Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have only had my grey-banded kingsnake for about 2 weeks. It was about 8 inches when i got it and i was told it was 2 weeks to a month and a half. My problem is that it is begining to shed it's skin. I am worried because Only 1 half of its head has shed. The right side has shed all the way down to its neck while the left hasnt shed at all. Is this a problem? I am not sure whether it is its first time shedding or not. Do you think it could be shedding prematuraly? It's eyes never became very white or blue like most snakes do before they shed. I looked at it 2 dayys and saw its eyes were a little cloudy but not like other snakes i have seen. Do i need to make a humidity box? Will he be able to finish shedding on his own?

i have really never heard of premature shedding?? but, if your snake is having trouble shedding you will need to increase the humidity in it's enclosure.

Whithout knowing how you keep your animals i will descride how i keep mine & what i would do in your situation.

My hatchlings are in small plastic rubbermaid shoeboxes with under tank heat & paper towel as substrate. A day or 2 before they shed i just spill a bit of water onto the paper towel & that along with the undertank heat humidify the enclosure enough to promote troule free shedding..

hope that helps..

~ Mike

I keep it in a 15 gallon tank with ides on both sides. Have you ever had a snake shed only half of his head? I put him in a deli cup with moist paper towles. Do you think this is enough?

The deli cup thing work... But, i am wondering why he is dry in the first place.. can you describe how the tank is set up... lighting substrate and such?

When i said premature i meant that maybe his skin tore before he was ready to shed. I hope this is not the case and that e is ready to shed even though i never saw his eyes become opaque. If anyone has any ideas on how to help him shed please tell me.

go to the dollar store or Walmart, but a set of small single serve glad containers (very small cups with lids, $2.00 maybe) cut a hole in the lid about quarter size, fill 1/4 with water, put in snake, put on lid, put cup back in cage, let soak 3-4 hrs, moniter.The snake should have a problem free shed if it hasn't already done so. Some snakes do not recognize a bowl as a water source or don't soak. All of my little ones have such a cup and soak when they need to. I have a gbk the same age as yours and he hasn't eaten unassisted in 2 1/2 months. He was force fed a few tails by the pet store owner and I am taking over. It just shed and I will leave it alone for 4-5 days and start the pinky, scenting if needed, etc. Don't freak out, some babies take longer and gbk's are notoriously shy as babies. Fix the shed issue and then we will worry about the feeding issues. It's gonna be allright!
Todd Hughes

P.s., the snake will be able to breath in the cup if not overfilled and can get out when it wants to. Put a small rough rock that has been sterilized (boiled and cooled) in the cage to facilitate shedding.
Todd Hughes