Reptile & Amphibian Forums

One of my corn snakes did not shed a whole shed this time and still has her/his tail with it's old skin. I know hw to take it off. But if it doesn't come ff the first cuuple of time with the towel. then what do I do. My main question though. Is...how long does it take before it rots???

Its most likely going to cut off circulation, cut the tail before it rots. I couldn't give you a time frame of when scales rot. It depends on the environment. Rot is more likely from lack of cleaning, moist substrate.
To assist in the shed, see previous post. Mist nightly, partially cover tank to keep moisture in. You can also add a humidity box during shed times. You would not want to keave it in all the time because some snakes may stay on it too much and get the scale rot. Just in case you dont know, a humidity box/hide is a container (plastic shoe box or similar) with a whole cut in the lid. Fill partial way with vermiculite, get moist, place in warm end of tank or on heat pad.
There is also a product called shed aide. I really haven't had much luck with it. i find water is the best solution.
Hope this helped
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------Misty-------
We have enough youth....How about a fountain of smart?

Thank you so much. Tonight I am going to put some books over the part of the tank and move the water over the heated area. The reason I ask this question. Is because I had a death in the family and had to go to Florida for a week. She shed sometime with then that week. I know she was ready to shed before I left, because she was SUPER foggy. I'm just getting a little worried now. I will try and see if I can make a lil box for my two cornsnakes so this wont happen again, because it really scares me. Any other info would be GREAT!!!

Just don't forget that if you leave the moist hide in all the time, the snakes might get scale rot. I just add mine on problem shedding snakes. Jimmy also mentioned putting a moist towel in so the snakes could rub off the skin. Having something rough for the snakes to rub on is always good too. I have pieces of wood, and use aspen which is rough enough to help them rub off the skin.
Good luck
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------Misty-------
We have enough youth....How about a fountain of smart?

Just don't forget that if you leave the moist hide in all the time, the snakes might get scale rot. I just add mine on problem shedding snakes. Jimmy also mentioned putting a moist towel in so the snakes could rub off the skin. Having something rough for the snakes to rub on is always good too. I have pieces of wood, and use aspen which is rough enough to help them rub off the skin.
Good luck
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------Misty-------
We have enough youth....How about a fountain of smart?

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Yah...I will only put it in when it looks like they are fixing to shed. And keep it in untill they do. I will also put a moist towel in there too. I did not see that. I will do anything for my babies to shed right. I do have a couple of things for both of them to rub on. Since they are both still very little. Snowflake has two diffrent size cocoa nut huts in her tank and a tree looking thing. She also has a water bowl that is made out of rock, Madiera does too. Madiera also has a rock hide, and two tree looking things,lol. And they both have aspen shaving too. I will keep you all updated...thanks.

Is she in any pain??? I sure hope not!!!

If there is just part of the skin left and it just happened, it shouldn't be more than itchy. It is when it is ignored or not noticed, that it will hurt them as they grow and the skin does not, it restricts them. I am sure that hurts. Someone mentioned that part of their snakes tail was cut off because of a piece of skin that did not come off, not too long ago. Again, I am not an expert, though. I am sure others will have good advice
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------Misty-------
We have enough youth....How about a fountain of smart?

Thanks so much for the info. Anyone elses input is GLADLY welcome!!!

Last night I covered some of her lid, and put some damp paper towels in her tank. Most the time she slept undernieth them,lol. But that's fine with me,lol. I got up this morning and it was still on her. So this morning I got a warm wet towel and ran her through it a couple of times. IT CAME OFF,lol!!! I'm so happy,lol. Now she isn't uncomfortable any more. The next time they look like they are fixing to shed I am going to put one of those boxes in there for them. Thank you everyone that helped me and gave me information!

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------Misty-------
We have enough youth....How about a fountain of smart?

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**********Misty**********
I don't suffer from insanity.... I enjoy every minute of it!

