View Single Post
Old 04-04-2008, 07:48 PM   #4
patm1313
If he is shedding, all of his colors will dull out and will have a pink or blue cast to them. This phase is refered to as "being in the blue". You can expect him shed in anywhere from 4-7 days from the time you first see him in the blue. The best tip I can give for aa sucessful shed is to build a shed box. A shed box is basically a hide that is closed in an retains humidity. The corns will go in there, and the extra humiddity will help the corn shed. My instructions for making one are as follows:

1. Find a suitable container, with a lid. The size should be just like hide should be, not to large for your corn but not too small. Making it too large will make it feel less "safe" to a corn, and making it too small will be uncomfortable or hard for the corn to use. I would suggest using a translucent or opaque container to make the snake fell secure. Also, using any material like cardboard, paper or anything of the like that will absorb water is not too much of a good idea. I don't see paper like material being bad if you need something disposable for the week that your corn is shedding, but I like to keep the shed box and re-use it. The lid is necessary to hold in the humidity. If you find the perfect container, but don't have a lid, you can probably make one.

2. Find a suitable interior "substrate" for use in the shed box. I use cut-to-fit (not shredded) paper towels, as they are cheap, but I have heard of spaghnum moss being useful as well. using a substrate like aspen isn't going to do you any good, it will lock in the moisture you give it.

3. Cut a hole in the side of the shed box big enough to easily allow the corn to enter and exit, yet not too big, as it will let out excess humidity.

4. Fill the shedbox with your substrate of choice, and put the lid on.

Congrats, you have a shed box. I would suggest making two, placing one on the warm side and one on the cold side of you tank. The first shed I had with my corn was horrible. The shed was not anywhere near complete, and had to be manually removed in some places. The next shed I put two shed boxes in and what do you know, my corn had his first perfect shed.