuzzy every 6 days but are just about to start feeding 2 fuzzies. She is perfectly happy (or seems to be lol) eats and poops.
In the last few days we have noticed that she is losing just a few scales, they come off when we handle her, does this mean she is about to shed? She is approx 2ft, could be a little more, difficult to measure accurately. I don't think we breed them as big over here as you do across the pond, what's new lol. :cheers:

 

[CAV]

I am posting this to educate, not flame

I think the reason the snake isn't shedding has to do with being underfed. Shed cycles are determined by growth, and growth is determined by genetics and diet. A fuzzy a week simply isn't enough food for a snake that is approaching its second birthday. I suspect that the breeder had the snake on a maintenance diet since it is only 2 feet in length. I am only judging from the picture in your avatar, but that snake should easily be able to eat mice larger than fuzzy size. I recommend that you increase the diet and get that snake onto larger prey as soon as possible.

When you say "losing scales" do you mean to infer that the entire scale is falling off or a section of skin is peeling off, similar to a human after a sunburn?

 

[Adamscorn]

What do you mean by maintenance diet Cav? Went back to the breeder yesterday to get more fuzzies, he says to feed her 2 every 5-7 days now for a while before increasing actual size of prey.

When I say she is losing scales, I mean that the last couple of times we have handled her, very small bits of clear "skin"? have come off on our hands. Presume these are bits of scale, can't actually see where they are coming from. Sorry to be vague, this is our first snake and everything is new to us.

 

[Adamscorn]

BTW Cav, I am very grateful for any advice, never would regard it as interference. No point in asking if i'm not prepared to listen!

Cheers

 

[CAV]

Every problem presents an opportunity to learn something

Breeders will often keep a snake on a maintenance diet while the snake is in their possession. By this I mean that the snake is being feed just enough to ensure proper health and nourishment, but not enough to grow a giant corn. It is a cost analysis measure that helps ensure that the animal doesn't consume more mice than it is worth.

Increasing the meal size by number as opposed to by size has essentially the same effect. I not saying you should stuff a large, full-sized adult mouse down the snake’s throat for its next feeding. What I am suggesting is that you may want to offer it a large hopper or small adult mouse. Two fuzzies will be fine, but that needs to only be a short-term solution.

Sheds should be one piece and resemble a sock turned inside out. Skin flakes are not ideal. It could be small left over pieces from the last shed or it could be flaking from the next shed. (I really have no way of knowing.) Either way, the issue needs to be addressed.

Dampen a paper towel and wring out the extra water. Fold it in half and rub down your snake several times, moving from the nose to the vent. (This should resemble wiping off the blade of a knife. Repeat this process until you aren't seeing skin flakes.

 

[gardenmum]

What do you mean by maintenance diet Cav? Went back to the breeder yesterday to get more fuzzies, he says to feed her 2 every 5-7 days now for a while before increasing actual size of prey.

I agree with CAV, the amount you are feeding is only enough to maintain the snake to live, not to grow at any rate. That is what he means by maintenance feeding. Some breeders just "maintain" feed animals that they are not going to breed right away or for whatever reason, which means they are fed enough to keep them alive and healthy but not to do any significant growing. One fuzzy every 6 days is not a large enough amount for the age of your snake so therefor, you have not had any sheds due to only slight growth.

If you up the food by going to 2 fuzzies for a short time then go to one hopper, then after a short time when you notice that the hopper doesn't show up very much in its belly, go to two hoppers, you will notice that you start having monthly or so sheddings. Of course, you don't want to jump to a larger food item too fast but it won't be long on two fuzzies that you will notice that your snake is ready for the hopper and then not all that long before two hoppers will make him most happy.

Good luck and I will bet after a few larger amounts of food fed you will see our first shed.

EDIT.....OH well, sorry bout that Gary. I wrote the reply then got a phone call from my sis and when I got back on line I posted it and didn't see you had replied. Well, just take this as a back-up to your reply......

 

[Adamscorn]

Thanks a lot Cav and Gardenmum. I will do what you suggest with the damp paper towel tomorrow night before feeding her with 2 fuzzies. Thanks for all the help, I have learnt so much since coming onto this forum, good to know there is always someone there.

 

[larryg]

This is my female Miami Phase. In the first picture you can see her 'normal' colors. The second was taken while she is in a blue phase (taken today.) I expect she'll shed sometime in the next 3 or 4 days, probably. Notice the cloudy eyes.

 

[Adamscorn]

Thanks for the great pictures Larry. Now I see why it is called 'blue' phase. Haven't noticed anything like that with ours yet, I live in hope!!! Hopefully with increasing her food, we may get a shed sometime soon. Love your snake BTW.
Cheers

 

[ruby's dad]

your snaake is around the same age size as mine..mine has shed 3 times since i have had her...mine is an amel and i find it hard to see the blue phase, but i find her character changes when she is about to shed....you have got to see her/him shed is amazing...i have two full skins hung up they are cool..good luck hope it goes well

 

[Adamscorn]

Ok, now I feel really guilty! Just fed our snake two fuzzies for the first time, a small one first, then offered a second. Thought she may take a time to go for it as she is not used to more than one. NO WAY was she going to let that mouse out of her feeding container! She was on it in a flash and swallowed it with minimal effort.

I wish now that we had upped her food a few weeks ago. She was much more active, the lump after feeding was a lot smaller and, I can see now, looking for more food after being fed. I only hope that being underfed does not affect how she sheds. With any luck we will get a shed soon and can relax. At least now I think I know what to look for and when to increase the food.

Reckon the poor little thing must think that Xmas has come early tonight!! :santa:

Thanks for all your help, hopefully my son will soon have his first shed skin hanging on his wall like Ruby's dad.

 

[larryg]

Thanks for the great pictures Larry. Now I see why it is called 'blue' phase. Haven't noticed anything like that with ours yet, I live in hope!!! Hopefully with increasing her food, we may get a shed sometime soon. Love your snake BTW.
Cheers

Thanks. I got her recently, after my female hatchling Miami died from failure to eat (possibly with other underlying problems.) She was WC (wild caught/captured/collected) down in Miami about a year ago, and I just got her in the last month or so. She acted like she was blind, and I normally wouldn't handle her while her eyes are cloudy, but I wanted to get a couple of good photos since she obviously looks different, especially the eyes. I'll try not to further torment her by handling her while she is blind. I had no idea what to expect of a WC snake, but this one is remarkably non-aggressive and calm. I've heard that's often a Miami trait (they aren't known for being biters/aggressive.) I like her reddish saddles with semi-thick black borders. I even know where she was collected, for what that's worth. I think my CB Miami male (from WC lines) will look a lot like her, possibly with a cleaner silver background.

I've always noticed the belly/underside of the snake turns cloudy a couple of days prior to the upper part of the snake turning cloudy (including the eyes.) So that is the first thing to watch for, based on my somewhat limited experience. For the snake to reach that size, it's had to shed many times already, so I'm sure it will happen sooner or later.