A half shed snake

[daufoi]

I recently bought my first snake (aztec corn). She's only a couple months old and she just started to shed. As normal, her colors went dull, her eyes turned cloudy and blue, and then cleared up again. A couple days ago the skin started to come off, in several pieces rather than one. About one third of her body shed and 2/3 of has not (the tail end still look cloudy). Also, there are some loose pieces of skin which I help her remove by wrapping her in a damp paper towel and have her wiggle out of it. However, I always come back to see more loose skin. I have tried turning up the humidity, one night I got it as high as 77%. The temperature is in the high 70s to mid 80s. She refuses to soak because she dislikes the water. Luckily, her appetite is no wear near wanning. I'm thinking I should just let her work her way out of it.

Anyone have any suggestions/advice? Anyone seen this before?

Thanks.

 

[daufoi]

correction: her tail end is dull, not cloudy

 

[MegF.]

You definitely need to get the rest of the shed off the tail tip, or it will die off and you'll be left with a stubby tail. My amel came to me with a tail tip already damaged and each shed was very difficult. The odd nobby piece finally came off, and now I have no troubles. I'd work to get off that last piece. Next shed, make sure you either mist the viv daily, provide a moist shed box, or simply soak a couple of pieces of paper towel and make a little tent out of it. Wet it each day with a spray bottle, and I'd be willing to bet that your snake will camp out under it.

 

[utne2K]

hi

From the book, The Corn Snake Manual,
'First try the easy route of leaving the snake overnight in a sackful of wet crumpled newspapers or rags so it can crawl through them and possibly loosen the the old skin by itself'

The book also tells of stubby tails if the skin doesn't come off the tip.
They also say to examine the eyes to make sure the skin came off.

I hope this helps. I'm a new owner and and so maybe I'm reading way to much at once but the above book is well written and informative. I'd suggest buying it if you can.

Good luck.

 

[Jessicat]

Also, there are some loose pieces of skin which I help her remove by wrapping her in a damp paper towel and have her wiggle out of it. However, I always come back to see more loose skin.

Use a wet towel.. it will grip better to the dead skin. Hold the towel around her firmly, and let her push her way out of it as many times as nessisary.
<b>Make sure it all comes off</b>
Good luck

 

[daufoi]

I tried spraying paper towels and my snake stayed away from it. I also tried spraying the terrarium in general and she found the driest spot and laid in it (i think she really dislikes water . I do have that book utne2k so I tried putting her in a sweater box with wet paper towels. The humidity is up to 90%. Is this too much? Will it cause respiratory problems?

 

[utne2K]

asdf

I wouldn't think one night would hurt. I don't think the book would advise anything dangerous to its health.
A warm dry spot in its cage for the morning might be good.

 

[daufoi]

I left her overnight in a sweater box that reached well over 90% humidity, didn't work. Called the breeder who sold it to me and said soak her in for 30 minutes, didn't work. Don't know what else to do.

The problem is not that there's loose skin. She shed 1/3 of her skin and the other 2/3 is just a dull color but not loose.

Don't know what to do for her.

 

[utne2K]

Wait?

If there is no actual loose skin, I think I'd just wait for the next shed especially since I wouldn't know what else to do. :shrugs:
Sorry I can't be more helpful.