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Need some advise

Sloas Mar 14, 2006 08:28 PM

I have an 05 female hypo that went into shed right after I purchased her at the Columbus show last month,eyes went blue and everything but she never removed the old skin at all.This was about 2 weeks ago and not only has she not shed the old shed she has went into the blue again(eyes blue again yesterday)the temps are 95 on the hot and 84 on the cool end the humidity its nearly raining in there since her eyes went blue the first time.OH its 88% humidity.I have owned several snakes from boas to large pythons and have never seen this.Is the humidity too high?Thanks for any replies.JOHN!

Replies (6)

ajfreptiles Mar 14, 2006 08:48 PM

I have seen snakes do this a few times...it may be the stress of environment change or something else but just keep the humidity up....Is that 95 degree hot spot from a light or belly heat? That does make a difference....I have learned through the years that lights only make me happy and the snakes are actually more happy in the darker hiding spots!...This may be a change from the way your boa was kept...hope this helps, Andy

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Sloas Mar 14, 2006 09:07 PM

The heat provided is belly heat (flexwatt).Will she shed well if I keep the humidity up(if she ever does)?

ajfreptiles Mar 14, 2006 09:33 PM

I like to use a spray bottle....just spray your boa and soak em' down a few times a day when they are in the blue...the moisture is absorbed through the skin and is needed when forming the new layer...and seperating the old layer. Sometimes boas will just get in a water bowl and soak...they are absorbing the needed water. just keep the boa wet and it should shed perfectly. Andy
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Sloas Mar 14, 2006 09:39 PM

Maybe I should have made myself a little clearer.There is actually water droplets on the sides and the top of her tub.I keep her in a plastic tub with air holes and sometimes I wonder if the humidity isnt too high.I will spray her anyway but by thursday or friday after being sprayed every day it will literally rain in that box.Thanks Andy!JOHN

LauraV Mar 15, 2006 10:52 AM

You will have to put a few more holes in the plastic and make sure the water bowl is well away from the heat source. Too much humididty and you risk RI or scale irritation. I had this problem in a plastic enclosure too...after I added more holes, the condensation went away.
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Delusions of Grandeur feed the EGO...

ChrisGilbert Mar 15, 2006 01:41 PM

some boas do this when they move into a new cage (as Andy said).

Also your humidity shouldn't need to be that high. I have my boas at 65-70% for sheds, and they are fine.

I have had a few boas (four actually) that had trouble with their first shed. One went into another shed cycle (like yours) and was fine. The other two just had bad sheds, and were fine after the first. And the fourth had to be helped, his skin dryed and I simply helped him peel it back, he was also fine after this first shed.

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