Reptile & Amphibian Forums

We all know that our reptiles look best just after they have finished a shed. I am curious as to the time frame between sheds for Cyclura? I know if they are growing at a rapid rate they will shed more often, and from what I can tell Cyclura skin seems to take a little longer to sluff off completely. Just wondering (for the adults especially) how long until their color begins to cloud up again after shedding?

Pic of my new guy Pablo. Gave him a piece of strawberry as a treat and he sat on it, that is why the red stain on his belly.

No set rules. age, growth, humidity, heat are all factors. My 13yr old just shed his head andI'm guessing it was "cloudy" for 3-4 days as I remember. I should note that has 3 sheds going, all at different stages. Pretty common for cyclura, particularly rhinos, to be in a constant state of shedding.

jf

Thanks for answering. I was afraid of that, most if not all of the Rhinos I have seen had some part of them in shed. I guess another great character item to add to the long list.

"afraid of that" c'mon it is a character trait! Like Tom said, living dinosaur. My rhino always had shed on his head, always. I dont have one picture without white skin around his horns. Its just the way they are, and its different on every one. Look at like this... he/she's growing

jf

When I wrote it I wondered who would take that statement in a negative way. If you read on you should have seen that I view it also as a character trait. Its too bad you took what I said that way, because I would never have committed the next 30 plus years to my Rhino and be so excited to have him if I felt how you took my statement. My bad, I guess I need to go back to being a reader only and not posting. I have alot of respect for those in this forum with experience and the knowledge they share. jf try not to jump on someone with less experience than you or before you ask for some clarification as to what they may have ment by a statement. If I do post again you dont need to waste your time on me with a reply.

I think jf was just kidding around with you and also agreeing with your character trait statement... I would not take it offensively. Also, I have had luck getting foggy colored skin to pop right off within a couple of day's time by spraying my ig's with a shedding aid spray- you can pick it up at most reptile shops or online. The spray also gives them a nice shiny look and highlights their colors- kind of like waxing your car does.

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Bri

You could give it some orange and yellow color veggies to aid in shedding.... It has a lot of vitamin A, or is it beta-carotene, or both...which is necessary for healthy skin. Winter squash is the best one to use as part of a regular meal since it has the least calcium oxalate and contain a lot of fiber, which your animals need for normal bowel movement everyday, and carbohydrate for energy. Carrots is good, too, for this reason, but has a lot of calcium oxalate, so only use occasionally for varieties in conjunction with other leafy green veggies and hard veggies.

Thanks for the reply, and information.

Thanks for the information, it helps alot.
Thats amazing color on your little one!

From my expierence, the "shedding spray" sold at reptile stores is just H2O with some vitamins added. If is like the ones that iam familiar with its just another reptile product that is unecessary

I have been soaking my C. cornuta in water baths since she's been a hatchling. She now knows that the bathtub is where its at! lol and she is constantly shedding as well all the time. I use a brush in the tub to scrub her, especially her toes, tail and head. Sometimes if the shed is really bad I will give her a wipedown with mineral oil

I soak my igs in the bath as well and this helps, but if they have a stubborn patch of skin I use the shedding spray and it comes off within 2-4 days. I use Zoo Med Repti Shedding Aid. It has glycerin, oil, vitamin E and some sort of agent that helps it penetrate the skin...dunno what it just says solubilizing hydrotype. If anyone knows what that might be I'd like to know.

That's just what's worked for me on stubborn skin but I haven't tried mineral oil yet. My rhino has a stubborn patch so I'm going to try it out=)
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Bri

I haven't used mineral oil or any oil on my cyclura, but when my ball python had a few bad sheds after a trauma, we used coconut oil. It worked really well and I know it's safe.

Where do you find coconut oil? Would they have it at the local grocery store? Cosmetics or cooking aisle?
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Bri

I buy it at Walmart in the cooking aisle. It comes in a tub since it is solid above about 75 degrees. You can also buy it in capsules at the health food store.

wow, touch, touchy. I was kidding, why so defensive? I read yours correctly and was agreeing with you. I am sorry you took it that way.

jf

Sorry jf, I was being touchy. There I was talking about reading things into a post and I did it myself. Thanks for your input and answer, please accept my apology for snapping back. No excuse but yesterday was a Monday in every sense of the word for me,I was a bit on edge.

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