Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Any tips on rehydrating dry skin on my corn snake? I've been misting him periodically but he is still flaking dry scales. Have taken her to a vet who says nothing is wrong with her skin except low humidity.

If you mean that your snake have some shedding problem over low humidity you must put it in warm water for 10-15 min. and accurately take away old skin by hand.

If not - on what substratum and at what temperature you keep your corn? Perhaps, your problem conclude in hight temperature or fast dry up substratum.
-----
--------------
Ivan Arinin
ICQ 151665951
E.g. guttata Normal 2.3
E.g. guttata Albino 2.4
E.g. guttata Oketee 2.0
E.g. guttata Hypo Oketee 1.1
E.g. guttata Albino Okeetee 2.2
E.g. guttata Ghost 2.3
E.g. guttata Motley 2.2
E.g. guttata Albino Motley 2.2
E.g. guttata Anerythristic 2.2
E.g. guttata Snow 2.4
E.g. guttata Creamsicle 2.1
E.g. rosacea 2.2
E.g. emoryi 2.2

E. persica black 3.4
E. persica brown 2.1
E. longissima 4.6
E. situla 3.3
E. dione 54
E. bimaculata 4.3
E. quatourlineata 10.15

E. o. obsoleta yellow 2.2
E. o. lindheimeri White Sided 2.2.
E. o. lindheomeri Leucistic 1.2
E. o. lindheimeri Black Orange 2.2
E. o. quatourlineata 1.3
E. o. quatourlineata Deckerti 2.2
E. o. quatourlineata Williamsi 1.0
E. o. rossalleni 2.2

Langaha madagascariensis 2.1.12
Cylindrophis ruffus 0.1
Enhydris plumbea 1.0

No not a bad shed - in fact his sheds are pretty much in one piece. The substrate I use is Care Fresh and the hot side of the tank is 85-88. The problem seems to lie in the fact that the humidity in my apt dropped to 20 percent for the winter. I've recently got a humidifier which brings the humidity up to about 35%. But the vet said my snake's skin just got too dry - wrinkled and individual scales are shedding constantly on the rear half in addition to the overall shed - which happens at regular intervals since he is still growing. WHen I handle him, these individual scale sheds cover my hands with tiny pieces of skin. I think it's like when humans get dry skin and the skin flakes off.

>>No not a bad shed - in fact his sheds are pretty much in one piece. The substrate I use is Care Fresh and the hot side of the tank is 85-88. The problem seems to lie in the fact that the humidity in my apt dropped to 20 percent for the winter. I've recently got a humidifier which brings the humidity up to about 35%. But the vet said my snake's skin just got too dry - wrinkled and individual scales are shedding constantly on the rear half in addition to the overall shed - which happens at regular intervals since he is still growing. WHen I handle him, these individual scale sheds cover my hands with tiny pieces of skin. I think it's like when humans get dry skin and the skin flakes off.

The only times I have seen a snake drop individual scales like that was after being 'treated' with mineral oil or petroleum based ointments. While I suppose it could be dried out I wonder if something else is going on with your snake.
-----
Sonya

Haven't we warned you about tampering with the structure of a chaotic system?
Mrs. Neutron

Maybe the carefresh isnt agreeing with your corn.Try newspaper or paper towels for awhile.Also you might want a larger water bowl and cover the top of your tank to hold some humidity in.That really doesnt sound like a humidity problem if your snake sheds in one piece....Paul

It really doesn't sound like a simple humidity problem. Not if the regular sheds are normal and in one piece, and these scales are falling off in between sheds. I used Carefresh for a year, and it was great, but it is a little drier than aspen or paper towels/newspaper. But I never had any shed or scale problems with it. I think since there are issues, you should go to paper towels for a while, and see if that will help. If it doesn't, maybe find a "herp" vet and get a second opinion on those scales.
-----
Dianne
AKA IcedGoddess
6.7 Cornsnakes
1.3 Cats
0.1 Child
IcedGoddess Creations
Castle Serpents