Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hey all,

A friend of mine had 2 Amazon newborns that he wasn't really interested in anymore so he offered them to me for $50. They look pretty nice so I jumped for it and got them yesterday. No idea about the sexes. He had been housing them together and they hadn't eaten for a month so I separated them and they ate small fuzzies immediately last night. Now, one of them was in shed but past blue (so I didn't know) and rubbed off around his snout earlier today. I've misted twice to keep humidity up but he hasn't finished. These are my first tree boas (after 10 colubrids and 2 brbs) so I'm just curious if they take a little longer to shed than normal (especially since they don't seem to move around much). I'm going to let them be for a while, but how long should I let it go and not be worried (if he doesn't finish)?

Thanks,
Van

If he doesn't finish within 24 hours I'd soak them overnight in an appropiate depth of water (just shallow) and help it shed the next day, not uncommon with baby ATB's.

Ralph

I agree with Ralph on this one. I've also tried keeping them in a moist container with a wet towel and that actully works. Good luck!!!!!

Never never never soak tree boas of any species. Drowning in even ½" of water is common place and anyone who would recommend soaking has either been lucky or doesn't own any. To get a stuck shed off put the animal in a wet snakebag with some damp paper towels. Put the bag inside the animals cage where it will stay warm. The water will cool the animal so the cage will need to be warmer than usual, 84-86F should be fine. Leave it there overnight and in the morning it will have either shed or the skin will be loose enough that you will be able to get it off without any problem.

Actully Glady's I have over 20 and I've never had a prob., and I know Ralph owns more. I can see where you're coming from, I've read somewhere that when they get scared they tend to go downward or they will freak out and just stay down. Well, over my years of doing this not once has it happen to me nore have I heard it happen to anyone else. When ever I soaked they actully just wanted to go up and out never down, and when they are in there they hardly ever fully wet themselves thats where I have to come in and assist (I have a nice amount of bites here and there lolol).

To tell you the truth I just think it's rude to say that we were either lucky or have never owned them. Please feel free to contact me in e-mail and I will happily send pics of all I own, a pic of one of my gravid females, and give you a link to Ralphs site.

And here's a pic just for the fun of it q=D

Hi Dan:

You've been very polite considering that you thought my message was rude. In all honesty, I meant it to be. When people are challenged, they often take offense, which at least means they are listening.
Anyone who reads this string and in the future chooses to soak an animal despite the warning because they are too lazy, too stubborn or way too experienced learn from the mistakes of others, is just plain but stupid.
I'm not calling you stupid. You have simply been lucky. What you do from this point forward will determine if you fit into any of the other catagories.
Remember a normal person doesn't have to shoot themselves in the foot to know it hurts. It shouldn't be necessary to experience something in order to learn to avoid it. It's simple common sense. You said it yourself, you've heard the horror stories, well I've experienced them.
Another tidbit. Experience isn't determined by the number of animals in your house. 20 animals doesn't mean anything if they've only been there 20 minutes. 20 animals for 20 years might be something worth considering.
I'm trying to get this person started off on the right foot so that they don't have an avoidable incident ruin their enjoyment of the hobby. It's harder to break a bad habit than start a good one.
Thanks for your reply.

Again I read that and again I think it is very rude. But you know what, seeing that I'm a nobody in this hobby because no one has ever heard of me, of course what I think wouldn't count(and your rebutle to that would be, "OF course it counts, it's just wrong".
No offense to you what so ever, but it is because of people like you, that people like me (The not big, but experienced person) do not come to a site like this because someone like yourself will just put them down. Make them sound stupid. Or make them sound as if what they said had no true meaning. Yes you said that they aren't towards me but seeing that I do these things I guess they are. Well anyway I see that if I were to help and share my experiences I will take it back to a site that expresses there views and opinions without slandering others. I am in no way trying to start an arguement nor am going to continue with this thread, you may reply if you'd like but to no reply from myslef. On that note I leave here for good.

ON A SERIOUS NOTE I THINK THAT DAN IS RIGHT. HE MAY BE A NO BODY TO YOU BECAUSE HE ISNTA BIG BREEDER OR SELLER, BUT ILL TELL YOU THAT HIS IDEAS AND KNOLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE HAVE HELPED ME FROM TIME TO TIME.

AS FAR AS BEING STUPID YOU HAVE TO BE IF YOU DIDNT READ YOUR ASS OFF BEFORE YOU GOT YOUR ANIMAL AND DIDNT GET THAT THEY ARE AN ANIMAL THAT REQUIRES HIGH HUMIDITY AND THAT IS THAT. IF YOUR HUSBANDRY IS APPROPRIATE THEN YOU WILL NOT HAVE TO DEAL WITH SHEDS LIKE THAT. THERE WILL BE THE OCCASIONAL BUT IT WILL BE RARE. ALSO IF YOUR ANIMAL DIES BECAUSE IT DROWNED THEN ITS YOUR FAULT. YOU SHOULD BE SUPERVISING IT. IF YOU COOK YOUR SNAKE IN A BAG BECAUSE YOU LEFT IT IN OVER NIGHT, WELL THEN MY FRIEND YOU JUST SHOT YOURSELF IN THE FOOT.

THIS HOBBY HAS SO MANY DIFFERENT IDEAS AND WAYS TO LEARN AND KEEP YOUR PRIZED ANIMALS. DONT KNOCK SOMEONE ELSES IDEAS BECAUSE THEY DIDNT WORK FOR YOU, YOU JUST WHERENT LUCKY. IMHO

CHUCK
CORALLUS BOREALIS

that is a trully amazing snake!

Obviously nobody ever looks at the dates on these things. I posted the question the first time the forum switched- it was immediately switched back to the old format. Now people reply to everything the second time. Thanks a lot but, uh, unless something drastic happened, I think he shed already (like, 4 times I think).

Anyway, I did a little soaking, a little paper toweling, and a little moss boxing. In the end none of it worked so 3 days after posting I assisted and everything worked out just fine. He shed just fine on his own several more times afterward and continues to eat.

LOL
Van