Tip of tail broke off and request advise...

[Rebecca_in_NY]

Good Evening All,

I am new to the forum and unfortunately, I had hoped my first thread would have been my intro with a pic or two but it is instead, a request for advise concerning an injury.

After doing a great deal of research, my son found a 6 week old male Sun Glow with a great disposition he just fell in love with from a breeder who also has a store, yesterday. He's an established eater and in good health with one exception, he had had an incomplete shed (not sure when as the breeder himself was at a show) and the tail tip had retained skin (the last two centimeters). We decided to purchase him despite of this and after giving him a day to settle into his new quarters, this evening we let him soak in a container with room temp water and a wash cloth for about 25 minutes. We removed him and as he calmly moved through my son's fingers, I ran the wash cloth over the last couple of inches of 'Dexter's' body gently. The skin had begun to roll off then suddenly, the last centimeter :nope: snapped off.

Needless to say, Dexter was not happy and my son and I both feel horrible. It did not bleed and I immediately dipped the wounded tip into a 50/50 mix of peroxide and water a few times then returned him to his viv.

Although the section that broke off was only one centimeter and extremely thin with Dexter being only 6 weeks old, is there anything else I should be doing? Will his injury be a cause of concern for future sheds? I already have a humid box with moss ready to go for future shed to be safe. Although not nearly as important but more for curiosity sake, will he have an obvious "stumpy" tail as he grows older?

I definitely plan to call the breeder tomorrow as I had planned to before this even happened as I feel he should be made aware of the fact that he did have a incomplete shed and I wanted to find out when his last shed was. It does irk me a bit as I feel this should not have gone un-noticed by a breeder (not surprised had it been a big-box chain).

Thanks in advance for any advise...

(I'd planned on taking some pics to post tonight but after this incident, I felt Dexter deserved some peace. Hopefully I'll have one or two tomorrow

Rebecca

 

[Jenstar]

The odds are good the tail was already dead when you soaked your snake... From what I've seen it's not uncommon for the shed on the tail to cut off circulation and kill the tail. As far as the tail looking stubby, I've seen a few snakes with the tips missing, it doesn't look bad it just doesn't have that fine tail tip anymore... I personally feel your little snake will live a happy and normal life the way it is, but I would contact your breeder and let them know what happened...
Congrats on your little guy, and I hope you enjoy the forum...

 

[Rebecca_in_NY]

Thanks so much for your reply Jenstar. You were right about the tip being dead already because I just got off the phone with the breeder and he checked Dexter's paperwork and advised that his last shed took place on September 8th. Being that the retained skin was stuck there for an entire month during what I would assume to be his most aggressive growth time, the tail tip had to have been dead. Although it doesn't make me any happier about the incident, at least I don't feel so guilty now. **On a side note, do you know roughly when we should expect him to go into blue again?

Anyway, I did ask him for his opinion as to whether or not he'll be a little "stumpy" as he grows older and he stated no, we'll never notice. I guess only time will tell.

Thanks again and I'm glad I had this website available for all the research prior (and now during) my son's ownership of Dexter because we never would've known #1: The extreme importance of checking and removing of an incomplete shed, #2: The method in which to remove said shed and #3: The treatment of the wound with the diluted peroxide.

We'll be taking some pics and putting up our intro's tonight!

 

[Rebecca_in_NY]

Tail must've been dead...

Thanks so much for your reply Jenstar. You were right about the tip being dead already because I just got off the phone with the breeder and he checked Dexter's paperwork and advised that his last shed took place on September 8th. Being that the retained skin was stuck there for an entire month during what I would assume to be his most aggressive growth time, the tail tip had to have been dead. Although it doesn't make me any happier about the incident, at least I don't feel so guilty now. **On a side note, do you know roughly when we should expect him to go into blue again?

Anyway, I did ask him for his opinion as to whether or not he'll be a little "stumpy" as he grows older and he stated no, we'll never notice. I guess only time will tell.

Thanks again and I'm glad I had this website available for all the research prior (and now during) my son's ownership of Dexter because we never would've known #1: The extreme importance of checking and removing of an incomplete shed, #2: The method in which to remove said shed and #3: The treatment of the wound with the diluted peroxide.

