Reptile & Amphibian Forums

if my snake is shedding, when she goes in an shaper when i hold her, is it normal for her skin to bunch up if she's shedding?

I'm having a little trouble understanding your question but I'll take a stab at it anyway. If you mean that when your snake is in shedding mode (but not actually going through the process of shedding) and your holding it, that the skin looks bunched up at the folds when the snake is coiled up? I would say the skin should be nice and tight even prior to shed. Small folds are common at the bends when they are coiled up though bunched up is not (at least not in my experience). I'm not going to go on much further because I've been known to wax on when the question was really something else. I will say this, if the post shed skin is loose and dry feeling the snake could be dehydrated.
Hope this was of help,
Paul

if my snake is shedding, when she goes in an shaper when i hold her, is it normal for her skin to bunch up if she's shedding?

Here's a pic of one of my subadults at 16 months. As you can see not really much in the way of bunching up, and its this way just prior to shedding also.
Paul

paul, your right, small folds are what they are. thank you fro helping me. are they normal. i didnt know how to explain it but now that you said small folds, i know what you mean.

is it normal?

Just so I'm clear here; did your BRB show these folds prior to going into a shed cycle? I just went over all the pics I've taken of my snakes (alot) and have not seen any folds at all, even at the most extreme angle. Is there any way you could post a pic? For you to comment, I'd have to guess that it does not look right to you. Dehydration is a real problem with these snakes and I'm just wondering if that's what your seeing. Young BRB's should be kept at 80-90% humidity (its why rubbermaids do so well). What are you housing it in now? If you think maybe it is dehydrated, put it in a rubbermaid container with holes drilled along the sides (near the top), place it over a heat pad set on low and put the water bowl over the heat pad and the hide over the cool side. Old newspaper is a great substrate if changed out weekly. If she is dehydrated this should take care of the problem. Dehydration will kill your little snake so I'd address the issue now (if indeed this is the issue).
Let us know what happens and post a pic if you can.
Hope this helps,
Paul

thanks for all your help so far.... she is kept in a 20 gallon long tank but she is going to be moved in a 75 gallon tank next week.

the skin folds are just happening in the past 2 days. i took her to the vet last sunday b/c she kept opening her mouth. jeff clark told me that it could be a sign of respitory problems. he gave me medicine and i'm following the direcxtions for that...

he also said she is getting ready to shed. he said that could be one of the reasons she hasnt eaten in about 2 and a half weeks. the skin fold just started appearing about 2 days ago, not even so i think she is getting ready to shed real soon.

the more folds i see, does it mean the closer she is to shedding?

b/c under a light, when i see the folds, i acually see that its dead skin waiting to come off?

if you have any info that may be helpful to me please let me know

thanks
steve

this isnt the best pic, but its the best i have as of now. you can somewhat see what i'm talking about with the skin folds by my thumb? does this look normal is you can even see it.

also, can my snake be opening her mouth a lot to b/c she's getting ready to shed? is it even possible... b/c i really dont thinmk she has a respitory problem.

Hey,
I don't think that looks normal at all. The opening the mouth thing is a very good indicator that your snake does indeed have a resperatory infection. The loose skin and the extreme dryness just look like dehydration to me. I would not put a BRB that size into a 75 gallon aquarium. I think the 20 gl. long is fine for now. Is it screened on top? If so put a sheet of heavy plastic over about 90% of the top or some other way to keep the humidity up (if I was you I'd put that snake in a rubbermaid container as described earlier until it gets better). I really think your snake is both dehydrated and has a resperatory infection. Did the vet see the snake two days ago or the Sunday before last? What did he give you to treat for the infection?
Hate to sound grim, but I would be concerned.
Good luck,
Paul

I would be very concerned... raise the humidity if you havent already, and go back to the vet. If its opening its mouth like that it has a respritory problem, unless its nose is clogged with dead skin because its not humid enough for it to shed...either way go to a vet and raise the humidity. If its been treated for RI it needs more than one shot, there should be several shots of Amikacin, or Baytril etc
-----
"It's my snake, I trained it, so I'm going to eat it!" - Mad Max, The Road Warrior