So my snake has been eating (Has eaten twice now since the struggle of getting him to finally eat). He has also had his first shed. I noticed the other day when I took him out to spot clean that he has some shed stuck on the tip of his tail. I was gonna feed him again today but I want to try and get the stuck shed off first. Any tips for how I would go about this dont want to hurt the poor little guy.
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Stuck shed on tip of tail
- Thread starter smale492
- Start date
I'd just keep dabbing the tail end with a damp cloth for a few minutes then slowly let the snake slither completely through a damp cloth or towel whilst applying very gentle pressure . Any pieces of dried skin on the sides or tail end will come off on the towel ..
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I tried having him slither through a wet paper towel while applying some pressure but it didnt seem to do any good.
Sounds like the skin just needs more softening , You can soak a pillowcase and let him crawl in it , tie the end up loosely and let him slither inside it in his viv for an hour or so . The skin could come off I the pillowcase but if not repeat the first suggestion and let it slither through a damp , rough textured towel applying very gentle pressure . I'd be surprised if that doesn't sort the problem out .
DollysMom
It never gets old!
That may be very dangerous. And for an hour? Especially dangerous. I have heard of water swelling the fibers of the pillowcase and cutting off the air to the snake. The outcome was far worse than stuck shed.
What Nanci referenced is safe and effective.
Really ?
It doesn't sound dangerous to be honest , guess you could try it for 30 minutes . It's not something I've tried myself but I've seen it suggested hundreds of times in many forums over the years .
DollysMom
It never gets old!
Yeah really. This has been well discussed in the ball python community, though I can't think of a reason it would be less dangerous for a corn snake. On the other hand I have safely used Nanci's method on a snake of 8 grams.
Of course, you should never just leave a snake in water or in a wet pillowcase.
Of course, you should never just leave a snake in water or in a wet pillowcase.
Interesting poll ....
http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showthread.php?104484-Removing-stuck-shed-Methods-and-the-dangers
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http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showthread.php?104484-Removing-stuck-shed-Methods-and-the-dangers
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The above link doesn't seem to show the POLL results for some reason , just the comments but maybe this link will work better ..
http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showthread.php?104484-Removing-stuck-shed-Methods-and-the-dangers
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http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showthread.php?104484-Removing-stuck-shed-Methods-and-the-dangers
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blacktip
Member
Interesting results. One of our yearlings recently had a bad shed and I gave him a bath in a clear tub with just enough water to almost cover his back for 5 minutes and then ran him through a damp towel and it all came right off. One of my babies had just the tail stuck like the OP and it came off with just a damp towel.
Jees ..... You're brave
Admitting to SOAKING your snake !!!
In some parts it's cause for a public flogging
I've actually done it myself in the past , with 100% success rate but some people in some forums will hunt you down for even suggesting it ..
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DollysMom
It never gets old!
I'm guessing those parts are in the U.K.?
My vet's care sheet recommends bathing snakes. Except for stuck shed I've never felt the need, but a 15 to 20 minute room temp supervised "soak" on a towel in a container is perfectly acceptable as is a swim in a "snake proofed" clean bathtub as far as I know (make sure any opening is sealed, including the faucet).
I learn something every day!
My vet's care sheet recommends bathing snakes. Except for stuck shed I've never felt the need, but a 15 to 20 minute room temp supervised "soak" on a towel in a container is perfectly acceptable as is a swim in a "snake proofed" clean bathtub as far as I know (make sure any opening is sealed, including the faucet).
I learn something every day!
Na , UK isn't so bothered but it's frowned upon my many in the Ball Pythons Forum which is an American forum I believe ..
DollysMom
It never gets old!
If you can find it, link please? If it is the poll thread the majority do soak their snakes, though it is a small sample. I didn't see any major dissent, but I may have missed it. :shrugs: