Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I tried soaking her for two hours yesterday. Nothing came off. She has stopped eating. Hasn't eaten in two weeks. I will try soaking again today, but I really don't think that's the problem. The last time she shed it was incomplete, in little pieces. I through the pieces away, which I know regret, because I can't be sure all the skin came off. I think it did though. Nearest quallified vet is two hours away in Houston, but I will make the trip if necessary. Here are some pics.

Matt Kauffman

I would put it in a cage with only holes for circulation to keep up the humidity. Keep a very large water bowl in the cage. I'd put a tupperware or another type of container with only a small hole cut in it for access with moist spagnum moss in it. I would also personally use a substrate in the rest of the cage that holds humidity and not just paper towels or newspaper. You can also spray half of the cage every few days to help keep up the humidity. That would give it what ever range it needed from very moist to fairly high humidity to choose from. If most of it's last shed came off in peices it should shed off the rest with it's next shed. How much of it's last shed stuck on it? It does look in the pictures like parts of it's skin are wrinkled as if some old skin is still stuck to it. If it's only a small percentage it should be fine if you set it up right but if most of the last shed is stuck to it it could easily get dehydrated if not kept moist enough. I would also make sure most of the cage is in the low to mid 70's.

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Randy Whittington

Hey Randy, thanks for the response. I did have her in a set-up almost exactly like you described(cypress mulch,spagnum hide,tuperware container w/ holes in sides) with the exception of a small water bowl. I just recently switched to paper because I wasn't sure of the cause of the problem. I have seen other snakes with incomplete sheds and this somehow looks a little different, but this is my first coxi. Like I said before, I threw the pieces of shed skin away, so I can't look to see how much actually came off. I think it was most of it, but I can't be sure, as it was about ten days ago. I have a male under the exact same conditions and he is doing great. I did have the spagnum moss too wet, which is what I think caused the problem. I'm affraid it is some sort of fungal or bacterial infection. I will soak again today and replace original cage set-up and see what happens. Thanks, Matt Kauffman

matt,
what you have is a complete stuck shed. the whole skin is on like a....condom. i just had a female yearling today who looked just like this. try to see if you can start the shed on the tip of the nose and under the chin. try this after a short(one hour) soak.
please call me if this doesn't work.