Reptile & Amphibian Forums

my mexican black shed last week. i'm not sure but i think it may have been her first time. i've had her for about a month and a half now. she is about a foot long. but anyway the shed came off in many pieces. the first couple days of the shed i noticed the opaque coloring. then the eye caps were white for the next two days. i don't think she was able to see during that time. about this same time she began soaking. she has a decent size water dish and i found it empty a couple times. so of course i refilled it. but i have some questions. should i help remove the eye caps and how much humidity should the terrarium have? also the shed should come off in one piece right? and how long should a shed take. it took my snake about seven day.

The shed should come off in 1 piece. Get a tupaware and lid put some damp papertowls in there and put the snake in there for about an hour. Don't forget to drill some small air holes in the tupaware. My Mexicans i let the water dry up unless there opaque. Then i keep there water dish full and try to mist them in the morning. What kind of substrate do you have and do you have any branches or rocks for him to break the skin lose on? Hope this helps Paul

I wouldnt try and help remove the eyecaps unless she has shed and they are still on. One of my milks has a crappy shed just about every time he sheds. Dont know why, as he is kept in the same conditions all my other snakes are kept in, and he is the only one. Any ways, the easiest and best way that I have found to help your snake shed, is this:

Get a decent sized sterelite sweater box or storage box and put some tepid water in it. Make sure the water is not too warm or too cool, right around 73 degrees. (I use thermometer).
Fill the container just enough to cover your snake and place it into the water. Let it soak for a few minutes. I usually do this in the tub, makes it easier and less of a mess. Just place the container in the tub. Once the snake has soaked for 4 or 5 minutes, take a washcloth and get it soaking wet using the water in the container. Then while holding the washcloth, let the snake crawl through your hand in the washcloth. Apply just a little pressure on the snake while it crawls through and you will see the old skin come right off. You will probably have to let your snake crawl through the washcloth a few times, and you should have a nice clean shiny snake in no time at all!!!

Hope this helps, it sure helps mine!
Brian
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RATS
1.0 Corn snake "Warpath" (KY locale)
1.0 Black rat snake "Havok" (KY locale)
1.1 Black rat snakes "Reaper and Mystique" (MO locale)
1.0 Albino Black rat snake "Malakai" (Dwight Good stock)
1.0 Everglades rat snake "Deadpool" (Dwight Good stock)
0.1 Greenish rat snake "Rogue" (Dwight Good stock)
1.0 Yellow rat snake "Wolverine" (Dwight Good stock)
1.0 Grey rat snake "Punisher" (White oak phase)(Dwight Good stock)

MILKS
0.0.1 Eastern Milk snake "Cable" (KY locale)
0.0.1 Eastern/Red milk intergrade "Omega Red" (KY locale)
Good luck and Happy Herping
Brian