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more baby eastern milk trouble

54podge Feb 20, 2009 10:11 PM

my little guy who I helped shed 2 weeks ago, was out tonight so I picked him up. Much to my dismay, it appears he was trying to she again, but seemed like he was almost being constricted by his skin. I quickly took my little tupperware type dish, added some moss, about 1/2 inch of warm water and a rough stone. I put him in and secured the lid (I have about 10 1/8" holes drilled into the sides and lid). I put the container back in his cage, with about 1/4 of it sitting over his UTH. I plan to leave him in there overnight.

My question is: is there anything I should do different? Could he be shedding again just 2 weeks later?

He was really rubbing on my hand. Completely unafriad, it felt like he was really desperate for help. I hope he pulls through.
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1.0 C/B Brooks
0.1 C/B Lavender brooks
0.0.1 W/C Scarlet King
0.0.1 W/C Eastern Milk
0.0.1 W/C Yellow Rat
0.0.1 W/C Western Garter
1.0 C/B Black Lab
1.0 C/B Min. PoodleXAmer. Eskimo hybrid
1.0 C/B Goofy Cat
1.2 C/B Children
0.1 W/C wife

Replies (12)

Jeff Schofield Feb 20, 2009 10:43 PM

Repeated sheds can be a couple things I know of. First, an older shed can be stuck on too long which may induce a secondary sloughing to rid the snake of the skin that could kill it. The other thing it could be is a indication that its being kept too moist and has developed a skin infection which would cause the shed. My advise, hand water(dont leave a dish), wipe down with a paper towel soaked with hydrogen peroxide(to kill any infection), then keep it at 75-80(NO HIGHER)on paper towels.
I think you are likely trying to keep this baby eastern the same way you keep southern or tropical ssp.. right? They are colder weather animals and do better at 78 than 85. Too warm of temps will lead to stuck sheds even with adults.

snake_bit Feb 20, 2009 10:55 PM

Jeff I also use hydrogen peroxide but i dilute it a bit.In the hospital ERs they use it mixed with Benadine 50/50.Just one thing never bottle that solution its with explode I learned that the hard way
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"Wake me when its April"

Doug L

54podge Feb 20, 2009 11:00 PM

actually, i am afraid he was kept too dry. he has a water dish, and a hide that is lined with moss, but was found today to be void of any moisture. He is in a 10 gallon tank, with just a UTH for heat on one side. The other side is room temp, about 72 degrees.
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1.0 C/B Brooks
0.1 C/B Lavender brooks
0.0.1 W/C Scarlet King
0.0.1 W/C Eastern Milk
0.0.1 W/C Yellow Rat
0.0.1 W/C Western Garter
1.0 C/B Black Lab
1.0 C/B Min. PoodleXAmer. Eskimo hybrid
1.0 C/B Goofy Cat
1.2 C/B Children
0.1 W/C wife

snake_bit Feb 20, 2009 11:13 PM

do you have hide spots for both sides of the tank? Do you have a moist hide? Whats the hight of the hides and how thick is the snake?Did you check the temp in the cage?Is tis a wild caught or delicup snake ?How big is it and how much has he eaten this past year ?
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"Wake me when its April"

Doug L

Jeff Schofield Feb 21, 2009 12:33 AM

Baby snakes simply do better in tight, small surroundings. You have to get the snake used to being captive first, large space with lots of things to smell is information overload for a baby. I keep most of my baby kings and milks in deli cups til they are about the size they can pop the top off, seriously. They calm down(not pacing all the time looking for a way out)and they eat better(many times they eat the food because they are either mad at it being there). A deli cup is easy to clean(I use paper towels),easy to heat, easy to replace. Take a dixie cup and cut a V in one side, it is so tall the lid of the cup keeps it from being knocked over. This way is REAL easy to monitor humidity. I use rope lites, and simply lean one end of the cup on the light, one end off...BAM...heat gradient.
I do all these things to do one thing, simplify life for the baby snake. You have problems with it eating, problems with it shedding, and more problems. I would suggest your snake take a little vacation to the deli cup penitentiary for a few months. I bet you will have better luck. Here is a pic of a cb06 now about 2' and kinda purty and only in a container 5"x5"x12". It works.
Image

Jeff Schofield Feb 21, 2009 01:00 AM

When you find snakes, they are often coiled tightly just like this. Take them out once in a while sure, but keep them in a small place with familiar smells.
Image

jyohe Feb 21, 2009 12:44 PM

you had trouble 2 weeks ago and yesterday you again found the moist hide was actually dry....check the moist hide more often...winter is a very dry time as it is, add an under tank heater and it will dry out extra fast x 2.....

....wrinked skin is infection,too dry,too wet,or no food getting into the snake.......setup cage with moist areas and dry areas....water...and make sure it eats....and yes...as the other Jeff said....put it in a smaller box for awhile...it wouldn't hurt.....till it gets back into good health again and eats well...

.......
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......

..JY

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jyohe Feb 21, 2009 12:33 PM

shed 2 weeks ago and is wrinkled now? might be food troubles AND too wet?....
.....
give him a choice of moist and dry substrate....he'll choose...

..
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......

..JY

.

54podge Feb 21, 2009 10:54 PM

OK, after a night in a moist bed of moss, he looked good this AM, but no shed. I was gone all day today, and when i came home i found him with a stool trapped under a layer of skin. once again, I soaked him in some water for about 20 minutes, and then spent close to 1/2 hour peeling off the loose skin. This time, I paid close attention to the head, and when i carefully peeled that off, I noticed it was thicker. I was concerned last time he shed that he had the skin on his head was not shed, and this confirmed it. He started flicking his tongue, and opening/closing his mouth. He is looking very healthy now and was actively crawling in my hand. I put him back in the moist hide over the UTH (he is free to come and go as he likes), along with a 3 day old pink. Hopefully by morning he will be chubby.

I will likely go with a smaller container or tighter hides (yes, I have one on the cool/dry side and one on the warm/moist side) as suggested. Thanks for all the feedback!
-----
1.0 C/B Brooks
0.1 C/B Lavender brooks
0.0.1 W/C Scarlet King
0.0.1 W/C Eastern Milk
0.0.1 W/C Yellow Rat
0.0.1 W/C Western Garter
1.0 C/B Black Lab
1.0 C/B Min. PoodleXAmer. Eskimo hybrid
1.0 C/B Goofy Cat
1.2 C/B Children
0.1 W/C wife

snake_bit Feb 21, 2009 11:09 PM

great news and good luck
-----
"Wake me when its April"

Doug L

54podge Feb 22, 2009 01:20 AM

This snake is really testing me! It will all be worth it when he/she gets going. Scratch that, it's already worth it because I am becoming a better owner for it. I swear though, I think this little critter actually likes me. It's the first milk I have ever had that climbed into my hand when i put my hand in it's cage. Either that, or it's so used to me messing with it that it's just accepted my part in it's life
-----
1.0 C/B Brooks
0.1 C/B Lavender brooks
0.0.1 W/C Scarlet King
0.0.1 W/C Eastern Milk
0.0.1 W/C Yellow Rat
0.0.1 W/C Western Garter
1.0 C/B Black Lab
1.0 C/B Min. PoodleXAmer. Eskimo hybrid
1.0 C/B Goofy Cat
1.2 C/B Children
0.1 W/C wife

Jeff Schofield Feb 24, 2009 09:48 PM

LACTATE!

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