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in shed and hiding...

Acceber

Acceber

"Tu was du willst."
hi everyone...this may be a silly question, but I'm a bit worried. One of my snakes is in shed and has been hiding for the past 3 days. I know that this is normal behavior, but what has me worried is that he is in a hide where I can't get to him if something was wrong (ie. brilles sticking, half a shed staying on, etc.). Should I be worried about this, or do you think it's fine? And should I get rid of a hide where I can't (in an emergency) get to my snake?

Oh yeah...the temps are 80 on the warm side, and 75 on the cool. Humidity stays around 50, with a slight drop when I'm at work and not home to mist. He hasn't eaten since last Tuesday, and a fuzzie or pinkie won't lure him out.
 
Hi Rebecca. He sounds fine at the moment - you're right that he's behaving as we'd expect. He'll probably come out of the hide to shed, as they need to rub themselves against things to help the process. Mine seem to prefer stretching out as they shed and usually do a couple of laps of the viv. I think at this stage it's best to leave him in peace until you know you have a problem.

Some snakes aren't interested in eating whilst they're shedding, so don't worry that he's not reacting to the fuzzies/pinkies. One way of luring him out would be to offer him a shedding tub - just a small plastic tub filled with damp, crumpled paper towel. They often appreciate additional humidity and he might find this preferable to his current hiding place.

As for a hide that you can't get him out of - yes, I'd replace that with something that allows you easy access, once he decides to leave.
 
thanks Kel! I won't worry as much now that I know it is normal, and I will get rid of the hide as soon as he emerges! :) (I'll also try the shed tub if he doesn't shed within the next few days...)
:cheers:
 
Just a side note...it is not a good idea to feed while shedding anyhow...

Shedding already stresses the snake...hate to have a regurge...
But a snake that is about to shed doesn't have the elasticity it would normally and a prey item that you would normally feed your snake can get lodged in their throat.

I have never witnessed this, but I do know a few people that it has happened to...

I usually wait and feed the same day the snake sheds, if they have gone past their scheduled feeding date. They tend to be voracious after spending a week in a warm hide...
 
But a snake that is about to shed doesn't have the elasticity it would normally and a prey item that you would normally feed your snake can get lodged in their throat.
Click to expand...

wow first time I have heard that.. Where did you get your information from if I may ask? I would like to read up on that.


out of my snakes only one eats in shed and that is my Amel. But I can't tell when he is in shed, only he knows :)
 
I am trying to find the thread (I believe it was on a different site) that had this occurance.

Most shedding references say that if you do offer a meal...make it a smaller than normal meal, because the lump of prey can hinder shedding...

When I find the thread I will post it.

Makes sense though...a snake in ecdysis is more or less a snake inside a leather sack...
The drying skin does NOT stretch as it should...

Let me keep looking.
 
When I originally brought home my little snow corn I was told she would not need a uth or a heat light or any humidity...I am pretty sure that was wrong. Crystal went into shed for the first time and from what I could tell she shed the skin on her head fist and whithout humidity that was all that came off. I unfortunately did not see she was shedding and tried to feed her. She ate it, it got stuck high up in her throat and she regurged. I noticed the tight skin and immediately put a uth under her water dish and created enough humidity to let her easily shed the rest of her skin and she has been fine ever since.

There's the quote...
the thread addy is http://www.alexhuereptiles.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=1594&highlight=stuck+throat

I am still searching, I though the Vet on that particular site made a remark regarding this occurance.
 
thanks everyone...

Cian finally came out of hiding and shed last night (and I took out the trouble hide), but it was only a partial shed. I don't understand why this was (temps and humidity were good as far as I know), but I used a wet paper towel and gently got the rest off. I then put him in his feeding tank with a fuzzy, but he still hasn't eaten. Could this be just from stress? (I only got him a week ago) and should I wait until Tues. when I'll be feeding my other two or should I try to feed him again tomorrow?
 
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