Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hey gang, I've rarely had this particular issue with my snakes but every once in a while it happens. I have a snake that is having a hard time shedding. In fact, it's a baby local rosy boa I picked up this year. I'm familiar with products like shed ease, but I was wondering if any of you have a "home remedy" of sorts? It would take a few days to get a hold of shed ease, and this is something I need to deal with soon. Obviously, the snake was dehydrated somewhere along the way, which is what causes this problem and is an easy fix in the long term. But for the short term, this guy needs to get his shed off. Baby oil? Lemmon juice? (LOL). Hey, I'm interested in any crazy ideas you guys might have.

Thanks a bunch,

Brad

I've had luck just soaking the snake in a shallow dish with a little bit of water in it for an hour or two. Not enough so the snake has to swim, but still covering a good portion. Then gently rubbing the skin off. The head probably wont come off as easy since it wasnt submerged, but wetting my finger and gently rubbing around the lip and nose area worked well for me.

You could also try putting the snake in a damp snake bag overnight. I haven't tried this method myself, but have heard good things.

Good luck!
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Aubrey Ross

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www.SlipstreamSerpents.com

Brad,
I usually just put them in a deli cup w/ a very wet paper towel and they work it out themself. If on the other hand the shed has been stuck for more than two days your best bet is to put some olive oil, neo sporin, or anything else that will keep the area moisturized until the next shed. I bet it will slough off any old remaining sheds pieces on its own.
Good luck,
Russ

Brad,

I have had great results by putting them in a shoebox with about 1/4 inch of water just warmer than room temp. Let them soak in there for about 30 minutes. Then soak a dish rag or washcloth with water of the same temp and wad it up and toss it in at one end. The snake will climb around on the rough surface to get up out of the water, and the shed gets sloughed right off as they climb. Hope that helps.
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Species kept:

Nuevo Leon Kings
Kunasir Island Rats
San Luis Potosi Kings
Axanthic Desert Kings
White Oak Gray Rats
Corns

Coming Soon:

Western Green Rats
Pale Milks

I put them in a rubber maid shoe box with very moist paper towels and they get it off on there own after a few hours.
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Michelle
All things bright and beautiful,
All creatures great and small,
All things wise and wonderful:
The Lord God made them all.

...I would suggest taking a small container(but big enough for the snake to curl up in with a little spare room) and put some damp/wet sphagnum moss inside it. Obviously with appropriately sized holes cut in it on the side and top for the snake to crawl in and out through.

This is functionally the same as most of the options people listed above but does have a possible advantage. I have had snakes actively avoid paper towel damp hides but I have yet to have a snake not use a moss hide. Might just be my experiences/snakes so far but if the other things don't work or if you got sphagnum moss lieing arround already it may be worth trying.

Sean.