• Hello!

    Either you have not registered on this site yet, or you are registered but have not logged in. In either case, you will not be able to use the full functionality of this site until you have registered, and then logged in after your registration has been approved.

    Registration is FREE, so please register so you can participate instead of remaining a lurker....

    Please be certain that the location field is correctly filled out when you register. All registrations that appear to be bogus will be rejected. Which means that if your location field does NOT match the actual location of your registration IP address, then your registration will be rejected.

    Sorry about the strictness of this requirement, but it is necessary to block spammers and scammers at the door as much as possible.

shedding - what's needed?

R

revxus

New member
My snake is in blue eye cloud mode at the moment, not moving at all, I have the water bowl on one side of the cage, and the humidity is 60%, and temp. is at 78* at cool end, I have gravel as the substrate - anything special I need for it to shed properly? And how long will the process take?
 
anything special I need for it to shed properly
Click to expand...

Not gravel. I would highly suggest that you use another type of substrate. Gravel can have a drying effect and can potentially harbor bacteria. :)


To the real question:

It will take one to see whether the conditions are OK or need to be adjusted. The blue phase, clear phase and shed process will normally last ~week. The actual shed will only take a couple of minutes from start to finish.
 
My two hatchlings shed over night and I couldn't even tell they had gone through the blue eyed phase- to- clear (one is an Amel and I've heard they can be difficult to judge, and the other is a normal possibly okeetee), I just knew by timing it had to be soon it had been about 7 weeks since their first shed My concern was that maybe the conditions would not be right. Both sheds were perfect. All in one piece with holes where the eyes had been, you could see the mouths and the tail went down to a point, it was amazing. I guess I know the conditions are right!!
 
tina said:
All in one piece with holes where the eyes had been
Click to expand...

You probably just missed it, but snakes have clear scales over their eyes that they shed as well. If they don't shed (leaving actual holes in the skin) it can be a problem.
 
more on shedding

My cornsnake was on blue eye this morning, but this evening I checked him and he was on clear phase. The substrate I was recommended by the pet shop was alfalfa pellets, but it doesn't look natural. So I read a few books, and most of them said gravel would do fine. What is the best substrate? And do I need sphagnum moss for this period of time?
 
Newspaper, paper towels, aspen shavings, even repti-bark are all good (or at least better :)) choices for substrate.

I haven't needed moss or anything when my corns shed - they do fine with just the ambient humidity. If your house is dry, you might need it.
 
bought some chips

Bought some pine bedding and litter. All natural. I suppose this will do best, Bakersfield is usually very humid... I hope it does shed. This is my first snake. And thanks so much for the info.
 
I'd really consider another substrate than pine. Although the jury is still out on this substance, I don't think it is worth the risk. Aspen is a much better choice. Just my .02.
 
I headed over to Petsmart this morning to exchange the pine bedding for the Aspen - they both look similar and that's how I ended up w/ the pine bedding yesterday. Now I don't know if I should disturb the snake by placing the new bedding and ridding of the gravel at this point, because he's no longer in blue eye mode, but now his eyes are much clearer and still hanging in the hot end of the tank, being sluggish.

What should I do?
 
Don't worry about disturbing him while shedding, he will get over it.

Change the bedding since that is a top priority, offer a humid hiding spot then leave him alone to do his thing. :D

bmm
 
For humidity, do I need to mist the bedding? I've heard not to do so, but I do have a large water bowl but since he's about to shed he has just stayed in the hot spot which stays at about 87* and humidity is at 55%.

What will he benefit from the new bedding?

Concerned newbie. :confused:
 
Yes the bedding you were using (gravel or pine) is terrible for snakes.

You don't have to mist but you can a little bit. I suggest cutting a hole in a clean butter dish with lid on. Place moist paper towel inside and put this in the cage, its called a "humid hide" and your snake can use it to aid in shedding

bmm
 
It can be either or, or in the middle. In the warm spot, the moisture will evaporate faster, and germs can grow faster. If you put it on warm side just make sure to replace the wet paper a bit more often. but other than that it doesn't really matter.

bmm
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top