Repeated shedding in short time?

[Shamelessly_Aly]

Hello all,

Last week was my birthday and my present was that I was "allowed" to own a snake. (I am an adult, but my boyfriend was very much against them.)

I purchased a classic corn snake at a local PetSmart (the 23rd), and named him Teth. Now, when I brought Teth home he had spots of skin left all over his tail. I thought he had gone through an incomplete shed while there, so a few times this past week I soaked him in a warm bowl of water and had him crawl through a moist wash cloth to hopefully help the loose shed rub off.

At first, I though it was helping, but closer to the end of this week it started getting worse. Then, I noticed two days ago that my corn snake wasn't as social as he normally is. Since he is new, and I'm a worried owner, I decided to check up on him.

Sure enough, yesterday, he was hazy and his scales were dull, as if he was getting ready to shed! Today, I checked on him again, and sure enough his eyes are milky.

Was Teth no properly cared for at the pet store? Did they leave the leftover shed on him this entire time and now he's getting ready to shed again? He doesn't seem unhealthy, and didn't when I purchased him. He ate two days after being here (when I purchased him they told me he would be due).

He hasn't acted ill at all this past week. It's normal for a corn snake to hide when it's getting ready to shed. Should I be concerned?

 

[Shamelessly_Aly]

I found this article really helpful with my concern... It's funny how I exhaust every search and find something as soon as I inquire to the masses about it. I guess it's not uncommon for hatchlings that come from pet stores to have problem shedding the first few times it sheds. This article is very informative for anyone with the same issue.

 

[Nanci]

Remember not to feed him now until after he's shed. You can help him have a better shed by lightly misting his enclosure, and placing a piece of plastic wrap loosely on the top of the viv to keep the humidity in.

 

[zorro]

I thought he had gone through an incomplete shed while there, so a few times this past week I soaked him in a warm bowl of water and had him crawl through a moist wash cloth to hopefully help the loose shed rub off.

Just a little side note, you said "a warm bowl of water". A warm bowl of water to us is scalding to a snake. Any water for a snake or other reptile should be room temp. or what ever temp he/she is living in.
Hope everything works out
John

 

[Nythain]

Just a little side note, you said "a warm bowl of water". A warm bowl of water to us is scalding to a snake. Any water for a snake or other reptile should be room temp. or what ever temp he/she is living in.
Hope everything works out
John

This isn't entirely true. Humans have a very complex sense of touch and temperature interpretation. There are many variables that go into effect to determine the temperature something feels. It's entirely possible to interpret 80-85F water as "scalding hot".

But, back to the matter at hand. To answer the question posed in the title of the thread, sometimes a snake will shed within very close intervals for numerous reasons. Many times a snake will force a shed before brumation. They have also been known to force frequent sheds to heal from superficial wounds. It's really hard to tell how long ago the last shed was unless you have specific documentation, and like I said, there's at least a few different things that could cause frequent shedding. As long as the little guy seems overall healthy, active, decent weight, eating without issue then I wouldn't stress it. If it was the pet stores bad, then hey, at least he's with you now and not them anymore!