Shedding question

Hi folks-
Frank went into the blue about 4-5 days ago, he took his first fuzzy on Thursday afternoon hungrily. He has become progressively reclusive and literally blind since, which I know is completely normal, but this morning when I awoke and checked on him, his coloration has seemed to return, as has his vision.
I find no clean shed in the viv, and he still seems a bit dull...I assume he is nearing a shed at this time, and I should leave him be? Would it be prudent for me to "soak" him, or just let nature alone to do her thing.
This will be his 1st shed in my captivity, and I am anxious to see that it goes uneventfully in one piece.
Thanks in advance for all of your insight.
-Dave \m/

amelanistic frank said:

Hi folks-
Frank went into the blue about 4-5 days ago, he took his first fuzzy on Thursday afternoon hungrily. He has become progressively reclusive and literally blind since, which I know is completely normal, but this morning when I awoke and checked on him, his coloration has seemed to return, as has his vision.
I find no clean shed in the viv, and he still seems a bit dull...I assume he is nearing a shed at this time, and I should leave him be? Would it be prudent for me to "soak" him, or just let nature alone to do her thing.
This will be his 1st shed in my captivity, and I am anxious to see that it goes uneventfully in one piece.
Thanks in advance for all of your insight.
-Dave \m/

Click to expand...

Yep, that's all normal sounding. Some snakes clear up for longer than others. It's not uncommon for mine to be clear for about 5 days before the actual shed. As far as soaking goes, I wouldn't bother. For one, it'd be a pain in the butt, and secondly, your snake probably won't like it. Since it's getting cooler and less humid now, you might want to either mist daily or put a 'damp hide' in the viv with him (when it's the middle of summer with 90% humidity everywhere, you don't have to do things like this).

Really, the only reason you'd ever need to soak your snake is if the shed is bad, but even then the snake can probably get it off by itself.

A bit O/T but I'm curious to see what people who own bigger snakes have to say - at work, I've only ever had to soak our boids to get bad sheds the rest of the way off. Are corns more likely to do this on their own?

My corns are a little over 3 feet. In the summer they always get their shed off completely but in the winter with the heat on in my house they have bad sheds. I usually soak them for about an hour and the skin usuaaly just falls off.

During a bad shed though they don't try to get the skin off. Mine usually just leaves it so I started using "shed aid" and soaking. Everthing seems to work good then.

I honestly am considering the idea that he may have shed. he is very bright, shiny and active now today.
I cant find a shed anywhere. I know it is unlikely that he ate it, but is it at all possible? Perhaps covering his tracks?
-Dave \m/

he hasn't shed yet. I've seen lizards eat sheds before, but not snakes. And usually when mine sheds (almost always at night by the way), it's usually stuck to EVERYTHING in the viv that he could rub on, so you'll definately see it unless your snake is a hatchling - then the shed may be buried in the substrate.

I actually have a picture somewhere of a corn eating its shed - I think someone posted it on here, and I saved it as I couldn't believe my eyes! However as TrpnBils said, it is very unlikely indeed. My guess is you'll find a skin in the next couple of days, if it isn't somewhere in the viv already.

Regarding the 'soaking' issue, I've done this twice with my five footer only after incomplete sheds. Even then I've left him at least for a day or two, to give him chance to finish it on his own. Which he's not managed obviously, hence havign to give him a bath!

Franks viv floor substrate is reptile cage carpet, and I have checked it top to bottom, there is no sign of a shed anwhere...
He is very active today, and I am really curious now to see if/when he sheds.
It seems I have been blessed with a wonderful snake. He seemingly could't be happier, nor could I.
-Dave \m/

Humidity Cup

Have you tried to make him a humidity cup yet? Mine loves his when he is ready to shed

what do you mean by a "humidity cup"?
-Dave \m/

same thing as a moist hide or damp hide...just different names. Basically it's some kind of enclosed hide that won't allow for much evaporation, and you put damp paper towels/moss inside of it, and the snake can go into it whenever it wants.

The best kind of thing to use is some kind of plastic container just because an access hole can be cut into it easily, it's nonporous so the water won't soak in, and it's reusable. This approach lets you effectively raise the humidity if necessary, but you're not raising the humidity of the entire viv. As you know, keep a corn in a wet environment for long periods of time isn't a good idea. The only downside is that it's a bit of a pain in the butt to do, but you only have to make it once!

Well looks like I wont need to do a moist hide-
he just shed in one clean piece!
I will try to post pics tomorrow, my camera is charging
-Dave \m/