Shedding too often!

[brindle]

I got my snake this past Valentines Day, she shed at the end of February. She then shed at the end of March and is now in blue again. Why would an adult snake (between 4.5-5 feet) shed so frequently? Is this something to be concerned about? Also, her shed have been really bad... the two first sheds were two big pieces and the third was a bunch of little pieces (even though I gave her a humid hide). She is fed a jumbo sized mouse every two weeks.
Any help would be great!

 

[TyeW]

Check for mites. Snakes will shed more often when they have mites

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[smigon]

Two questions:

What are you using to heat the viv, a UTH or a heat lamp?

What does she weigh, and has her weight fluctuated in the last few months?

 

[brindle]

Check for mites. Snakes will shed more often when they have mites

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What do mites look like? How do I search for them?

 

[brindle]

Two questions:

What are you using to heat the viv, a UTH or a heat lamp?

What does she weigh, and has her weight fluctuated in the last few months?

I'm using a UTH, regulated, thermostat. I don't know about her weight, I don't have a scale to weigh her.
She WAS being fed every week-ten days where I got her from but I started every two weeks as I didn't want her to get fat.

 

[smigon]

I'm using a UTH, regulated, thermostat. I don't know about her weight, I don't have a scale to weigh her.
She WAS being fed every week-ten days where I got her from but I started every two weeks as I didn't want her to get fat.

That's good, what is the temp on the hot side on the glass under the substrate?

Definitely get a good scale that measures in grams. Here is the one I use, it is great! You want to record all information you can, I do it on feeding day and tell what the weight is, what they ate, what they didn't, if they are in blue, if they shed, and anything else out of the ordinary.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00FJFJDGS/ref=oh_details_o04_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Good luck!

 

[brindle]

But what would be a reason for shedding this frequently.

 

[smigon]

What is the temp on the hot side on the glass under the substrate?

Getting a scale and weighing her will help solve the mystery, but not right away. If she is gaining or losing weight it would cause her to shed, and if the temps are off it could trigger it too.

We just need to find out that info.

 

[brindle]

May I ask why heat or weight loss would provoke shedding?

 

[hypnoctopus]

I'm not sure if losing weight would cause her to shed, but gaining weight definitely would. Corn snakes will also shed more often if they have an injury.

 

[brindle]

She has no injury that I can see. Although when I got her she had a scale on the top of her head that was in bad condition.... that's all been healed up now.
The pad is at 85-89F.
I know you are all advocates of UTH's (and I respect your experience) but I'm not having any luck with them.
I think I may just switch her over to a heat lamp. My previous snake thrived with a heating lamp... I never had an under tank heater. He shed in one piece, he ate great, digested great, pooped normal. The only time I've ever had an issue is with heat pads/rocks. I also never had any fires or even risks of one. When the bulb blows, it's as easy as keeping an extra bulb. My one bulb lasted me for 6 years or so and only blew because of a faulty power bar just recently.
I think I may try converting her to the heat lamp and see if that makes a difference. She honestly shouldn't be getting bigger... the previous owner fed her one mouse per 10 days and I feed her one mouse every 14 because I though she was a tad thick.
When she has shed, I will look for mites or any possible injury.
If she continues to have problems, I will take her to an exotics vet. Thanks all!

 

[drybgerg]

IME a heat lamp won't help with the shed problems, it will only make it worse by lowering the humidity.

Weight loss can provoke shed the same as gaining weight would. Dry shed and weight loss could point to dehydration (where weight records really come in handy).

I've also never heard of temperature affecting frequency of shed, unless it causing stress leading to refused meals which in turn would lengthen the shed cycle. Looking forward to getting some more thoughts on temp shed relationship.

Next time she goes blue give her a humid hide, could help with shedding in pieces.

Without feeding and weight records we're really flying blind. I encourage everyone to keep good records. I keep a record of snakes weight before each meal, length of snake (do about once a month or so), blue phase, shed complete, weight of feeder fed and if refused meal or not.

 

[smigon]

The pad is at 85-89F.
I know you are all advocates of UTH's (and I respect your experience) but I'm not having any luck with them.
I never had an under tank heater.

Okay, I am confused. You say the UTH is at 85-89° which is perfect.

Yes, we are advocates of UTHs but you aren't having luck with them (but like I said, the temps are perfect), and the next sentence you say you have never had one!

Can you clear this up? I am missing something!

 

[Christen]

If she had an old injury that could be the cause of the rapid shed cycles. If it was visable when you got her but better now then I would imagine the rapid shed cycles will slow down.

Now on to the poor shedding. Heat lamps can dry out the air and this can cause poor shedding. I would offer her a moist hide with damp moss or increase the humidity in her tank.

Another thing to consider for all the shed cycles. Do we know for sure she is a girl? Has she been bred or every housed with another snake. We are looking at her sheds starting at the beginning of breeding season and girls shed when they are ovulating and getting ready to lay. So that is another thing to take into consideration.