Reptile & Amphibian Forums

As I've mentioned in previous posts, my BP is about 15 months old. He has never, since I got him, had good sheds. At first I was told this was strictly because of lack of humidity, so I shrugged it off as that, and have upped the humidity a lot. This more recent shed, he has a new humid hide which stays at 90% humidity at all times. I soaked him twice prior to shedding (once just hours before - this has proved successful with my Colubrids). Yet he still shed in small bits. I had to help him get a large piece off his back, and he's still got a few patches that won't come off. I'm afraid it's going to cause skin problems, because he has scales on his body that are now actually a few layers thicker than the others, due to past bad sheds. Every shed it seems like he's got at least a few small patches of retained skin.

I have read that this can be caused by "health problems", but nothing says what kind of "health problems". He does not have mites. He doesn't drink a whole lot, but will occasionally visit the water dish (which is very large). I don't think he is dehydrated at all. He's as active as a ball can be.

I don't bother keeping the humidity in the tank at any certain level now (since it was making the cage soggy to mist all the time). Rather, I just have the humid hide box there 24/7, which he is often in. So he has his choice of moist or dry.

Generally he is a wonderful eater. He'll usually strike at anything that smells like a rodent, and eagerly awaits feeds. However, tonight when put into his feeding tub, it took him about 15 minutes to finally take the rat. That worried me. I wonder if he may not have shed his eye caps? How can I tell?

I have inspected all the pieces of shed skin, but haven't found eyecaps. But I easily could be missing them because of all the pieces in there. I can't even tell what came off his head.

I would truly appreciate any insight you can offer. I love this snake to death, and I don't want to jeporadize his health in any way. If this is the sign of a health problem, then I want to know so I can get him to a vet ASAP.

Thanks a lot...
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...So many snakes, so little time...
Don't litter ~ Please spay and neuter your cats and dogs!

Yes, poor sheds can be a sign of general poor health. Most often it has to do with humidity, but the cause can range anywhere from internal parasites to bacterial infections. Your snake sounds as if he's healthy otherwise, which is good. However, the thing about snakes is that they can't tell us if something is wrong. Often times, by the time a health disorder shows symptoms, it is quite advanced.
Sometimes you can see, by looking closely, if there is a retained eyecap. A slightly cloudy color, or a "ridge" around the eye where a cap may be slightly raised.
I'm glad that your snake seems to be doing well, and that you have genuine concern hor his well-being. A trip to the vet for a fecal may not be a bad idea, just to check. Best of luck to you and all of your critters!
GratefulFred
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GratefulFred

Sometimes skin problems like frequent shedding and fragmenting sheds can be successfully treated with a vitamin supplement. Some eye problems also respond.

In the past I've given a bird liquid multiple vitamin called Avitron to some of my snakes, but I understand it has been discontinued. Any LMV with A, D3, C, E, and a few others should work. (Humans and mammals can metabolize D2, but reptiles need D3.) The doseage I've used was approximately whatever volume gave 250 IU of vitamin A per pound of snake not oftener than once every two weeks. IMHO, the easiest way to administer the stuff is to cut a slit in the belly of a freshly killed rodent, put the vitamins inside, and feed the rodent to the snake.

Disclaimer: I am not a veterinarian. Use this suggestion at your own risk.

Paul Hollander