Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have a baby variable king snake only 2-3 months old. He hasnt eaten in a week and is looking very skinny. He is currently shedding, but has been for a week, and can't get the skin off. I tried to soak him, but he thrashes out of the container. He wont eat even though he is apparently in need of food. I am worried about him. What can i do to help him shed and be able to eat?

Thanks, Andrew

Put him in a deli-cup with a moist paper towel. You make also put a piece of wood or a rock in there too. You need to get the skin off no matter how much he thrashes.

Brandon Osborne

After he's done, make sure the tank has the right amount of humidity and there is always a water bowl in it. I'd like to know if the deli cup with the moist paper towel works though, in case my snake goes through the same thing. Good luck!
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~Banana~

Yep, the moist towel in a deli cup works! I had a young snake with a shedding problem, put it in a deli cup (with air holes, of course)with very moist towel, and put it back in the tererium (for warmth) for about two hours. I expected to have to pull the skin off myself, but was surprised that all the skin had come off! As for feeding, the problem may also be that a young variable may prefer lizards. Try scenting a pinkie with a lizard.

Thanks guys, i will try the deli cup. He has a water bowl and a rock, so i was surprised that he couldn't shed. He has eaten a mouse before, so i wouldn't think he needs lizards. He was also captive raised. Thanks again, i will try that.

We have 3 Kings, 2 adults & a baby from this year. Our adult male LOVES to soak in his "spa" so he never has a problem but the female & baby used to.
After they go through the milky stage, but before they actually shed, we handle them with Vitamin E Oil on our hands. You can buy it anywhere from a pet store to Walmart or drug store.
None of our 3 have ever had a problem since & they look beautiful after they do bust their sheds.
Don't know if it's true but we've heard a perk of the Vit E oil is that it helps keep mites off. We've never had that problem so I couldn't tell you if it's true.
Good luck......Terri

Picture of the adults, boy snake in his favorite spot....

Take a wet paper towel or wet cloth towel and rub it on the snake, hold the snake still, but not hard enough to hurt it. When the snake is moist, hold the snake down lightly around the opening of where the skin should shed from and let the snake wiggle out of it from your fingers. If the skin stays on, it can constrict your pet and kill it. Good luck-Zach
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Zach Lim
Carnivorous Plant Grower and Herper
http://www.geocities.com/sf_snakes/index.html

i got the skin off, he still wouldn't eat, but i will try again. Maybe he just needed to calm down after all the commotion. Thank you a lot guys.