Little scare, but I think it's okay . . .

We fed Monty 2 pinkies on Wednesday night. He gobbled them up and I hadn't seen him since. I was starting to get worried about him tho, and this morning I noticed that he'd poo'd during the night and there were tunnels in the aspen. I thought that was a good sign, so I went to get him out of his favorite hide, a paper towel roll. Now, I want to take it out because he always goes in it and it's hard to get him out!! I usually tip the roll down on the side he's on, slide him out enough to catch a loop and pull him out the rest of the way. I can tell it annoys him, but he's a pretty good natured snake and he gets over it real quick, but still. It just seems traumatic, however I could wait forever to try to get him out when he's in a different hide. Now usually when I get him out as soon as I move the tube he starts slithering around, but he didn't. I lifted it up and he was laying coiled up and very still. I started to get nervous . . . so I gently slid him out. He was rather limp and sort of fell into my hand. My heart stopped, but then he slowly started moving and I realized that his eyecaps are blue, so it looks like we are headed for his 1st shed in my care!

However, I am wondering if this is normal behavior for a snake who is getting ready to shed? He just laid in my hands and did not slither around like he usually does, however he did perk up considerably. I thought it was cute cause he put his nose up against my thumb and kept sticking his toungue out, like they do, but I'd swear it was almost affectionately. I did NOT mess with him much, I showed my kids his eyecaps and then put him up. I am glad that I spot cleaned and refilled his water before I took him out, so I didn't have to disturb him further. I put him back in the tank and he went straight into a hide.

Hoping this IS normal behavior for a snake who is about to shed (please tell me it is!!!) . . . I am also wondering about temps and humidity. 1st of all the humidity in the tank is about 40%, is that good or do I need to do anything? Also I'm concerned that his temps are low, they were usually about 75 low and 85 high during the day, and about 4 degress lower during the night. We are having a cold snap here and his tank has only been getting up to about 73/83 during the day, haven't checked at night. Is that too cold? I was considering removing some of the substrate today and try to heat it up (it didn't get cold til after I fed him the other day and I didn't want to disturb him). So should I try to get the temps up, or just leave him alone?

Any thoughts on this would be appreciated. I would like for this 1st shed to go well!!! Also, what should I expect from the process?

Thanks!!!

A snake's hide is where it should want to be if it's healthy! 72 is a little on the cold side for good digestion and appetite. I have a large collection and don't handle any one specimen very much, but do make it a point to keep handling to a minimum after meals and when shedding.

Yeah, I think that's fairly normal. Sienna gets pretty lathargic during her blue phase, but she is still reponsive when touched. They really can't see very well when they are in blue, so its probably just easier to stay hidden and out of sight of any predators they may not see coming... So Monty will probably just lay low til he's ready to shed.

The temps seem fine. I know CAV reccommends keeping the warm side around 83. Personally I keep mine closer to 85, but I'm sure both work just fine.

The first shed is always so exciting! Make sure the humidity is high enough so that you can have a perfect first shed to brag about to us in a few days.

Is 40% high enough? Actually right now it's 42%, with the water bowl on the cold side of the tank, I could easily move it over if I need to raise it. But I don't want to overdo it either.

I'm glad to hear that the lethargy is normal. He sure gave me a scare there at first!

Thanks! He does have other hides, it's just that getting him out of that roll seems a little traumatic so of course he goes in there the most. If he went in the others I could just pick up the hide and lift him out but nooooooo . . . :shrugs: Do you think it'd be more important to get the temps up by removing substrate or leaving him alone til he sheds? If getting the temps up is worth bugging him now I'll do it.

peep_827 said:

Thanks! He does have other hides, it's just that getting him out of that roll seems a little traumatic so of course he goes in there the most. If he went in the others I could just pick up the hide and lift him out but nooooooo . . . :shrugs: Do you think it'd be more important to get the temps up by removing substrate or leaving him alone til he sheds? If getting the temps up is worth bugging him now I'll do it.

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Personally, I'd leave him alone till he sheds. Stress is compounded when they're in the blue. Take your paper towel holder and cut it in half so that the substrate is the bottom of the hide. Then you just have to lift it off him.Plus it will be warmer on the substrate. After he sheds, of course.

Your humidity level should be fine where it is at 42%. My house is kinda dry and it hovers around 35-40%. The last few sheds have been fine for me except for the one snow I have. It could be 80% humididty in her cage and it still wouldn't matter.

hmmm this is interesting! how can you tell the humidity in your cage? i never check mine.... neither the temp.... they are doing just fine...... :shrugs:

Oh well, I was wondering why everyone recommended paper towel tubes as hides when it's so hard to get the snake out of! :laugh:

After Monty's shed I will definately cut it and make it like a little hut :dancer: !

BabyBlueEyes said:

hmmm this is interesting! how can you tell the humidity in your cage? i never check mine.... neither the temp.... they are doing just fine...... :shrugs:

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I have a hygrometer gauge on the inside of the viv.