Shedding Blues

[antiochian]

Now that the air's drier, my snakes are having terrible sheds. As you can see, my KSB has some old skin stuck to his head, covering his eyes. I've been misting the aspen substrate, but it doesn't seem to be helping much. I just gave it another really good wet-down. I do have terrarium moss, so I might try a hide box, although I'm guessing I'd need the entrance to be on the bottom since my sb's tend to stay below substrate level. Maybe a humidifier or vaporizer in the apartment would help? I'd just like to help him get rid of that nasty shed mask covering his head.

 

[Nanci]

When the snake is blue, place a sheet of plastic wrap loosely over the top of the viv. Then mist every day or two, lightly. You can even mist the underside of the plastic wrap.

 

[Weda737]

I have pretty much ditched aspen, it's too moldy and dusty. Not that I don't clean out wet places every single night, (snake cleaning is my destresser from work actually) I kept my little kenyan in it for a while, then, just for fun I tried eco earth, that worked well for a while but it's dusty when dry and of course you can't keep sand boas so moist. So now I'm using care fresh/ critter care bedding and it's working well. He's kept in a tub so all I have to do is add a water dish for a while and it stays humid enough for him to shed easy without growing any nasties. May I just add, carefresh does NOTHING to mask stinky mouse smell, aspen worked better for the rodents.

 

[antiochian]

Appreciate the replies. I've been misting for a week with no real results. Tonight I made a moss hide for them which I hope they'll utilize and get rid of the stuck shed.

 

[Nanci]

The plastic wrap will hold the humidity in. Or, if your snake(s) have a stuck shed, there's a sticky on how to fix it in the health section.

 

[diamondlil]

(Disclaimer, I know nothing about KSBs) If the snake would suffer in a humid environment, wouldn't the 'snake-o-bath' (feeding tub with wet washcloth) treatment be the best option?

 

[antiochian]

I've tried the wet washcloth as well, actually. They seem to like it because it's warm but it doesn't really help. I'll try the plastic wrap as well, and look at the sticky. Thanks for pointing that out. He has refused meals for the last three weeks because of this problem and while I know snakes can go a long time without eating, he's always been a good eater so this frustrates me.