I was having trouble with keeping the humidity up in my enclosures. 2 of my 4 corns would have incomplete sheds. I would then soak them in a critter keeper with a little warm water in it. I would keep them in for about 15 minutes.I would then take a sweat sock and turn it inside out so the rougher side was on the outside. I would put it on like a mitten and start letting the snake slither thruogh my hands. The last time my butter shed, it looked like a complete shed. Since he's a light color I must have missed a piece on the tip of his tail. About a week or two later I noticed the tip of his tail was black. When I picked him up and was examining it, he squirmed and the very, very tip fell off. There was a tiny drop of blood but I cleaned it and put ointment on (with the advice from this board). It seems like it's healing but I don't know what it will look like as he gets older. I've since corrected the humidity problem. I suggest that you try to get the remaining skin off as soon as possible using one or more of the suggestions here. I remember reading about the sweat sock tip in one of my corn snake books, I don't recall which one or I would credit them. Hope this helps.....

John

This helps a lot. I fed her a couple of hours ago. How long do you think I should wait untill I try some of those thing?

And I did cover the cage lid some and put some damp towels in there. The humidity was 45 an hour ago...and now it is 80. I hope I can get it off soon.

You would probably want to wait 24 hours after feeding to handle her too much. The humidity tricks you can try when ever.
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------Misty-------
We have enough youth....How about a fountain of smart?

Ok...I asked that. Because I read on here before...someone said that as long as you are easy with her. You could handle them a couple hours after feeding. I didn't really believe that. Not calling anyone a lier. I am just afraid to do so because I would like for her to keep all her food in side of her,lol.

I'm sorry if I scared you with my story. I would give her some time to digest a bit before handling. In my case I noticed it about 2 weeks after his shed. Depending on how much is on her tail., maybe you could take a damp towel or wet your fingers and gently try to peel it off. Good luck. Keep us posted.

John

I'm sorry if I scared you with my story. I would give her some time to digest a bit before handling. In my case I noticed it about 2 weeks after his shed. Depending on how much is on her tail., maybe you could take a damp towel or wet your fingers and gently try to peel it off. Good luck. Keep us posted.

John

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Well...it has been about a week. She has about 1 inch still stuck on her. Tomorrow I will try the soaking and sock thing. I am also thinking she has more on her under side. Because her shed were missing some of those too.I love her a lot and just hate having the feeling that she is and has been uncomfortable for about a week. I just want it off, and I am sure she wants it off too.

I have lightly handled my corns many times after feeding. You just don't want to stress them out and make them regurgitate. I am really careful not to touch the area around the bulge, and handle lightly, like I said. If it were my snake in your situation, I'd mist the cage, jump up the humidity (like you did), maybe try the box. Tomorrow if there is no improvement try the soaking and/or the sock trick. Thats just me, and if there is no discoloration (like the black mentioned by the other poster).
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------Misty-------
We have enough youth....How about a fountain of smart?

I don't know about the soaking so soon after a feeding. My candy cane (which is the other I had to soak) would go ballistic in the water. Depending on your snakes personality, it may really stress her out. Like the last poster said, I would try the towels first and the soaking in a few days.

John

Ya, I agree. I was just mentioning that I have not really had a problem. But go with my first post. It does not appear to be an emergency situation yet. And it really does matter per snakes' personality. The last thing you want to do is add stress and end up making her regurg
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------Misty-------
We have enough youth....How about a fountain of smart?

Ya...I will prob do that first anyways. That will prob be the last thing I do. She doesn't go crazy in water like Snowflake does. But I can tell she doesn't like it.

I discovered a little trick that may help you. I use the microfiber cleaning cloths for removal of any stuck shed. They are soft like a washcloth or sock, but they really catch on those tiny shed pieces and take them off easily.

I've taken to using them in my humid hides as well. Just crawling over them is enough to make for a good shed. I get mine at Bed, Bath and Beyond, but I'm sure lots of household supply stores would have them.

Good luck!

Leslie