Reptile & Amphibian Forums

my kenyan sand boa is having a very bad shed she isnt shedding at all actually. it has been about a week or more since she should of shed. she came out of blue and then a couple days later took on that opaque look right b4 the skin comes off. but she hasnt shed. her skin is getting tight and her eyes are looking bad. i have soaked her many times and tried starting the shed for her to no avail. im not a nubie so ive had to deal with tough sheds on a few occasions but this is different it doesnt want to seperate at all. any suggestions?
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0.1.0 normal corn het hypo,anery
1.0.0 snow corn het hypo,anery,amel
1.0.0 amel corn unknown hets(4ft 8inch long)
1.0 sinacorn
0.0.1 snapping turtles
0.0.1 3 lined mud turtle
1.1 kenyan sand boas
0.1 mbk
0.1 albino nelsons

How is the snake doing overall? Has it's behavior changed?
Is there anything you can think of that may have triggered this? Mites? Overlooked flaw in husbandry? Nutrition? Is it ill? Dehydrated?

With this species you are forced to balance it's need for a dryer enviroment and it's need for humidity during shedding. Does this guy have a humid-hide? It's my opinion that all desert dwellers should have access to one.

For the immediate concern however, I would get a small container (whatever you have that's appropriate), moisten several layers of paper towels on the bottom, place the snake in, and then cover with more paper towels. Mist the entire thing, seal off the container and leave over night. This "should" work, but if not, allow the snake to dry nicely during the day, and then try again the following night.

Let us know how things are going,
Ian

well i know it has to do with a change in enviroment.this is the first shed she has had since i took her out of calci-sand.. im now using shredded paper as a substrate. i also moved her upstairs, ever since i changed over her behavior has changed she is actively trying to get out of her cage, she did not shed one drop of skin on her own and as of this very minute i have only removed a very little amount myself. maybe like half of the top of her head, i soaked her for 12 hours today and it helped a little but she barely moved it looked like to me at least(i was at work) i called the vet and he is not in until tomorrow. i wont take her their only because i dont believe their is much he can do that i have not tried unless their is an actuall medication. i am going to call and see what he reccomends. her eye is realy bothering me now though it HAS blood in it!! i have no idea what in the he// happened she is 5 years old this is the first problem ive had with her. no signs of mites from my close encounter with a new arrival last month. the only change is substrate and location. im seriously going tomorrow to get sand for her to see if it helps, i may move her back downstairs also.
thank you adam
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0.1.0 normal corn het hypo,anery
1.0.0 snow corn het hypo,anery,amel
1.0.0 amel corn unknown hets(4ft 8inch long)
1.0 sinacorn
0.0.1 snapping turtles
0.0.1 3 lined mud turtle
1.1 kenyan sand boas
0.1 mbk
0.1 albino nelsons

so that is a plus...... her one eye doesnt look good, i just wonder if the shredded paper gave her a paper cut?
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0.1.0 normal corn het hypo,anery
1.0.0 snow corn het hypo,anery,amel
1.0.0 amel corn unknown hets(4ft 8inch long)
1.0 sinacorn
0.0.1 snapping turtles
0.0.1 3 lined mud turtle
1.1 kenyan sand boas
0.1 mbk
0.1 albino nelsons

Negative on the paper cut

Be carefull when removing the skin. The skin below is fragile, and may not be fully developed. It's hard to say, as this problem isn't fully defined yet. Anything more then a gentle rub with a finger or moist cloth should be avoided.

Your attempt at a phone consultation with the vet is a little flawed. You see, they can't do anything more than what we can over the net without seeing the animal. An exam will give them the best idea of what is happening, and their suggestions will be much more concrete. If anything, it'll give them what they need to ask their peers and research possible diagnoses' and treatments if they are stumped.

This doesn't sound like a clear-cut disecdysis case.

Ian