We'll be taking some pics and putting up our intro's tonight!

 

[Rebecca_in_NY]

Ack...sorry about the double post.

 

[Lennycorn]

"roughly when we should expect him to go into blue again?"

That varies with the snake but I say three week to a month. As the snake gets older the time span increases.

I wouldn't use peroxide on "open wounds"

 

[Nanci]

I think stubby tails are cute, as long as they aren't one's own fault and a memory of poor husbandry.

 

[Rebecca_in_NY]

"That varies with the snake but I say three week to a month. As the snake gets older the time span increases.

I wouldn't use peroxide on "open wounds"

Thanks for the estimate. I know it varies per individual but it's nice to have a general idea. Darn, I feel bad about the peroxide now...should I be using something more along the lines of bacitracin? I'd like to treat him again tonight (and the next few nights) to be on the safe side.

And Nanci, yes...if he's stays 'stubby', it'll definitely serve as a constant reminder to stay ever vigilant when it comes to proper humidity levels and always check them over post-shed. It's just ashame, poor guy, it never should've happened.

BTW, I think my son may be leaning more toward "Legs Diamond' for a name now, lol!

 

[measley]

I just wanted to say congrats on Dexter and kudos to you for doing research and knowing how to take care of your new boy!

Can't wait to see pics!

 

[Susielea]

I was recently brought a corn that had about 3 or 4 retained sheds in different stages, I successfully removed the sheds and managed to only lose the very end millimeter of tail, I was very surprised most of the tail was still alive.

The reason I've posted, is because I found this snake went into a rapid shed cycle and shed again within two weeks and then again 3 weeks later. This may be because the tail had quite deep ridges in it, from the tightness of the retained sheds and snakes in general will shed more frequently when they have skin injuries.

So don't be surprised if your new little one sheds sooner than you anticipate, it will just be helping heal itself and is perfectly normal

 

[jpccusa]

"roughly when we should expect him to go into blue again?"

That varies with the snake but I say three week to a month. As the snake gets older the time span increases.

I wouldn't use peroxide on "open wounds"

Is it ok to leave a humidity box available at all times since the time to shed varies so much?

 

[Lennycorn]

I was recently brought a corn that had about 3 or 4 retained sheds in different stages, I successfully removed the sheds and managed to only lose the very end millimeter of tail, I was very surprised most of the tail was still alive.

The reason I've posted, is because I found this snake went into a rapid shed cycle and shed again within two weeks and then again 3 weeks later. This may be because the tail had quite deep ridges in it, from the tightness of the retained sheds and snakes in general will shed more frequently when they have skin injuries.

So don't be surprised if your new little one sheds sooner than you anticipate, it will just be helping heal itself and is perfectly normal

Good point.

Was there a reason for the rapid sheds. mites, stress, growth spurt??

 

[Lennycorn]

Is it ok to leave a humidity box available at all times since the time to shed varies so much?

I wouldn't. you should be able to "time" your shake shed cycle.
I only use a humidity on my snakes when they were young and had a shed problem. The humidity level should be 40%-50% and higher IF they have problem shedding. But You can't tell if they have a shed problem until they shed.

 

[Susielea]

Good point.

Was there a reason for the rapid sheds. mites, stress, growth spurt??

If that was directed at me Lenny .....I believe the rapid sheds were because the tail, which had the most retained sheds on, felt and looked very ridged/crinkled after I got the sheds off and over the next three sheds it plumped back up again....not that corns tails are very thick anyway, especially when hatchlings/yearlings, but this little one's tail felt boney, after the shed removal and feels "normal" now....in fact she was returned to her new owner on Saturday, after a perfect shed last week

 

[Lennycorn]

Boy, I mess up that post (#13)

Anyway, Yes it was directed at you and thanks for the reply Susielea.

 

[Nanci]

Is it ok to leave a humidity box available at all times since the time to shed varies so much?

You can leave it and let it dry out in between sheds if it turns out your snake loves its humid hide. Choco, adult Cali king, always sleeps in hers, and I rarely wet it any more, and my tiny one, Jasmine, loves hers, too. It has two doors, one at ground level and one opposite that up near the roof. She is either in it, with her head peeking out, or under it, all the time.