Reptile & Amphibian Forums

About a year ago I was gifted (as a rescue) with a 14" long (F)Leucistic Texas rat that was in a collection that was suffering a very high mortality rate from a disease (unidentified). After 6 mo. quarentine the (still healthy)snake was added to my collection. The one thing that remains odd is that every shed (roughly three months apart) is precluded by the Tex (now 3') becoming very wrinked and dry looking, as if the normal fluid buildup is not occuring. because of her unusual color it is not clear (by her eyes which stay the same) when she goes into shed. I soak her and she then sheds normaly on her own and looks like her usual healthy self. I have tried Cypress mulch, aspen and newspaper it makes no difference. Any ideas? Frank

I had a WC male Texas rat years ago that exhibited the same problem. Originally I thought it was just the mites (he had quite the collection of parasites) but after the mites were long gone, he still got really wrinkled and dry looking before every shed. Soaking, misting, damp substrate- nothing seemed to help. He didn't get over it in the 5 years that I had him.
Lora

That sounds righton.........Frank