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Inasad Jun 25, 2007 07:54 AM

I have been skimming the forums and I have read up on this, but I have had my snake for almost 2 months now and he has looked like hes been shedding for about a month but he hasn't completely shed. His eyes are no longer foggy looking, but he has little pieces of skin coming off everywhere. I have still been feeding him, but I have not been holding him other than to put him in a box to feed him in and I am getting worried that he is not going to be friendly anymore. The last time I fed him, he lunged at the lamp when I put him away and again at the bedding. Does anyone know why he would do this if his eyes arent foggy? (although, he does not seem to be able to see very well, having missed the dead mouse that I fed him a couple of times) I have been spraying the moss in his cage to try to keep the humidity up but I cant seem to get it higher than 65%. Should I try putting him in the basement or something to raise the humidity?

He is about 7.5 months old, and I have him in a 20 gallon tank with a log type hiding area which he has stopped going in, and a branch type thing for him to climb on. I use an infrared lamp for heat which stays on 24/7 and a heating pad under the hiding spot. He seems healthy, but he used to be very friendly and I am getting worried that I will not be able to hold him anymore if he does not shed soon.

Thanks for your input,
Aaron

Replies (3)

alpharoyals Jun 25, 2007 01:37 PM

when I have a snake that hasnt shed completely I put some kitchen towel in the bottom of a plastic contico style box, add enough water to cover the bottom and stand it on the heat mat so the box fills with condensation. Put the snake in for about half an hour, once the skin starts to soften up they will rub it off or you can rub it off gently while they "run" through your fingers, then dry the snake off and shazzam one clean snake!
Do you know if the eye caps have come off?
-----
You all talk Balls,I talk Royals ;0)
www.alpharoyals.co.uk

Inasad Jun 25, 2007 05:21 PM

I am not sure if they have come off or not, but he seems to have a lot of trouble seeing so I am guessing they are not off. A friend of mine came over and sprayed him with water a little and slowly rubbed the skin off and I went out and bought this spray that is supposed to help with this sort of thing and I sprayed some of that on him to help get the rest. I also bought these little pouches that you soak in water for hermit crabs, they are supposed to retain water and raise humidity so I figured I could try using that to raise the humidity in the tank. Does anyone know if these are dangerous to snakes?

Patzycakes Oct 08, 2007 11:23 AM

If his eye caps didn't shed just mist his head twice a day until they loosen and fall off. That happened to one of mine last shed cycle and the caps fell off within 2 days.

For the rest of the body, fill the bathtub with an inch or so of luke warm water and let him go for a swim for a bit (do not leave unsupervised) then wrap in a towel... I usually let mine "burrow" their way out (using the friction of the towel to remove the excess dead skin without having me actually pulling off the skin)... Just a fair warning, without fail, every single time I give any of my snakes a warm bath they go potty (usually ending up on my jeans)

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